Here is a male Wood duck with the light shining through his wing feathers. Taken at Silver Springs Park, which is located near Gainesville, Florida.
(Aix sponsa)

Tags:   .birds Aix sponsa Bird Dick and Vicki Vautrinot Gainesville Nature Silver Springs Wood Duck avian backlit flight flying

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This is a male Least Bittern who luckily gave a "I'm leaving" look just before takeoff. (Ixobrychus exilis)

Tags:   wakodahatchee Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis bittern flying male

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Burrowing owls live in holes in the ground, or occasionally other crevices or holes near the ground. The male stands guard outside then nest and is usually paler than the female, otherwise identical to her. I believe he's more bleached by the sun. I've seen them eat various insects, frogs, and lizards and know that they also prey upon small rodents. I believe they cache their food as I've seen them more than once fly off and return with a desiccated frog. This one was off to get some shade in a nearby tree. Here in south Florida, I believe the chicks, if not hatched, are close to hatching and will soon be exploring the world above the surface.

Tags:   .birds Athene cunicularia Burrowing Owl flying owl wings down bestofnature

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Anonymous Fisherman: When I both took and look at this picture I can't help but put myself in this guys place and make up stories about him and about what he's thinking and the comfort of alone time.

Tags:   Dick and Vicki Vaudtrinot Dick and Vicki Vautrinot Gainesville

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This pair of Barred Owls successfully reared their one chick and took a moment in the shade to show their affection. They would take turns grooming each other. To shoot in the shade, it's necessary to overexpose the background. For the non-nerds among us, it's called "high-key". (Strix varia)

Tags:   Everglades National Park everglades Strix varia Barred Owl affection bonding high Key high-key owls

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