BREEDING GREAT EGRET, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

PURPLE GALLINULE, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

FACE-OFF: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK VS NANDAY PARAKEETS, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

   This was an interesting scene to watch.   The Red-shouldered Hawk perched on top of the pole where the Nanday Parakeets had their nest.  Awhile later two Nanday Parakeets showed up and perched on the wire.  They repeatedly flew away and came back.  It looks like they were trying to lure the hawk from the area of the nest.  Eventually the hawk flew away to perch somewhere else. 

NANDAY PARAKEETS & NEST, CELERY FIELDS, SARASOTA, FL

   The first five photos are of Nanday Parakeets and the last photo is of their nest in a power line pole.  We can ID these parrots as Nanday Parakeets by their black heads and faces, mostly green plumage, bluish-green upper chests and long tails.

   The Nanday Parakeet  is native to South America, but due to release of caged birds there are self-sustaining populations in California, Texas and Florida.   The ABA added this parakeet to its checklist in 2012. 

   The Nanday Parakeet is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 518.

MALE EASTERN BLUEBIRD, FREEDOM PARK, NAPLES, FL

BREEDING SNOWY EGRET WITH LACY PLUMES, FREEDOM PARK, NAPLES, FL