Baby Bald Eagles - Almost ready to fly

These are a pair of eaglets born to two bald eagles who have used the same nest for at least 6 years.  These (probably females) are very healthy and active.  This will probably be my last photos of them for this season, because it's pretty clear they are only days away from flying away from the nest.  They have exceptional parents who come very often and feed them, as well as chase off other birds such as vultures and osprey.  It's fun to watch the progress of the eaglets.

One of the chicks is on the branch to the right.  The other, still on the nest. 

 

This is funny - she was jumping up and down trying to fly.

 

Huge wingspan for a bald eagle!

 

They are excited because they hear the parent bringing them food.

 

The adult flying in with a fish

 

The parent swoops in and drops off the fish to the screaming offspring!

 

The parents of these eaglets are never far away.  This one sits in a tree nearby and watches for predators.

 

The eaglets are fed, quiet and calm!

 

These chicks are about 3 months old; born around January 11, 2014.

 

from the Sun Sentinel:  The Pembroke Pines eagles, whose nest was discovered seven years ago, are an indication of the recovery of a species that had been down to just 80 nesting pairs statewide 40 years ago. Following the banning of the pesticide DDT in 1972, there are more than 1,500 nesting pairs in Florida, home to the third-largest population in the United States, after Alaska and Minnesota.

Catsitting my 2 little buddies, Jane and Tarzan.  They are pampered, spoiled felines!  Jane demands I pet her all the time; and Tarzan demands I brush him all the time!  They are so sweet!

 

 

Watch how he hollers when I stop brushing!  (Click play to play the video.)

 

Neighborhood Gray Fox!

Cool sighting in my neighborhood today - A Gray Fox.  He was just walking around from house to house.  Very cute!  This is the reason I ALWAYS carry my camera!

 

 

 

 

My yard today!

Baby Bald Eagles

This is a bald eagle nest in South Florida.  I have been going to see this nest every year since 2009.  Each year, the adult pair have laid between 1 and 3 eggs (only one year was there 3).  This year there are two eaglets.

These eaglets hatched sometime around January 10th - 11th, 2014, making them just a little over 2 months old.  They were very active today and waiting for their parent to bring them some good eats.  The parent didn't disappoint.  While I was there he/she flew into the nest and dropped off a fish for them.  Awesome sight. 

 

The parent flew onto a branch above the nest; you can see the fish in her left talon.

 

She flew into the nest for just a moment and dropped off the fish.  She usually stays at the nest for a while, but didn't this day.  There were vultures flying above the nest, so I would imagine she went to chase them off - as she often does.

50th Annual Key Biscayne Art Festival

It was another beautiful day in sunny South Florida.  A perfect day for the 50th Annual Rotary Key Biscayne Art Festival.  There were a lot of people out enjoying this free art show!

The traffic is SO annoying in South Florida.  I long for the day I live in a place with NO traffic.  Where I am the only one on the road!

 

That being said, as soon as you get to Key Biscayne, you get awesome views such as this!

 

Beautiful Day.

 

There was some nice art!

 

Great day to walk around.

 

The Pink Ladies!

 

I looooved this art.  Characters made out of old tin things.  Very unique!

 

This was pretty too.  The artist took old window frames and put artwork in them.  Very nice!

 

NOW, this is the reason I come to an art festival!  The eats!

 

I am HAPPY - corn and an icee!  Great day!

Same Birds, Different Day (Shark Valley, Everglades Natl Park)

Taking advantage of my National Park pass that's good for 7 days, I visited  SHARK VALLEY again today.  It was a beautiful day in South Florida and there were a lot of birds (and other critters) out and about!

Lots of herons, great and small, blue and green, and even some black-crowned night and some juvenile black-crowned nights!

Great Blue

 

Black-Crowned Night Heron

 

Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron

 

Little Blue - Big Blue

 

Little Blues

 

Little Green

 

I think I startled him!

 

 

Baby Gators

 

This one was only about a foot long!

 

Getting some of this warm Florida sunshine!

 

Some kind of snake!

 

LAZY!

 

Baby Anhinga

 

Little turtle peeking up out of the water.

 

Purple Gallinule

 

Snowy Egret

 

Butterfly.

 

YELLOW JACKET (I think)