I got unexpected company this week...so no time to do the diary I wanted to do on pairs of birds that mate for life. Instead I am doing a photo diary from the Christmas Day Bird Count. I have done this count in my neighborhood for the past 3 years...This year we had nice warm weather, last year it was very cold for Florida. I live in a urban rural area. It is amazing, what birds have lived in my trees and neighborhood that I never knew were there for the 19 years of the 22 years, I have lived in this house..We have a large lake in the development that was dug for rain runoff. There are canals in the front and back of the development, that if you look at closely you get to see gators, turtles, and wading birds. We saw 41 species of birds which is about what we see other years..I posted some photos I took of the birds to the neighborhood facebook page..Most people in the neighborhood were surprised at so many pretty birds live here in the winter...Especially the painted buntings.
First bird we saw was this Anhinga in the tree by the lake. Found year round in Florida.
Yellow rumped warbler. It comes to Florida for the winter.
Eastern Phoebe. Winter only.
Sandhill Cranes...some are year round residents but most are here as winter visitor.
Seen along the way..need help with ID
Red Shoulder Hawk...this looks one that is here in the winter...but we do have some that are here year round.
Mottled ducks. Florida year round.
Goldfinch..in winter resort wear. This was the first one I had seen all winter...But I have bunch that come to the feeder now 2x a day.
Great Blue Heron...here all year. edit..its a Tri Colored Heron...my mistake..not that great with heron ID..thanks matching mole
Green Heron..all year round.
American Kestral...winter only...Having been seeing more than I usually do this year.
Share if you participate in a Christmas Day Bird Count...or post more bird pics.