Approaching mid morning at the Clik ponds in Viera, Melbourne, FL on April 3, 2018. The birds were active on the east side, which made for good lighting that pleased both my friend Terri and me.
I thought that the whistling came from its wings, but research told me they really do have a whistle in their call. And they are more goose- or swan-like than duck-like.
This smallish alligator floats very still with nostrils and eyes above the surface, looking for something to eat. When it comes time to grab something alligators are very fast.
What the ...? This Florida Softshell turtle is certainly different. With a nose only Jimmy Durante could love, and a flat, pancake-like carapace (upper shell), this is one strange beast.
Some birds look so much like others that they are difficult to tell apart. No other bird, at least not in the U.S., is colored like this juvenile. There is no mistaking what this is.
