Birds of St. Petersburg Gallery

St. Petersburg, Florida is a beautiful place to visit with a camera and a love of birds. I was there in April and came home with many exciting images of wading birds from the beaches and wetlands, as well as a few predators living in a nature reserve. The new, fast cameras and my intense excitement lead me to take too many pictures...but can there ever be too many pictures? Not for me, but perhaps for you. Take a peek and only stay as long as you like.

Reddish Egret Bathing
Once it became light we could see that many of the shorebirds were bathing, doing their daily ablutions. This proud, vigorous egret was a joy to watch.
Florida Birds 00875 bathing bird marsh Reddish Egret
Sanderling on the Beach
This sanderling was ready for breakfast and making his way towards a clump of grass.
Florida Birds 01135 Sandpiper beach bird breeding sanderling
Sanderling, Head in the Sand
He is probing the sand for small invertebrates left by the receeding waves. these little birds are "wave chasers" in search of the creatures deposited by the waves.
Florida Birds 01147 Sandpiper bird hunting sanderling
Snowy Preening
Beautiful silky feathers blow in a mornig breeze as this Snowy Egret preens.
Florida Birds 01289 Snowy Egret bird breeze egrets preening wader white
Laughing Gull
Gulls get a bad rap for their raucous behavior, pushy personalities and rapid multiplication. But I found these gulls so charming. I loved the way this individual carried himself. He just had a very thorough bath in the ocean.
Florida Birds 01368 Laughing_Gull bird gull
Laughing Gull scratching
I kept my eye on this particular gull. He is giving his leg a little scratch. Note how his lovely red beak and legs matches his eyeliner.
Florida Birds 01372 Laughing_Gull bird gull
Laughing Gull on Patrol
Beach patrol, all fluffed up looking "In charge."
Florida Birds 01384 Laughing_Gull bird gull
Osprey Drying His Wings
There are so many birds in the Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico area of Florida, it is not astonishing to look up and see Osprey on the electric wires. This bird is drying his wings.
Florida Birds 01976 Osprey bird drying
White Ibis
At sunset "everyone" came back to the beach for a dip and a meal. The White Ibis allowed us to be very close. I especially love the Ibis' blue eyes, red skin and expression.
Florida Birds 02106 White Ibis bird blue eyes decurved beak red scarlet face skin
Tricolored Heron Hunting
On one side of us was the beach and a few yards away was a wetland. The birds loved both water habitats. This Tricolored was about to hunt.
Florida Birds 02218 Tricolored Heron bird blue hunting
Anhinga Drying
Although partially obscured by grasses and posed directly in front of the sun, this picture of an Anhinga drying her wings is striking, she looks prehistoric.
Florida Birds 02459 Anhinga bird black drying wings
Snowy Egret Skimming
The Snowies appeared to know something had hatched in the water in great numbers. They were skimming across the surface agitating it with their toes.
Florida Birds 02537 Snowy Egret bird hunting skimming
Snowy Egret Hunting
Here she sees something and is about to catch it in her beak.
Florida Birds 02538 Snowy Egret bird hunting skimming
Snowy Success
The Snowy Egret has caught the little hatchling in her beak.
Florida Birds 02539 Snowy Egret bird hunting skimming
Snowly Alighting
Between sessions of skating across the lake the Snowies would land in little groups on the banks.
Florida Birds 02645 Snowy Egret bird landing
Roseate Spoonbills in a Tree
This beautiful pair were very high up in the tree, their brilliant colors flashing. From watching all sorts of aves it is clear to me that they have emotions. This pair was very gentle with one another. It is the closest I've come to Roseate Spooonbills.
Florida Birds 02657 Roseate Spoonbill bird pair
Sandhill Crane Family
Sandhills spend summers in parts of the South Eastern US. This family was so relaxed with people that they strolled on the walking path, a part of the general crowd.
Florida Birds 02722 bird family
Sanhill Crane
That scarlet on the top of her head is skin and when she is excited it gets redder. Cranes have orange eyes.
Florida Birds 02835 Sandhill Crane bird head portrait
Baby Crane
Baby Cranes can leave the nest within 8 hours of hatching. This little beauty stayed close to mom and dad.
Florida Birds 02850 Baby Sandhill Crane bird calf
Baby Crane Back View
Besides those enormous feet and adorable tail this image also shows the baby's ears.
Florida Birds 03030 Baby Sandhill Crane back view bird calf
Osprey with Fish
I believe we were in the Pinellas Wildlife Reserve to see this Osprey with his dinner.
Florida Birds 03185 Osprey eating predator
Osprey Eating Fish
I have seen birds of prey tear into their meals before, but it always fascinates me. His curved beak, huge claws and enormous eyes are exciting for me to see.
Florida Birds 03225 Osprey eating predator
Here's Looking at You, Kid
The Osprey looked right into my camera. This image makes me smile because this amazing predator looks a little goofy full frontal.
Florida Birds 03250 Osprey eating predator
Osprey Call
Osprey's near their nest make very excited and annoyed calls.
Florida birds 03262 Osprey eating predator
Ospey with Fish in His Beak
He will toss that piece of food in his beak up and catch it to throw it down his throat.
Florida Birds 03271 Osprey eating predator
Mother, Great Horned Owl
This Great Horned Owl called to her young owlets, urging them to start "branching" their way back for food.
Florida Birds 03669 Great Horned Owl bird owl
Owlets Discovering Feet
These two little Great Horned Owlets closely examed each others toes.
Florida Birds 03815 Great Horned Owlets owlets playing predator siblings
Owlet Nibbles
One sibling nibbles the toes of the other.
Florida Birds 03825 Great Horned Owlets owlets playing predator siblings
My Turn
They actually took it in turns, first one owlet's foot got a beak examination, then the other. It is bad form to call wildlife "cute", but these two were very cute.
Florida Birds 03839 Great Horned Owlets owlets playing predator siblings
Both Owlets Study Their Feet
One owlet lifts his foot and they both study it.
Florida Birds 03842 Great Horned Owlets owlets playing predator siblings
Branching Owlet
One of the babies is "branching". Before flight the owlets spread their wings and hop, getting ready to learn how to fly.
Florida Birds 03953 Great Horned Owlets branching owlets predator siblings
Royal Tern Courtship
There was quite a hullaballo on the beach, but going by the crest on this bird's head I guessed he was courting.
Florida Birds 04809 Royal Terns courting terns
The Act
Do birds make love? The Royal Terns have a delightful courtship ritual. This is a second before or after the "act".
Florida Birds 04829 Royal Terns courting terns
Courtship Ritual Royal Terns
The terns bring their wings forward, their crest feathers go up as well as their beaks. Then they walk around each other.
Florida Birds 04862 Royal Terns courting terns
Wings
The vision of white wings induces a sense of euphoria in me. This is a mixed flock of Skimmers, Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls.
Florida Birds 04899 Black Skimmers Royal Terns bird flock
Brown Pelican, Down Stroke
The pelican is a magnificent bird. In the air he is huge and graceful. He dives head first into the water for fish.
Florida Birds 04970 bird brown pelican flight
Brown Pelican, Up Stroke
This bird has a wingspan of 6.5 to 7.5 feet and it is the smallest of the seven pelican species world wide.
Florida Birds 04971 bird brown pelican flight
Black Skimmer
The Skimmer is "tern like" bird, which in turn is a "gull like" bird. These species; gull, tern and skimmer formed a mixed flock.
Florida Birds 05147 Black Skimmers bird flight skimmers
Tricolored Heron
Our local guide called this bird "Big Red." He was fishing in the shallow water just as the sun rose. This is a majestic bird, but sometimes I like to show the more humorous side of individual animals.
Florida Birds 05203 Tricolored Heron bird heron ocean wader
Sanderling Sandpipers
These sweet, plump sandpipers are in their non-breeding feathers. Their name derives from Old English, Sand Ploughman. They put their beaks into the sand and push looking for invertebrates left by the receding tides.
Florida Birds 05488 bird immature nonbreeding
Royal Tern in Love
I think she's had enough, but he still looks very interested.
Florida Birds 05509 Royal Terns courting terns
Left Face
I thought all the birds were facing the sun, but in fact they are facing the wind. This helps with communication, take off and landing and keeps their feather from being ruffled.
Florida Birds 05756 Royal Terns bird laughing gulls mixed flock shorebirds skimmers
Balancing Woodstork
The Wood Stork is a massive wading bird. It is the only American stork. The bird's amazing head, eyes, beak, and size have made it a favorite of artists.
Florida Birds 06784 bird stork
Great Egret at Nest Preening
Preening is very important to a bird's well being for insulation, flight and sanitation.
Florida birds 06854 Ardeidae Ciconiiformes Great Egret Great Herons bird breeding plumage preening white
Little Blue Heron
The blue beak should have told me immediately this was a Little Blue Heron. Herons' and egrets can be confusing.
Florida Birds 07018 bird blue crest purple rookery Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Sometimes the light hits a bird's feathers just right to display the gorgeous richness of their hues.
Florida Birds 07071 blue crest purple wader Little Blue Heron
Woodstork Take Off 1
This individual looks like it is making a sound, but the sound it makes is clacking it's bill.
Florida Birds 07155 bird
Woodstork Take Off 2
The stork dips down and flexs her long legs
Florida Birds 07161 bird take off

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Birds of St. Petersburg Gallery