This male Anhinga is in breeding plumage: a bright blue patch of skin surrounds its blood-red eyes and it has developed a mane.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
THE TREES, BOARDWALK TRSIL, LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, BOYNTON BEACH, FL
We thought these trees were quite majestic and beautiful as we walked under them on the boardwalk.
FLEDGLING GREAT HORNED OWL SIBLINGS, LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, BOYNTON BEACH, FL
Seeing these two young Great Horned Owl siblings was a great sight. We really enjoyed watching them. It looks like they have or are just about to try their first flight. One of them in the first photo has its eyes closed; possibly its sleeping.
We can ID these owls as Great Horned Owl fledglings mainly by their large eyes and the orange around their eyes.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
SCAUPS, WEST LAKE, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FL
These photos show a large group of male and female scaups. It is difficult to differentiate between Greater Scaups and Lesser Scaups, however we believe these scaups are probably Lesser Scaups for the following reasons:
- This is a freshwater lake and generally Lesser Scaups like freshwater lakes, while Greater Scaups like saltwater marine environments. But you do find each in the others environment.
- The black of the nail (a bump) at the end of the upper mandible of the bill seems to be confined to the nail, rather than extending past it, as in the Greater Scaup.
- Where you can view the scaup in profile, you can see a notch toward the back of the head This is a field mark of the Lesser Scaup.
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