Eagle at Tierra Verde, Florida

I took these photographs February 2011. I posted photographs taken February 2009 at the same location, click here to see the earlier post. The photographs then were of what I thought was a 3rd year eagle. So is this the 5th year, or has the 3rd year eagle gone and this is one of the original parent eagles?

Sorry, the photographs aren't closer, there is a pond between the nest and me. With signs that people are not allowed any closer, due to the eagle nest.

I retire the end of the month. I will see if I am able to get back to blogging, or if retirement will still have me too busy to sit in front of a computer.

Osprey in flight

This was my attempt at capturing the Osprey in flight over the water.

I was having a very hard time.

Practice makes perfect, but I sure need a lot more practice.

These were all taken at Lake Seminole Park in

Seminole, Florida during our February 2009 visit.

Osprey landing in tree

This Osprey was at Lake Seminole Park, February 2009. The man made stand for a nest was close by.

This tree also had 3 Great Blue Heron nest.

In February it seemed odd to me that the birds were nesting,

but spring comes earlier in Florida than it does in Tennessee.

And he settles down with his eye on his mate in the nest.

We hope to see the young Osprey in June when we go back to St Pete.

Bald Eagle at Tierra Verde

This Bald Eagle nest is also on Tierra Verde

close to St Pete Beach in Florida. Taken February 2009.The nest is at the back side of a pond,

fairly close to a small ballpark.
We parked in the ballpark parking lot to walk
down to the 2 ponds that all the ducks were in.
About mid way of this pond there is a large sign telling people to stay away due to the Eagle nest. Not sure anybody could get through that thicket below the Eagle. But I am sure there would be some people try, if they weren't afraid of the ticket for doing so.

The reason the quality of these photos is so poor is because we stayed on the road side of the pond. We walked past this pond 3 different days, we only saw the Eagle one time.

What do you think, is the head totally white?
Or is this a 3rd year Eagle?

The reason I am asking is...it does not appear to be totally white to me, but one of the local birders I spoke to at the ponds (with all the ducks) said the one she had seen was a full adult with a definitely white head. But this was the same lady that told me there was a Ruddy Duck out there that day. When I got my photos to the computer I was never ever able to find a Ruddy in all the bunch. The Scaups is what I think she was seeing.

So what do you think? Is his head white or not totally white? Enlarge to see better.

Osprey at Boca Ciega Park

I am going to change gears again. Decided I want to show you this Osprey.

He was at Boca Ciega Park.

Boca Ciega Park is another new one for us. We got lost on one of the trails, we were all turned around and it was beginning to get late in the evening.

As we wandered around trying to find our way back to our vehicle we did get to see this Osprey. Jimmy kept reminding me I wouldn't have seen the Osprey if he had not gotten us lost. At the time that was not making me feel any better, but when we found the car then I was ok about it. It will be one of those times we have a good laugh about, someday.

Boca Ciega Park is very close to Lake Seminole Park that we always visit while in St Pete Beach. I also photographed Osprey there that I will be posting another day.

Osprey at Lake Seminole Park - October 2008

I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the Osprey this week

when we visit Lake Seminole Park.

Bald Eagle

These photographs of a Bald Eagle were taken at the Florida Birding FotoFestival, April 2008.

Yes, this Eagle is in captivity, due to an injury. It was one of 3 birds they had on display. They also had a Hawk and Owl.

But while at the festival I did see 7 different Eagles. Five adults and 2 immature.

Naturally none were this close. It was wonderful seeing him as he screaming. There was no doubt where the name Screaming Eagle comes from.

This past July while enjoying some leasure time on the back deck I saw an Eagle fly straight over head. Naturally I did not have my camera in hand. Jimmy and I discussed this Eagle looked like he was on a mission. He was moving on, fast. I was checking out the information about Dolly Parton's eagle program the other day and found out they released several Eagles this past summer, from Douglas Lake. I live between Douglas and Cherokee lakes. Ginther has been seen as far away as Indiana, and Betsy Ross has been spotted in Canada, both in September.

Osprey at Lake Seminole Park

This photograph of the Osprey at Lake Seminole Park was taken after he flew around for me. I probably would not have seen him, if he hadn't first put on a show for me.

Osprey in flight at Lake Seminole Park

These Osprey photos were taken at Lake Seminole Park in Seminole, Florida, October 2008.He is trying to get out of camera shot.

It was hard to get him, as he circled all around me.

I don't know about the rest of you, but these auto focus cameras are tough when a bird flys by unexpected. I don't have time to change to manual focus and my camera trys to focus on the moon or sun, or something way too far away.

The best shot I got that day can be viewed here.

He then landed and I got some photos of him in the pine trees. Will post those later.

Osprey at Lake Seminole Park

We have been visiting the Lake Seminole Park on our last 3 trips to Florida. Bird activity is excellent, so I am sure it is a must from now on. This past trip we explored a new area of the park, and look what we found. Wish we had gone by this in June, from the information board I see they had babies this year. Babies were in this nest while we were on the other side of the park in June.

There is just one nest, just took the photo from a different angle.

Got to learn habits of the birds you want to photograph. I am learning Osprey like pine trees. All the photographs I came home with from this trip they are either in pine trees or headed to pine trees. Notice the nest is very close to pine trees.

Here he is headed to a pine tree thicket, on the other side of the park. Actually these were taken before I found the nest. I saw no Osprey in the area of the nest, but these were late October. The bottom photo looks like it could be the same Osprey I posted earlier, in the same tree, but this is 10 or 15 miles from where I took those photographs.

Osprey in flight - Sky Watch November 27

I captured this Osprey in flight at the Lake Seminole Park in Seminole, Florida last month.

Please visit Sky Watch Friday to view sky photographs from all over the world.

Osprey in restaurant parking lot in St Pete

We stepped out of our car at a restaurant in St Pete and this just caught my eye. I reached right back in the car for my camera. I could not believe my luck. Behind the Osprey is a blackbird. There were several in the tree, but the Osprey was not about to let them chase him away.

When we came back out after eating the Osprey was gone. Such luck to be there just at the right time.