Our Natural Places

Monthly Archives: March 2021

(Header Image: Shorebirds At Dusk) There are some occasions when birding becomes secondary. (GASP!!) This was one of those times. The birds were numerous, it was exciting to see species we don’t normally encounter at our inland home turf, observing feeding behavior was fascinating – it was a birders dream day. The mid-afternoon sun was warm and the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean was gentle and kept the air refreshed and comfortable…. Read More

It was getting warm. Comfortable. Not hot. Blue skies, salt water and the constant sounds of birds enveloped us in a cocoon of contentment. We exited East Gator Creek Road after thoroughly enjoying the performance of the Reddish Egret and drove out of the refuge to Parrish Park. The park is just outside the refuge at the beginning of the bridge over the Indian River to the town of Titusville. It’s a… Read More

(Header Image:  Egrets and Ibises head for their nightly roost.) Traffic was relatively sparse as we left the interstate highway at the sign announcing “Disney World!”. We drove past that exit and continued toward Orlando International Airport. It was a Thursday. The glowing green digits of the car’s information panel displayed “4:45 a.m.”. My hand rested comfortably in Gini’s. Escorted by a couple of huge trucks, we cruised by the turnoff for… Read More

(Header Image: Morning In The Swamp) It’s true. We’re spoiled. We have access to some of the best birding locations on the planet. Within a couple of hours, we could be at the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, Ocala National Forest or the vast “river of grass”, the Everglades. Or, we could sleep in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and saunter over to our local state park, which doesn’t swing open the… Read More