Mead Gardens, 2/13/2013

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Wood Duck
There was a sure sign that Spring is returning to Central Florida this morning at Mead Gardens--the lovely sound of Northern Parula singing in the Live Oak trees.  It's a very welcome sound, and I found about 5 this morning, though none posed for photographs.  A pair of Wood Ducks, however, were just begging to get their pictures taken.  They were sitting on a tree branch which hangs over the water (one of their favorite places to perch), and I couldn't help but fire off a ton of shots of one of my favorite ducks.

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Wood Duck
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Wood Duck
The Northern Parula were accompanied by Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (they sure know how to strike a pose!), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinch, Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a nice Black-and-white Warbler. Gray Catbirds and Carolina Wrens also frequently made their presence known. I also found about three Hermit Thrushes, which is always a treat.

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Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
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Gray Catbird
But the highlight of the morning was finding two hummingbirds: a Ruby-throated and the Rufous Hummingbird that has been wintering in the Gardens.  I normally arrive and leave early, and I suspect I've just been missing them.  But this morning was warm, and I found them for the first time this year in the butterfly garden.

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Rufous Hummingbird

Comments

  1. Your photos are striking. I am constantly amazed at the beauty you capture through the lens.

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