Closer Shots of the Nutria!

OK.. I really wish these guys would find somewhere else to hunker down, but as long as they are here, I'm gonna take some photos. Was about 12 feet away or so on these. He then went back into the neighbor's pond and under their deck.

Bottle Brush

Another sign Spring is right around the corner.... The Bottle Brush has started blooming and will be putting on a great show in a week or so, but took a couple shots of the few blooms out already. Caught another visitor to the garden on one of them.

More Azalea Blooms!

Several of the other azaleas have started blooming. Light pink, light fuscia and a few more of the dark fuscia. The whites and the orange/red ones have not started yet.

Spring is On Its Way!

The azaleas are starting to bloom. I have several different colors on the property and will get shots as they bloom. This is a deep magenta in color.

Woody Woodpecker!

There were actually 4 of them (Pileated Woodpecker) in the yard yesterday, two on the same branch, but could not get a good shot of them, but did get these..... much prettier than the Nutria!

More Flatwoods Plum with a visitor!

More buds opened on the Flatwoods Plum, so took more shots and got some with a honey bee, too.

More Nutria

After scaring about 15 wood ducks out of the pond as I was going to get the paper, I spotted one of the Nutria, so was able to get a few better shots than I had. This big water rat walked through the culverts and down to the neighbor's pond where it went under their deck.

Nutria Shots

These buggers are really doing a number on the water plants! Spotted two in the pond today.

Lovers? or Just Passing By...

While out taking photos this afternoon, I managed to get this shot of a downy woodpecker (left) and a yellow rumped warbler occupying the same space.

Flatwoods Plum

The Flatwoods Plum has begun to bloom. It looks like this year's bloom is going to be a good one. This small tree had a few small fruits on it last year, all eaten by the birds.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Caught this guy in the yard today. I am hard pressed to figure out how this was named a red bellied woodpecker, when I don't see any red on the belly, but it had to be named something! Another gorgeous specimen in the Riverview, Florida garden!

Wood Ducks Part Deux!

Walked out this morning and there was a pair of wood ducks in the lower pond. Typically, they are in the upper pond and scatter at the sight of me, but there were a couple of muscovy ducks in that pond as well, so they cautiously huddled in a corner of the pond. I was able to get a few shots while outside, rather than through the window.