More Florida Birding

Still in and around theme parks,some of the following taken at Typhoon Lagoon,

Palm Warbler

This and the one above Mourning Dove

Typhoon Tilly Typhoon Loon

Common Grackle

Hibiscus

Brown Anole ?

Spanish Moss

Black Vultures

We have now moved down to Miami, so should now get a more varied selection of birds, but I still have to bear in mind its a family holiday. we will see how it goes.

You won't find these in Penrith...

White Ibis

No not in Penrith, on holiday with the family Florida, and as we have got to do something for everyone, birding doesn't get priority, its just what I can When I can.

Turkey Vulture over Magic Kingdom

Cinderella's Castle

Ring-billed Gull, on a pool at Universal.

Ring-billed Gull

 

Mallard and young.

Common Grackle

White-winged Dove

Double-crested Cormorant

 

 

 Well that's about it for the first post, and I am struggling on my Daughters lap-top which I am not familiar with.
Hopefully things will improve as I go along.

Protest

No photos for this post, this is a post to show solidarity with the rest of the birding world, and at the same time ask my readers and followers to follow this link http://beadnell-birding.blogspot.co.uk/ read what the guy has to say on his post " Murdering Scum........  then follow the link from his sight to the e-petition. We have got to try and make a difference, and stop the killing of Harriers and other raptors on upland moors.
       The persecution doesn't  apply just to the upland moors, it goes on in our valleys and on the fringe of our towns. In fact anywhere a game bird shoot is set up, all raptors or hawks are quickly eradicated, either by the use of poison or with the gun.
        And as if all that wasn't sad enough a new generation of trainees are being taught all these skills in our various agricultural colleges around the country.
       I rest my case.
                Please sign.

Reed Bunting made the day

First of all I apologise for a rubbish set of photos, but I was experimenting with a tripod and things didn't go according to plan, (do they ever)

The Derwent returning from a fishing trip.

     Anyway another sunny day was not to be waisted, so after a few chors I made my way over to Workington in the hope of  getting some pics of the Purple Sandpipers that very often frequent the harbour area. unfortunately in spite of the tide being in there was no sign of them. The sun was still shinning but it was a bitter cold wind coming down from the north.
       So as is usually the case in these conditions I made my way over to the relative shelter of Siddick Ponds.  Now for anyone that doesn't know the area, Siddick Ponds are inland just to the East of the coast road between Workington and Maryport, and from time to time pull some good birds in, but not today as it was pretty quiet.

Male Goosander

A male and 3 female Goosander

This could be the first time I've seen Goosanders out of water.

There was also a few Teal about

Three Cormorant sunning themselves.

On the main path that goes the length of the reserve, someone puts seed down which attracts a good variety of birds. 

                                                        Above female Blackbird

And a male Blackbird giving the impression its about to gobble up a female Reed Bunting

Female House Sparrow

Two female Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting with a pair of House Sparrows

Female Reed Bunting 

 A guy I spoke to had just seen a Bittern fly along a length of one of the ponds, wrong place, etc.

Gulls and the Farmer

I wonder how it all started, was it just one lone gull flying over a field that was being ploughed, just happened to look down and see a bountiful harvest of grubs and worms, then spread the word to all his gull friends. Or was it a whole flock flying over that realised the profitability of following a farmer and his plough.

One thing for sure its been going on for many generations and I don't mean gull generations. I was brought up on a farm, and when I was a we kid our farm had two Shire horses, and before tractors came into use we used them to do the ploughing. Even then gulls followed the horses and plough, and as it happen not just gulls but also Pied Wagtails, and sometimes Lapwings.

So perhaps its just one of those things that has evolved over a long period of time, like the relationship between early man and wild dogs, camp following at first picking up scraps as man moved on to his next hunting ground, then slowly becoming part of the camp and a friend.
       The thing is I've not seen this gull behaviour in other countries, So if anyone has come across it anywhere do let me know.
     

The reserve was pretty quiet today, came across this Robin by the pond, obviously a regular perch for it.

Moorhens where in good numbers all over the reserve, with most of them paired up and ready for nesting.
     Birder John reported 50 Brambling on the edge of the reserve, and there have been reports of an Owl, Barn Owl or Tawny Owl, no positive ID.

Red Kite

We are also getting more and more sighting of these over Cumbria, AND Penrith

Waxwings still with us

Waxwings still in their usual place near the NFU in Penrith.