Flame-billed Shellsnatcher ~ (Phabricatus Ornithoidii)

For me, The Flame-billed is the most beautiful member of the Shellsnatcher family of birds. They are extraordinary in flight and are efficient fishermen. They are uncommon visitors to the Gulf Coast of Florida. This one was associating with a small group of Sharp-tailed Shellsnatchers and was very cooperative for photos. Nothing brings a tranquil smile to my face like hearing their iconic "Chip-Ip-Chi-Woooo" call.

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**April Fools!**

For those interested:

- Legs are Tricolored Heron (slightly color altered)
- Head is a Brant (added some light feathers)
- Bill is Wood Duck (warped)
- Eye is Eastern Towhee
- Body is American Oystercatcher
- Wing is Wood Stork

Tags:   Bird Birding Flight Florida Frankenstein Nature Shellsnatcher Shorebird Wildlife Wings ocean April Fools

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Fork-tailed Spoonbird (posibli fotoshopus) ~ Pinellas County, Florida

Migration is starting to heat up at Fort De Soto, and although the warblers have not been pouring in yet, the easterly winds have brought us a beautiful FTSP, and in breeding colors. Typically you have to be in the Bahamas to get a look at one of these, but everything seems to come to Fort D eventually.

When Christopher Columbus arrived on the Bahamian Island of Guanahani (San Salvador) in 1492, he encountered "a bird of unparalleled beauty" and many neotropical birders feel that he was talking about this species.

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Tags:   Fork-tailed Spoonbird Wildlife Nature Bird April Fools Florida Fort De Soto Pinellas County

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Juvenile Antillean Kingfisher (knotta birdus) ~ Sarasota County, Florida

West coast Florida birders were treated to great looks at this Antillean Kingfisher. They are normally found in the Lesser Antilles and a few other islands. What was most striking to me about the bird was its large head relative to his body which serves an important purpose. The added weight allows the kingfisher to get deeper below the surface where larger prey can be found. The weight also helps the hunting as gravity propels the bird to simply fall into the water at great speeds with minimal wing movement to not scare the fish.

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Tags:   Florida Nature Wildlife Antillean Kingfisher Rarity Sarasota County Fish April Fools

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Sharp-tailed Shellsnatcher in winter plumage (aprillus foolus) ~ Fort DeSoto Florida

On my last trip to Fort DeSoto I had two lifers. The groove-billed ani and this shellsnatcher. The sharp-tailed variety are a west coast bird that sometimes can be found on Florida's gulf coast during migration. You can imagine how amazed I was seeing this one stroll down the beach making its notorious "chip-ip-chi-woo" call.

Happy 1st of April ;)

Tags:   Sharp-tailed Clameater Clameater Shorebird April Fools Florida Rare Bird Bird Bird Red Eye Nature Wildlife

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Boreal Humming Hawk (harhar funnius) - McNab's Island, Nova Scotia

Another wintery day here in Nova Scotia, so back into the archives. Not long ago I had an opportunity to head to McNab's Island in Halifax harbour to see the elusive and beautiful boreal humming hawk with the local bird society. Their colors really stand out against our northern backdrop. A rare treat, and certainly a lifer. Their name comes from their hummingbird like head, but they are in fact a bird of prey. Their beak is used to dispatch its prey in a 'lance-like' fashion, its tongue is able to make sure no unused bit of food goes untouched.

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Tags:   Bird Photography Hunter Nature Nikon d7000 Post Small Falcon Wildlife. Arctic Aprilfools

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