The beautiful Sandhill Crane’s are common around here. I love Spring, when the pairs start nesting and turning up with adorable little yellow chicks. Then you get to watch them grow all Spring and Summer. Of course the first few weeks are the best, I could watch these babes all day…

Yesterday on my way home I stopped by Lake Geneva. Previously there had been loads of Wood Duck’s here with ducklings. Today I only saw one Wood Duck, but it was otherwise bustling with activity: Wood Stork, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Glossy and White Ibis, Common Gallinule, one lone Roseate Spoonbill and a few Sandhill Crane families.

I was taking a photo of the Spoonbill when a Sandhill Crane family spotted me. The parents immediately left their two youngsters and headed towards me. I didn’t know they were so close, taking photos through my camera lens, when suddenly I put the camera down and they were only a few feet away. So, not wanting to disturb the birds, I headed back to my car. Still they followed me and continued down the road a ways as I drove away. WOW way to be territorial and protect those kids! They were even getting quite puffed up about it…

Look at those feathers!

One of the youngsters a ways off.

The parents.

There are a lot of Sandhill Cranes hanging about Viera Wetlands right now. Last year I was happy to observe one couple with it’s young throughout the Spring and Summer, starting with this absolute cuteness:

That was the only pair around then, but last weekend I saw two pairs with little babes, a pair on a nest, and two other pairs wandering around… it’s pretty cool to go and see all the pairs doing their thing.

Sandhill Cranes are common in this area, I’m sure I see them every day. This is the first time I found a nest, it can be seen from the road and I have been keeping an eye from a distance. Finally got a chance to stop and take a few photos. I will continue watching for the little ones, and hope they stay safe!

Here are some photos from recent birdwatching adventures, taken at Viera and Merritt Island. This is my first Spring/Summer birdwatching. I used to only go in the Winter but I am addicted now I have to go all the time, and it’s so interesting.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck.

Purple Gallinule.

White Ibis.

Cattle Egrets.

Sandhill Cranes, the young one still learning from it’s parents.

Tri-color Heron.

Roseate Spoonbill. Intensely pink.

Here are some photos of cute families I saw at Viera Wetlands over the weekend! There were also many families of Great Blue Heron and Anhingas that I didn’t get good photos of but enjoyed watching for a long time on their nests. What a cool place!

Limpkins eating a snail.

Limpkins.

Sandhill Cranes.

Young Sandhill Crane- getting BIG!! Remember the photos I posted when it was a wee thing?

Otters.

Otters.

I went to Viera Wetlands last week and saw some adorable Sandhill Crane chicks. The chicks are so cute, I could hardly stand it. One kept falling behind and it’s parent would go back and get it. Cute!!