My Best Daily Shots

03/14/11 - Toco Toucon or is it Mr. Fruit Loop?

The kids and I traveled back to Scotland Neck yesterday to go to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park. We really enjoy our visits there seeing all the birds and walking the easy trail. There's a beaver blind and a treehouse as well as a playground area with fossil dirt brought in from Aurora for the kids to look for fossil teeth.

The Toco Toucon obviously stands out for his color and personality, and this is Johnny's favorite bird at the park. Easy for me as the photographer to fall in love with that beautiful blue eye. This was our 3rd visit to the park, and each time we've spent a good bit of time visiting with this bird.

This guy is a native to parts of Africa. Not on any endanged lists thank goodness. Males and femlaes look the same only males are larger. They live in more open areas than forest areas. They like fruits like figs but also eat reptiles and insects and even sometimes small birds.

Link to Joey's POTD:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1215884498_UAtxo

Thanks for your comments on the St. Patrick's Day Parade collage.

Best bird collage from yesterday:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215665275_g82PM
Putting all the ones I like side by side like that helps me pick sometimes.

Best kid collage:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215667474_aRfn2

The unique crop is because he's in a cage. Although the eye detail is not so nice if you line things up to get his whole beak in beause it's so long. Here's a shot from our last visit that shows his full beak (and a sweet gum ball he's playing with):

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/SylvanHeightsWaterfowlParkScot/Sylvan-Heights-022011/15917697_ZVfEA#1193792092_7ZqtL

I spent some time trying out a polarizing filter yesterday. I wan't impressed. I may try again.

HAGD,
Maryann

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