Since moving to the Florida Gulf Coast in June 2018, I’ve found real pleasure in admiring and photographing the local birds. At times, it seems that my camera is drawn mostly to waterbirds – but then I spent over an hour just standing near a bald eagle’s nest in hopes of seeing a white head.
![Great Blue Heron, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds-600x400.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds-400x267@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_16_FL-Early-Birds-600x400@2x.jpg 1200w)
The array of big showy birds that can be found here on the Pinellas Peninsula (from Clearwater Beach to St. Pete) has been so wonderfully consuming, that I haven’t made much time for photographing the smaller inland birds or the more common waterbirds, like gulls and ducks.
Actually, I still have a ton of photos I need to still sort through that include quite a few birds types not part of this selection. Another day…
Of course, there are also still so many rare birds I haven’t had a chance to photograph at all. And other birds, I’m hoping to catch again under better lighting conditions – mainly the roseate spoonbill, black skimmer and black-crowned night-heron.
The photos below are a small selection of favorites.
If you want to see more, check out my bird photo galleries: Colorful Birds, Florida Early Birds and Egrets, I’ve Had A Few
All photos are available for purchase. For any photos you don’t see in the store, just contact me.
![three pink roseate spoonbills with bills in the air, standing in water with night heron](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill.jpg 960w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill-600x400.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill-90x60.jpg 90w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill-135x90.jpg 135w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FloridaBirds_LuciWest_10_spoonbill@2x.jpg 1920w)
![Pelican watching sunset on channel marker sign, silhouette](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1366w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_25_FL-Early-Birds-600x900@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Osprey, fish, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds-300x200@2x.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds-300x200.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds-400x267@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_15_FL-Early-Birds-600x400@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Great White American Egret, taking flight, Florida bird, water, wings, wingspan, take-off](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-400x400.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-50x50@2x.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-300x300@2x.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-150x150@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-75x75@2x.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-75x75.jpg 75w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-50x50.jpg 50w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-400x400@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-100x100@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_40_FL-Early-Birds-600x600@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Yellow-Crowned Night Heron , Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 819w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds-240x300.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1638w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds-400x500@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds-600x750@2x.jpg 1200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_34_FL-Early-Birds-240x300@2x.jpg 480w)
![Great Horned Owl, Florida Bird on Honeymoon Island](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 819w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-120x150@2x.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-120x150.jpg 120w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1638w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-240x300@2x.jpg 480w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-400x500@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_33_FL-Early-Birds-600x750@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Nanday parakeet, parrot, green body, black face, head, Florida bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 819w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds-240x300.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1638w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds-400x500@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds-600x750@2x.jpg 1200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_32_FL-Early-Birds-240x300@2x.jpg 480w)
![black with red head Turkey vulture, all black vulture, dead raccoon, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds-300x200@2x.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds-300x200.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds-400x267@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_04_FL-Early-Birds-600x400@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Ibis, white bird, long curved red orange beak, bill, lake, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds-300x200@2x.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds-300x200.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds-400x267@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_06_FL-Early-Birds-600x400@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Snowy Egret in flight at sunset , Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 673w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds-200x300@2x.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds-200x300.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1346w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_36_FL-Early-Birds-600x900@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Pelican in Flight, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds-300x200@2x.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds-300x200.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds-400x267@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_12_FL-Early-Birds-600x400@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Great Blue Heron Silhouette at Sunset, Belleair Bluffs, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 819w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds-240x300.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1638w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds-400x500@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds-600x750@2x.jpg 1200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_31_FL-Early-Birds-240x300@2x.jpg 480w)
![Andhinga, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds-400x225.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds-300x169@2x.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds-300x169.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds-400x225@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_37_FL-Early-Birds-600x338@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Great White Egret, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds-200x300@2x.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds-200x300.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1366w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_29_FL-Early-Birds-600x900@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Bald Eagle on burnt tree in Honeymoon Island State Park, Florida.](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_35_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 570w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_35_FL-Early-Birds-200x300@2x.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_35_FL-Early-Birds-200x300.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_35_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1140w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_35_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w)
![Brown Pelican, harbor, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds-200x300@2x.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds-200x300.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1366w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_27_FL-Early-Birds-600x900@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Great Blue Heron and Clearwater South Beach, Sand Key, fishing pier, Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds-200x300@2x.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds-200x300.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1366w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_28_FL-Early-Birds-600x900@2x.jpg 1200w)
![Adult Bald Eagle in Nest , Florida Bird](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds-200x300@2x.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds-200x300.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds@2x.jpg 1366w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds-400x600@2x.jpg 800w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LuciWest_26_FL-Early-Birds-600x900@2x.jpg 1200w)
Wow these photos are beautiful 😍
Thank you so much!