LAKE MORTON, Lakeland

You just never know what you may see by the side of the road.

We stopped in Lakeland to check out one of the lakes, to see what birds were on it

this time.  Here is the Black-necked Swan.  There are several of them on Lake Morton.  In March

of 2019 one of the females laid 5 eggs and one hatched.  There is a breeding program on going to raise

them. Then some one stole the 5 week old cygnet and the mother was struck and killed by a car. Did

one person do both things?  So sad.

A pair of White Ibis.  These are all over in sometimes huge flocks.

Muscovey mom with her new babies.  They are cute when little, but can be

really ugly (I think) when they grow up.

Black Swans

The boys, White Pelicans

They are everywhere, everywhere.  But they are neat to watch.

This one, wanted to get to the front of the line.

Can't remember what duck this was.  He is pretty.

Male Mallards hanging around for the female!  She does not show 

much interest in them.

Wood Stock

Mute Swans

Wood Stork, a face only a mother can love.

While in Lakeland, we (I) had to stop at Violett's.  It is

the best scrapbook store in Florida.  It is a huge store.  So many wonderful

things to choose from.

Also in Lakeland is the Circle B Bar Ranch Sanctuary.

What a wonderful place.  I could spend a couple days there walking the trails.

There are ponds, and a canal, there is arid as well as wetlands. A lot of animals and birds take

refuge there.It is another great place for a stopping point for migrating birds. 

Barred Owl

Great Egret and Glossy Ibis

Great Blue Heron

Just one of the ponds.

You never know what you will find in them.

Another gorgeous sunny day.

There is a nesting pair of Eagles.

Mom is probably in the nest and Dad in the tree.

Heron and nest.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dead tree just looking regal.

Little Blue Heron

Turtle (Sorry, I don't know what kind.)

Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage.

Common yellow-throated Warbler

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Purple Gallinule

Small flock of Black bellied Whistling Ducks

Personally, I think it is one family.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Wren

Juvenile Bald Eagle

On this morning as we were leaving the hotel, we encountered a man with a camera

and long scope  set up at the back of his SUV.  Well we had to stop, I wanted to find out

what he was observing.  I am so glad I did.  He was watching these juvenile 
Bald Eagles.  There was a pair.  I took a couple picture, and we got to talking.  He has been 

watching these Eagles for quite a long time, and kept up after the eggs hatched.  He thought

one would be fledgling any day. 

While talking, I told how I was birding, and he said I had a great camera.

Then asked if I had it set up the way I wanted for birding.No!  I cannot understand

what all of the setting mean.  As much as I like taking pictures, I don't get it.

Well, he was kind enough to take my camera and set it up the way I needed it.

These are the pictures I took after his settings were in place.

I was so excited.  Hopefully, I am still using the same settings.  I am afraid to check them out

in case I mess them up.  I think through time I may have changed something, but it hasn't changed 

enough to make a difference.  Yea for me.  It is June now as I am writing all this and I think I

am still okay. 

This is a picture I took before Tony Allison changed my setting of my camera.

There are several photographers I follow on facebook that I love seeing their work.

See this is why I like photography.  And again so much has changed.  I think I enjoyed

this even when I was a kid and had my first Kodak, Brownie camera, but back then I had to use 

film.  Digital is so much better!

Look at that we were staying right across from Legoland!!