Feature: Domestic Avenue Ponds Part I

While I prefer to observe wildlife at the beaches, Domestic Avenue Ponds is a must see wildlife venue inland that will entertain you greatly.

The Mourning Dove above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Eastern Meadowlark above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Anhinga above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The American Coot with Ring-necked Duck above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Ring-necked Duck with American Coot above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Lesser Scaup with Ring-necked Duck above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The American Coot above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Anhinga above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Loggerhead Shrike with Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

This place is not far from the beaches at all. The venue was first brought to my attention by Tom Obrock in his documentation, but I recently leaned that it may have been "discovered" by Ed Combs, long time volunteer at Corkscrew Swamp, now contributing his time to Ding Darling. The ponds offer a great contrast from the beaches for the observer that should expect the unexpected. The images in this article are from my second visit at this place. I was so impressed with the wildlife seen, I made numerous follow-up visits which will be noted in a follow-up article.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The American Kestrel above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The American Kestrel above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Blue Jay above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Great Crested Flycatcher above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Great Crested Flycatcher above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Great Crested Flycatcher above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Palm Warbler above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Mourning Dove above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Tree Swallow above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Palm Warbler above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Palm Warbler above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

Waterfowl can be seen to the west of the road (in winter months for sure) with my first sighting of Brown Thrasher offered in the scrub land to the east among meadowlarks. The Cypress tree stand at the end of the road offers many of the birds seen in this article. A resident alligator in the ponds was unexpectedly seen and immediately respected. It would become the center of attention as it made an apparent attempt of survival with a catch of whatever it could get. This place reminds me of Harns Marsh Preserve for its old world Florida appeal.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Scarlet Skimmer above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Downy Woodpecker above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The primarily Ring-necked Duck above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Redhead above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Redhead above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Cattle Egret above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Cattle Egret above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The Cattle Egret above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The wildlife observers above were photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

Please see Domestic Avenue Ponds: Part II.
Please see Domestic Avenue Ponds: Part III.