The Eastern Bluebirds which flew in from the south at the water hole along Oil Well Grade at Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area on 21 May were a very welcome surprise.
The Common Ground Dove above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The water hole discovered near the noon time hour on the 21st offered a surprise activity of birds along Oil Well Grade. The large congregation of bluebirds led to my two follow up visits on 25 and 26 May which unfortunately did not offer the bluebirds again.
The Eastern Bluebird above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Eastern Bluebird above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Common Ground Dove above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The sunrise above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Northern Flicker above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The images presented in this article are predominantly from the 25 and 26 May visits which were themselves quite remarkable and memorable. A Northern Bobwhite calling, oblivious to my presence with the car as a blind, was perched immediately adjacent to the road on the 25th and was so well camouflaged that I failed to capture its image.
The Northern Flicker above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Blue Jay above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
I did not see a Common Nighthawk again while I was not making an effort to find one. A significant amount of time was devoted to the namesake of this series related to my wildlife observations at Babcock-Webb. I considered the water hole a gravitation point for good observations with patience.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Eastern Towhee above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Blue Jay above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
It was a treat to see Brown Thrashers at this venue that
Hemant Kishan had introduced me to at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary a couple of years ago. I would not have recognized the species without Hemant's edification and his interest in the natural world.
The Blue Jay above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Blue Jay above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
While I devoted many hours to stationary observation at Webb over several visits, it was in the end that I had regret. Just before my move into the inner off road areas of the wildlife area I caught a glimpse of a very strange looking creature.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
A search of images on the internet led me to believe that the beast may have been a Florida Fox Squirrel. A concern for the quality of an image captured led to none at all. The mammal disappeared on me within seconds of taking my eyes off of it.
The Brown Thrasher with prey above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Northern Cardinal with prey above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
Thinking it the best time to explore the inner reaches (as far as I dared) of the WMA at the end of the dry season, I found an always photogenic Pileated Woodpecker. An unidentified hawk that I never got a good look at led to my getting stuck in the mud.
The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Brown Thrasher above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The frog above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The frog above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
My lesson learned is to advise you to stay on primary roads here at all times unless you are walking. I was chastised by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission employee that questioned what I had done when I requested a wrecker to tow my vehicle.
The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
Babcock-Webb WMA is a venue that should be explored by you when possible.
The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Babcock/ Webb Wildlife Management Area in May 2014.
Please also see:
A Garden Of Eden Part I
Please also see:
A Garden Of Eden Part II
Spectacular shots of some iconic species (esp. the thrasher!). I have been unsuccessful at getting Bachman's Sparrow at this venue although they are reported as being regular.
ReplyDelete"Florida Wildlife Blog and Photography" has been included in Sites To See #377. Be assured that I hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.
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