Lake Apopka, 7/24/2013

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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Yesterday I drove back to the Lake Apopka Restoration Area where the Fork-tailed Flycatcher had been seen last week.  It had not been seen yesterday morning, but I thought I'd see if I could find it again.  It was a no show.  But there were about 30 or so Swallow-tailed Kites around, and they were having a literal field day with the dragonflies and grasshoppers that were there.  I found one kite that must have grabbed a blade of grass with its prey (it looks like a grasshopper but I can't be sure). I did take a few minutes to photograph the dragonflies as well.  I think I found both Red and Carolina Saddlebags, but I'm very new to identifying dragonflies, so I'm not confident in my ID yet.  On the way back to the car, I dropped by the ponds by the parking area on Canal St.  I found two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with six little ducklings.  They stayed very close to their parents, tucked between mom and dad.  These little ducklings are massively cute.

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Swallow-tailed Kite
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Swallow-tailed Kite
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Red Saddlebags
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Carolina Saddlebags

Comments

  1. Those dragonflies are really looking alike. Those ducklings are to die for!

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  2. Thanks! Yes, they do look alike. The difference is in the "window" on the hind wing of the Red Saddlebags and the black that extends to the sides at the end of its "tail" on the Carolina Saddlebags. Well, I'm no expert, but I think I got those right :-)

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  3. Superb images of birds and insects, Scott! Pretty darned cut ducklings! Great shots of the Kite in action.

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  4. Thanks! Those ducks were pretty sweet.

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  5. Great photos, and love the dragonfly shots.

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