Mead Gardens, 1/21/2012

Wood Ducks

This morning I went to Mead Gardens for the morning.  I was impressed by how active it was.  By the lake I found perhaps hundreds of birds feasting on berries, Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers in particular.  But there were many other species there as well, including an Orange-crowned Warbler (a lifer for me), a Black and White Warbler, a Pine Warbler, many Palm Warblers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, several Downy Woodpeckers a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, several Cardinals, Robins, a Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, and an Eastern Phoebe.  There were so many birds there that it was hard to track with any one in particular.

Cedar Waxwing

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Black & White Warbler

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

There was much to be seen elsewhere in the park as well.  Highlights for me were a Blue-headed Vireo, two stunningly beautiful Wood Ducks (a male and female), several Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Northern Flicker, a Great Egret, a White Ibis, and a Snowy Egret that was particularly photogenic.  There were a few raptors there as well: two Red-tailed Hawks, three Red-shouldered Hawks, and two Osprey.

Northern Cardinal

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Snowy Egret

 Mead Gardens is just east of Rte 17-92 in Winter Park.  Here's a list of species I found between 8am and 11am this morning, a total of 38 species:

Wood Duck 2
Wood Stork 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
White Ibis 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 11
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 15
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 50
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 15
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 50
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 1