Often mistaken as buzzards, Turkey Vultures are scavengers. You will most likely see Black Vultures not too far behind, especially if there is carrion.
These are one of my favorite birds that I truly have the utmost respect for.
Don’t forget International Vulture Day is September 7th. (First Saturday in September)
Links:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/turkey-vulture
Unlike the Anhinga who spear their food with their sharp straight beak the Double-Crested Cormorant hooks it’s prey.
Juveniles have pale white/brown chests with patches of darker brown and the adults are dark brown/black. These birds are powerful swimmers.
By the sizes of these, I am assuming a couple of years old. I occasionally drive around Bayport, and I am surprised that I didn’t see them when they were younger, or maybe they were breed somewhere else and moved to this location.
Links:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/overview
https://www.fws.gov/southeast/faq/double-crested-cormorants/
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/double-crested-cormorant
Recently in Tampa, Lettuce Lake Park has a great boardwalk for nature photographers and while observing the Black-crowned Night Heron, I learned something.
This is just an observation guess… notice what the bird does while its beak is in the water. My guess is that by gently snapping into the water creates a vibration which will bring fish or other species from underwater to the surface.
Pretty neat!
Links:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-crowned_Night-Heron/overview
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-crowned-night-heron
