I will admit that I am not a big bird-watcher. And I am the worst wildlife photographer on the planet. Taking pictures of wildlife usually makes me mad. Animals don’t cooperate or wait for me to get the shot, so I rarely try to capture anything in the wild – except for mollusks, which move slow enough for me!
While out on the water I have come across typical Florida birds, which have ended up in my photos. These photos were taken using my iPhone, using the zoom, so they are not very good. I have made some good guesses as to what these birds are, but then again, they are guesses.
These Terns stood in formation along the sandy island we visited recently. I think they are Royal Terns.
(Below) Late in the afternoon my sons and I were fishing and beach-combing at Ponce Inlet and this white bird ended up beside me. As I walked down the shore, he followed me and stayed close by. Maybe he thought I was fishing, or picking up something yummy from the sand to share with him… I don’t know.
I also have no idea what he is. He looks like a snowy egret without the long legs and neck!
Please help, if you can identify this one.
The little birds in my video are probably Sanderlings. They raced around picking at the sand as the sea came back up onto the sand.
(Below) When we pulled up behind Disappearing Island these birds were walking in the shallows. Because the big one has a curved bill, I identified it as a White Ibis. The little one with it could be a juvenile of the same breed. That other little bird (behind the white one) could be a plover or sandpiper, I suppose.
Out in the backwater we see many other types of birds, but usually we are riding in the boat, which means I am holding onto my hat and can’t get a photo. I will try to get more pictures to add to this page.
Whenever we pull up to an island and I see birds, I remind myself that I am invading their territory. They are either living there or have stopped to find food or even to rest. There is precious little wilderness left in Florida for all kinds of wildlife, and I don’t want to stress them out by being too close.
