NORTHERN SHOVELERS, USF AREA PONDS, TAMPA, FL

   This past Sunday we joined a field trip by the Tampa Audobon Society of various ponds near the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa.  The first photo of the two male Northern Shovelers was taken at Adventure Island Pond on E. Serena Dr.  The second photo of the single male Northern Shoveler was taken at a pond on N. 12th St. off of E. Fowler Ave.  In both photos you can make out the very broad bill of this bird.

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, MADEIRA BEACH, FL

   We can identify this gull as a Greater Black-backed Gull by the following:

• The black back
• The white head
• The dusky iris surrounded by the red orbital ring
• The pink showing through on the legs

BLACK SKIMMER, MADEIRA BEACH, FL

NONBREEDING ROYAL TERN, MADEIRA BEACH, FL

   We can identify this tern as a nonbreeding Royal Tern ( vs. similiar terns, such as Caspian Tern) by its fully orange bill (no black tip), its black legs, its white forehead and its shaggy black crest.

1st WINTER HERRING GULL, MADEIRA BEACH, FL

NONBREEDING SANDERLING, MADEIRA BEACH, FL

NONBREEDING WILLET, MADEIRA BEACH, ST. PETERSBURG, FL