Florida Gulf Coast Creations

Author: Gary Walker

  • Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

    Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

    A duck that is common in our area but seldom seen in the rest of the country other than southern Texas and southern Arizona is the black-bellied whistling duck. A few things make them easy to identify in the air. First is their distinctive call. They sound much like a wood duck with more of a crying sound than a quack. Next is their large white patch on their wings. The patches are easy to see because their wing beat is much slower than a typical duck. With most other ducks, males are typically more colorful, especially in winter and spring before mating season. However male and female whistling ducks look alike.

    Black Bellied Whistling Duck Standing Watch
    Black-bellied Whistling Duck on Watch

    Most whistling ducks don’t usually migrate. They may travel out of the area for short periods of time but generally remain nearby. Like wood ducks, whistling ducks may sit above ground in trees. We’ve even seen them perched on telephone lines. They are easy to approach which can be detrimental. It’s not uncommon to see bald eagles carrying them back to their nests to feed their young.

    Black Bellied Whistling Ducks With Ducklings Feeding
    Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with Ducklings Feeding on Duckweed

    For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Heading Toward Fall

    Heading Toward Fall

    Summer is beginning to wind down for many, including wildlife. It seems in Florida that summer is the time to catch up with things like editing and organizing photos and finishing projects that need to be done around the house. While summer is generally quieter for wildlife photography, there are species that we only see from March to August.

    The swallow-tail kite is a magnificent bird that migrates from South America in the spring to breed in Florida. Their diet consists mostly of insects although they also eat lizards and small snakes. They are about the same size as a red-tailed hawk but what makes them so spectacular is their flying skill. They can capture dragonflies out of the air. I was fortunate to witness one take a dragonfly off the tip of a bush in our back yard. I noticed movement in the air and when I looked, the kite had swooped down and picked off the dragonfly and slapped the top of the shrub with its tail just a few feet from where I was standing. Of course, my camera was INSIDE the house. Aargh!! Yet another missed opportunity. Sadly, they are leaving the area now ahead of hurricane season.

    Other birds that are non-migratory are often more visible during the summer months because of breeding activity. Sometimes we see odd behaviors and unusual sights like a bobwhite quail singing from a pine tree.

    Bobwhite Quail Singing In Pine Tree
    Bobwhite Quail Singing in a Pine Tree

    All species of birds of prey nest at different times of the year. Eagles start in late fall / early winter and are followed by owls and hawks that typically nest in early spring. In late spring the ospreys breed while summer is the time for kestrels, kites and caracaras.

    The good news is that we’re heading toward the best time of the year for birding in Florida. The fall migration is near. Many birds will be arriving for the winter while others will be stopping over on their way further south. From October through April, the state transforms into a sanctuary for so many different species.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • U.S. Navy Blue Angels

    U.S. Navy Blue Angels

    Last weekend the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performed at the Great Florida Air Show in Melbourne. My friend and fellow photographer, Art Nadelman and I made the 3-hour drive to see the show. The weather was good, and the performances were great. In addition to the Blue Angels, other acrobats included the U.S. Air Force F16 Viper Demo Team, Skooter Yoke in a P-51 Mustang and Jim Tobul in a U.S. Navy F4U Corsair.

    F4u Corsair Climbing To Right
    US Navy F4U Corsair Climbing Right

    Because the weather cooperated, the Blue Angels were able to fly their “high” show which showcased the versatility and climbing power of their new F/A-18 Super Hornet jets. The show began with the standard 6-plane team but in an unusual twist, we ended up seeing all 7 jets perform due to issues with planes 5 and 6.

    Us Navy Blue Angels Diamond Formation Fly By To Right
    US Navy Blue Angels Fly By to the Right in Diamond Formation

    We wrapped up the day by stopping on the way home to see the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Even though we were 90 miles away we were still able to see the bright thrust and contrail.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Crested Caracaras

    Crested Caracaras

    It’s always a thrill to see a Crested Caracara. They are a Federally designated threatened species so sightings are not real common. Caracaras are usually only found in parts of Florida, Texas and Arizona in the United States. Their range is mainly in Mexico, Cuba and Central America.

    They feed on dead animals like vultures but will also eat insects, frogs, snakes and other small birds. When they’re not scavenging, they like to sit on fence posts or in tall trees. Their vision and sense of smell are amazing. They are normally not real wary so if you do find them at a reasonably close distance, getting a good photo is possible.

    Crested Caracara Pauses In Pasture
    Crested Caracara Pauses in a Pasture

    Recently we were fortunate to come across two perched atop utility poles in a pasture in rural Sarasota County. When we stopped to watch, one cooperated by flying towards us and landing in the field. It walked around the field for several minutes searching for a small animal or likely a nest of meadowlark eggs. A few minutes later the other spotted something and flew and landed 20 feet in front of me. It found a dead meadowlark. It eventually picked up the carcass and flew off to join the other caracara.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Moon Over the Skyway

    Moon Over the Skyway

    This past Monday there was a full “Super” moon. A super moon occurs during the full moon’s closest approach to Earth. As luck would have it, the path of the moonrise allowed for photos of the moon between the spans of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It took a little planning but with some collaboration with about 15 other photographers from around the Tampa Bay area, we were able to get positioned and capture some pretty cool images.

    Super Moon Rising Above Lighted Sunshine Skyway Bridge
    Super Moon Rising Above the Lighted Sunshine Skyway Bridge

    It was a hazy evening which added to the challenge. But overall, the weather and the moon cooperated and made for some real fun. The next super moon occurs on May 26 this year.

  • St. Pete Grand Prix

    St. Pete Grand Prix

    This past weekend the IndyCar series returned to St. Petersburg for the annual Firestone St. Pete Grand Prix. I had the opportunity to attend one of the days and was able to snap some fun photos on a gorgeous day at the track. The event takes place on a temporary street course in downtown St. Petersburg on the shores of Tampa Bay. It’s a beautiful setting and a challenging track for the drivers.

    Josef Newgarden On Brakes Entering Turn 1 St Pete Grand Prix 202
    Josef Newgarden Enters Turn 1 at the St. Pete Grand Prix – 2021

    With Covid-19 restrictions still in place, we had limited access to some areas, but the reduced spectator numbers made for a very nice experience!

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Lakeland

    Lakeland

    One of my favorite photo destinations is Lakeland, FL. As the name implies, Lakeland is a city of lakes. According to recent data, there are 38 named lakes in the city. Lakeland is famous for its population of mute swans that are descendants of a pair of swans given to the city by Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s.

    Mute Swan Chattering
    Mute Swan Chattering

    On our last visit we encountered the swans on their nests. Many were incubating eggs while some little cygnets had already hatched and were kept protected in enclosures. There were still many ducks around including wood ducks, ring-necked ducks, mallards and ruddy ducks. I had not seen a male ruddy duck for many years. A few white pelicans were also cruising the lake.

    Ruddy Duck Male Resting On Lake
    Male Ruddy Duck Resting on a Lake

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Shore Birds

    Shore Birds

    During one of our recent visits to Fort DeSoto State Park in St. Petersburg, we saw several types of shore birds. Some live in this area all year while a few are just temporary residents until returning to distant nesting grounds. The whimbrel is one of the birds that migrates here from way up north along the arctic waters.

    Whimbrel Walking Along Water Edge
    Whimbrel Walking Along the Edge of the Water

    Another shore bird that travels long distances between their winter getaways and their arctic nesting homes is the Ruddy Turnstone. An interesting fact about turnstones is that there are only 2 species of turnstones in the world, and both live in North America.

    Ruddy Turnstone With Worm
    Ruddy Turnstone with a Small Worm

    For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Zebra Longwing Butterfly

    Zebra Longwing Butterfly

    One of my favorite butterflies is a zebra longwing. It is the official state butterfly of Florida. Unlike other butterflies that dart around, the zebra longwing seems to fly slower and is more graceful which may be just an illusion because of their stripe pattern. Zebra longwings are fairly large butterflies which can grow to 4 inches. The are typically not found north of Florida and they can also be seen in south Texas.

    Zebra Longwing Butterfly On White Coreopsis Flower
    Zebra Longwing Butterfly on a White Coreopsis Flower

    An interesting fact about the zebra longwing is that it is the only butterfly that feeds on pollen in addition to flower nectar. This allows them to live longer than other butterflies.

  • More Buntings

    More Buntings

    We visited one of the local nature preserves a few days ago just to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. To our surprise, we found a bunch of indigo buntings along with a single male painted bunting. We thought maybe they had started their journey north for the summer but to our delight, they’re still here. We were even able to get some shots of males that have finished their molting into full color.

    Indigo Bunting Male On Branch
    Male Indigo Bunting on the End of a Branch

    Our backyard painted buntings are also still here. Yesterday we saw multiple males and the lone female at the feeder. We keep hoping that they’ll decide to forego the northern travel and stay here for nesting season! They have been so fun to watch over the past 6 months.

    For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Ducks Unlimited Milestone

    Ducks Unlimited Milestone

    I apologize for getting a little “political” but one thing I learned years ago is that the vast, vast majority of sportsmen and sportswomen are more concerned with actually doing something about the environment than our government. Maybe the best example of this is the Ducks Unlimited organization.

    The attached article highlights the efforts that DU has put forth over the years to restore and save habitat for waterfowl and all the other wildlife that coexists with these beautiful birds. Enjoy!

  • Burrowing Owls on The Move

    Burrowing Owls on The Move

    One of my favorite birds to photograph is the burrowing owl. They are absolutely adorable. The past few years we’ve had to travel 90 minutes to Cape Coral, FL to find them. The city of Cape Coral has become a sanctuary city for the owls.

    Burrowing Owl Stretching Right Wing
    Burrowing Owl Stretching His Right Wing

    But this year, thanks to a tip from fellow photographers and bird watchers, we were able to find a nesting pair much closer to home. It was exciting to see these little birds of prey move north. Unfortunately, loss of habitat has reduced their population over the years to the point of being threatened or even endangered in certain areas.

    Burrowing Owl On Ground By Nest
    Burrowing Owl on the Ground By His Nest

    For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

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