Another visit to the Everglades produced yet more birds and photo opportunities. We were able to watch this Belted Kingfisher plying its trade from a convenient roadsign perch, catching numerous small fish and what looked like lamprey from the swamp. I was surprised to see a kingfisher hovering before diving headfirst into the water, I don't believe our European variety can do that. It must be an effective measure however as its success rate was 100%, every dive resulted in a catch.
Belted Kingfisher - megaceryle alcyon
Belted Kingfisher - megaceryle alcyon
Osprey - pandion haliaetus
Another outstanding fisherman is the Osprey. We were fortunate enough to watch several of these magnificent raptors fishing and nest-building in the extreme south of the Glades on the Gulf shore base known as Flamingo. From here one can hire canoes or take boat trips into the Everglades or around the shallow coastline amongst the mangrove lined islets.
Osprey - pandion haliaetus
I was delighted to see my very first Merlin today, flying low across the road and out over the swamp like a large swift and seemingly just as quick, far too fast for a photograph. Fot that I had to settle for some slightly less rare raptors instead. This American Kestrel for example was somewhat easier to capture....
.....as was this Red Shouldered Hawk which was not spooked by our approach to its perch on the overhead electric cable.
There are at least six American hawks that can be very difficult to distinguish in the field to the inexperienced observer. I am not absolutely certain of the identity of some that I photographed so I have chosen the most likely candidates, and in this case I am fairly confident that it is a Red-Shouldered variety.
No doubting the identity of the Loggerhead Shrike, a subspecies of the Great Grey and very similar to our Southern Grey, but the loggerhead is the only one that occurs in Florida.
There are at least six American hawks that can be very difficult to distinguish in the field to the inexperienced observer. I am not absolutely certain of the identity of some that I photographed so I have chosen the most likely candidates, and in this case I am fairly confident that it is a Red-Shouldered variety.
No doubting the identity of the Loggerhead Shrike, a subspecies of the Great Grey and very similar to our Southern Grey, but the loggerhead is the only one that occurs in Florida.
Loggerhead Shrike - lanius ludovicianus
It is one of only two shrikes of North America. It is named Loggerhead because of the relatively large size of its head.
Sometimes called Butcher Bird from its habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire, to return and devour later.
Sometimes called Butcher Bird from its habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire, to return and devour later.
Eastern Meadowlark - sturnella magna
This bird, the Eastern Meadowlark is a declining species. It is still locally common in open grassy areas, but habitat loss to agriculture and urban development means it is finding fewer spaces in which to live and breed.
Most hawks seen in Florida are the Red Shouldered variety. This one however is different and a lot less common. The Broad-winged Hawk is a Summer visitor to the United States but a few spend the Winter months in the Southern tip of Florida, and this was one of them. Not a great photograph but worth recording because of its uncommon status.
Following and Airboat through the Glades
A great way to get into the Everglades is by Airboat. These flat bottomed vessels are powered by large "fans" driven by Aero or car engines. Steering is achieved by deflecting the airflow across rudders located behind the fan. They require some skill to drive as there are no brakes for stopping or submersed rudders for sharp turns. They are however the perfect vehicle for traversing swamps and shallow waters.
Purple Gallinule - porphyrio martinica
It is also great fun moving sometimes at speed through the swamplands, passing alligators and birds along the way. The Purple Gallinule is a smaller version of the European Purple Swamphen. It is more elegant however and perhaps even more colourful than its Euro counterpart. They rarely swim but prefer to clamber around in the vegetation using their very long toes as a platform.
I was surprised by the general scarcity of dragonflies in the Glades. This is possibly because we were there in mid-winter, but by European standards the temperature would be perfect for odonates. I did manage to capture this stunning green specimen however. It was a large insect with transparent wings, beautiful green pterostigma, frons and thorax, brown eyes and green & brown ringed abdomen. I believe it is a Great Pondhawk, so named because it is a fierce predator which will catch and devour larger prey than itself.
I was surprised by the general scarcity of dragonflies in the Glades. This is possibly because we were there in mid-winter, but by European standards the temperature would be perfect for odonates. I did manage to capture this stunning green specimen however. It was a large insect with transparent wings, beautiful green pterostigma, frons and thorax, brown eyes and green & brown ringed abdomen. I believe it is a Great Pondhawk, so named because it is a fierce predator which will catch and devour larger prey than itself.
Great Pondhawk? - Erythemis vesiculosa
