Florida

Purple Gallinule - Boynton Beach, FL Purple in the swamps of South West USA is not a common thing to see, but this handsome bird with the candy corn beak is one of those that sticks out as memorable. This parent was feeding several young in the tall grass just off the boardwalk. One of the other notable things about this bird is the giant feet. The long toes allow it to spread the weight of the bird over a larger area allowing it to walk on the reeds and aquatic vegetation. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Purple Gallinule - Boynton Beach, FL
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - Boynton Beach, FL This pair of very conspicuous Whistling ducks surveyed the marsh for some time as people trotted past them. They were very noisy on the landing and just about the same on the take off. They didn't actually hit the water while they were here. Two of the unique things about these ducks are the sharp toenails and upright posture for grasping branches. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - Boynton Beach, FL
Green Heron - Ft. Lauderdale, FL Obviously the bird is used to people being close as he was walking around within several dozen people in the center of Hillsboro Inlet Park. In the dry season this lawn is high and dry but this small heron was checking for goodies along the edge of a new pond from the spring rains. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Green Heron - Ft.Lauderdale, FL
White-winged Dove - Sunrise, FL White-winged doves are relatively new to Florida with records stating that they have been most likely breeding there in the last 10 years. They are typically found in Central America up to the southwestern states. When in flight they show the crescent shaped white wing pattern. This photo was taken in Markham Park in Florida. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
White-winged Dove - Sunrise, FL
Burrowing Owl - Sunrise, FL One of my favorite birds is a regular at the Markham Park Airfield. This most unlikely place for an endangered bird works well for a host of feathered residents. The owls are protected from intrusion from humans given the danger of being hit by one of these hobby planes. The owls don't seem to mind the noise, in fact, they breed here in several locations on the air field. I talked with one of the caretakers of the park mowing the lawn and he said they love to follow the lawn mower which kicks up the insects snacks. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Burrowing Owl - Sunrise, FL
Limpkin - Sunrise, FL This species eluded me on three tropical trips and I finally was able to get a look from some distance in Belize. This bird was much more accommodating while walking around the pond in Markham Park. He was working the high water shoreline in search of Snails. The birds are somewhere between a rail and a crane but have had ornithologist moving them from family to family and most put them in the crane family based on the fossil records and skeletal build of these birds. These birds are found only in the deep southeast where they almost exclusively consume freshwater snails. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Limpkin - Sunrise, FL
Burrowing Owl - Sunrise, FL One of my favorite birds is a regular at the Markham Park Airfield. This most unlikely place for an endangered bird works well for a host of birds. The owls are protected from any intrusion from humans given the danger of being hit by one of these hobby planes and the owls don't seem to mind the noise. In fact, they breed here in several locations on the air field. I talked with one of the caretakers of the park mowing the lawn and he said they love to follow the lawn mower which kicks up the insects behind. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Burrowing Owl - Sunrise, FL
Blue Jay - Sunrise, FL On the way through Markam Park in Surise, i ran into a family of Blue Jays bouncing through the trees. The young were flapping their wings and begging from the lower branches. The adults were searching through the trees nooks and crannys for something to keep the kids happy. This one adult made it down close to and looked to be interested in what I was doing. With no food to hand over, the bird moved on to the next copse of trees. One thing that I have noted is most that Jays around the world have the tell tale stripping. on the flight and tales feathers. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Blue Jay - Sunrise, FL
Loggerhead Shrike - Sunrise, FL One of the first spots that I visited while in South Florida was Markham park. As soon as I got out of the car, a flash of white dove out of the tree and landed in the dewy grass to capture and flying bug. It turns out, there were very hungry mouths to feed. This very serious predator hunts for insects, reptiles, anphibians and some small rodents. After securing its prey, they find a very thorny bush to hang the food on. The Loggerhead name is in reference to its large head in relation to its body. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Loggerhead Shrike - Sunrise, FL
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Yellow-throated Warbler - Long Key, FL