Feature: Domestic Avenue Ponds Part III

Near the close of wildlife observations in 2012 was the thrill of observing Razorbill on Florida's Gulf Coast with the species in great abundance along the Florida peninsula which may not be explained for many years, if ever.

The sunrise (in heavy fog) above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

As of this writing, Razorbills are still being reported on the west coast of Florida. On a near equal scale of excitement was an intense study of Domestic Avenue Ponds which I had earlier been interested in following through reports made by Tom Obrock. The images in this article were captured near sunrise and sunset on 7 December and the late afternoon of 9 Jan 2013 at Domestic Avenue Ponds. The latter trip was made with Frank Constantin visiting from Quebec.

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

The Lesser Scaup 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.

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

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

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

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

The Double-crested Cormorantabove was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ponds are readily found by pressing the link for a map in the sidebar of the blog. The weeks that passed from one visit to the next showed a decline in the number of waterfowl observed. The January visit to the Ponds allowed the fewest numbers of birds and species overall observed. Such is birding. The near count on your fingers Lesser Scaup observed on the last trip to the Ponds seems odd with Dave Freeland reporting an estimated 250,000 of the species on 17 Jan 13 at Indian River Lagoon on the east coast (see link above).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The morning visit to the Ponds offered heavy fog which lifted fairly quickly. The presence of Savannah Sparrow was an unexpected surprise. This species is very rarely observed and first seen in marsh grass at Lovers Key State Park near the beginning of my interest in wildlife observation as I recall. A lone Royal Tern worked the north pond on a few of my visits to Domestic Avenue where this species seems more at home and is certainly in greater abundance at the beach venues.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Boat-tailed Grackle above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

The immature Cooper's Hawk above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in December 2012.

In the many hours that I have devoted to the Ponds thus far, there have been a decent number of species observed in the relatively small area. Sandhill Crane were heard toward the northeast on the last visit to the Ponds. This stately in appearance and extremely vocal species seems to be working the treeline bordering Fiddlesticks. Although it seems the nature of birders to move quickly from one observation point to the next, my routine is to settle down and wait for the action to come to me. Hopefully you see the reward in doing just that.

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

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

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

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

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

The American Coot above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The Ring-necked Duck above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The Lesser Scaup above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The Lesser Scaup above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The American Coot above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The American Coot above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The American Kestrel above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The Ring-necked Duck above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The Lesser Scaup above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

The Lesser Scaup above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

Although my observations at Domestic Avenue Ponds thus far have been limited to a relatively short period of time, I highly recommend you make a visit here.

The Lesser Scaup above was photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in January 2013.

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