The Winter of Our Content
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A splash to our right caused us to reflexively look in that direction, although we knew the source. An Osprey rose from the lake’s surface with a small catfish, shook off excess water and flew to a nearby pine tree limb to enjoy her finny snack. She and her mate have been busy with their annual home-improvement project. Soon, the branches will have been arranged in a manner which she approves, a few leaves and soft Spanish moss will add just the right texture and muted decor suitable for the nursery. For now, though, plenty of protein is needed to ensure Mom remains healthy.
It was about 30 minutes past sunrise and it was “cold” this morning. “Chilly” if you are a southerner but not a native Floridian. “Pleasant” if you live in the nation’s mid-section. Downright “balmy” if you reside in the Dakota’s. Florida’s average winter temperature is around 61 F/16 C. This day dawned at 45 F/7 C. The good news? No wind.
In her inimitable common-sense philosopher fashion, Gini pondered why our world’s incredible technological advances have not yet figured out a way to make a copy of this morning’s weather so we can duplicate it on demand during the second week of August. In my inimitable no-sense ignoramus fashion, I had no answer.
Realizing, once again, that we could not solve the weighty problems besetting the universe, we kept calm and carried on. The sunrise over Pine Lakes was delicious as a few clouds and light mist above the water’s surface added a bit of drama to the scene. Although we are in the middle of winter migration, most of the birds we encountered on our short visit today seemed like old friends. A Great Blue Heron in the buffet line at Picnic Lake, the Loggerhead Shrike at the dove field (annoyed at our intrusion, as usual), the male American Kestrel which was too busy hunting to notice us, Cattle Egrets, Red-shouldered Hawks – all common birds. All uncommonly attractive.
It was, for us, a fairly short morning. After about an hour, we realized it was still cold. We had been enjoying ourselves so much, it just didn’t matter.
Gini agreed that every morning should start like this. How could I argue? Sunrise over Pine Lakes.
When the water is too deep for wading, the Great Blue Heron doesn’t mind standing on a fence rail until breakfast appears.
Yes, he was exasperated that we interrupted the hunt to take his picture. The Loggerhead Shrike was just SURE we would never spot him behind that huge tree trunk.
Florida’s version of autumn color includes the feathery leaves of Cypress trees becoming rusty.
North America’s smallest falcon is the American Kestrel. This colorful male simply doesn’t care that the utility pole does not make a photogenic perch. He only cares that from up there he can spot a grasshopper hiccup at a hundred yards.
(Western) Cattle Egret, all beak and no cattle. It’s okay. He’ll find plenty of breakfast items from which to select as he marches through the weedy pasture. This individual is beginning to show a bit of breeding plumage as portions of head, breast and back feathers will soon turn more golden. These are such abundant birds in our area that it’s difficult to believe there were none in North America prior to 1952.
A patch of golden jewels swaying in the slight late morning breeze beckoned us closer. Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia), a member of the Aster family, often dies back during late winter months. We have had no days of below freezing temperature, so this group is happy to keep shining on ’til Spring. We are happy they decided to do so.
Perches for birds can be anything handy. A bale of hay, for example. An immature Red-shouldered Hawk appeared to spot some movement, but she eventually began to scan the area again as we left her in peace.
We found a few tourists out and about this morning as well as our regulars. This Palm Warbler was in a group of about two-dozen. They will remain until mid-March when they will begin their return to northern breeding areas. We’ll miss those wagging tails.
Years living in upstate New York and north-eastern Germany provided these two native Floridians a renewed sense of appreciation for Florida winters. We loved playing in the snow and teaching our kids to swordfight with icicles. However, the Sunshine State is our home. We are – content.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
As you know, “Keep Calm and Carry On” is our national slogan as long as we remember to drink tea while doing so. We in UK even made a series of films about Carrying On, films that if you can find one, now begin with a graphic warning that the viewer may be offended by the contents, the double entendres within or the portrayal of now protected species.
Maybe you and Gini could order a full night’s catch up viewing of including Carry On Follow That Camel, Carry On Matron, Carry On Behind etc, etc. Ooh Er!
How awful that you had both to endure a 45 F/7 C start to your day. Out of interest, is it possible to buy woolly hats and gloves in Florida for such extremely cold mornings? I can send you two sets if necessary one large one small?
Please advise Gini that at this very moment eminent scientists are working on a system to change Earth’s climate to include the ability to replicate the weather of any given day, past, present or future. All will soon be available via the Internet at https://climatescamusefulidiots,com for the very reasonable bargain payment of $20,000 a month. If you send the first payment to me I will ensure it reaches the right place.
Over here the Cattle Egret has undergone a similar explosion of success that is not quite as good as the one of Little Egret since the 1960s but it does seem to be catching up. Of course lazy “journalists”, even in bird magaizines ascribe these success stories to man-made Climate Warming when in fact, as we know, it is niche migratory species moving to new areas to enhance the species’ ability to survive and flourish.
Sad news. When we returned to top up, LIDL had sold out of ouzo in their Greek Week. Luckily they had lots of thick gooey Greek Honey to dribble into my glass of fresh lemon and chilled ouzo. Magic for these chilly nights. Cheers.
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We were inspired by accidentally seeing a “Keep Calm” placard during an ancient British movie of some sort. We attempted to follow the rules, but drank coffee, since it’s our patriotic duty. Perhaps the caffeine contributed to never achieving a state of calmness while we carried on.
We appreciate your kind offer of the warm clothing but the Florida Tourist Police have outlawed such items to be worn, sold or possessed in The Sunshine State as it would send the wrong message to potential visitors bearing cash. We shall comply.
Gini says thanks ever so much for the fair weather news and rest assured that “the check’s in the mail”. In a fit of femine guile, she made it out to Sue.
Animals going where they have the best chance of survival. Hope the Egrets have not alerted humans to this possibility. Oops – too late.
Honey, lemon and alcohol is a sure-fire cure for just about anything one could imagine.
Must run now and adjust the air conditioning down a notch. Winter is approaching its demise.
All the best from the Colonies.
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Normally I would be super-jealous of 45F weather in the middle of February, but I have to admit it was 63F here in the Midwest today – a great day for a 10 mile long run. Your Shrike picture made me laugh – they think their clever, but the dead bodies usually hanging all around them tend to give them away ha. That’s a good look at the Palm, very nice capture. Enjoy the weather, I am sure ours will turn back to normal before too long.
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We are now in the peculiar season of Florida’s late winter where we need the heater in the morning and the A/C by noon.
Butcher Bird’s are definitely one of my favorites. Not only do they offer excellent insect collections to enjoy but once in awhile they offer a surprise. Like a House Sparrow and that Brown Bat. And as Spring approaches, they actually have a lovely song. Who knew?
Careful on those runs and enjoy your normal weather.
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Hi. Yes, we are OK but suffering from global raining. via the Jet Stream now stuck over the UK for months on end. My car got stuck in mud at the farm but luckily Sue was with me to give it a shove out to dry land and allow me not to get muddy trainers.
Pre Xmas my gout turned into a nasty period of arthritic discomfort that severely limited my mobility. With not getting out I have no news or pictures to post but hoping to remedy that very soon. We have kept busy and close with shopping and other interests. I think Sue is enjoying having me around the house more!!
Lots of love to Gini and thanks for the message. Out shopping this morning in the rain and wind. It’s Greek Week at LIDL.
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Extremely glad to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to provide an update.
The news from the “TeeVee Climate Specialists” had alluded to a bit of extra dampness in far away lands but details were lost in the alarm over melting glaciers – or was it unusually high snow fall amounts – I forget. I just know it was something catastrophic so we’re still hiding under the bed until it passes.
Sympathy and empathy regarding gout. I’ve had it for a long time and without good medication I’m reduced to a whimpering limp mess.
Shopping in any weather sounds positively exhilarating. (I truly hope SWMBO doesn’t see this and if she does I really, really hope she recognizes my attempt at sarcasm.)
Take good care of yourself. Birds, blogs and blog addicts will wait. I have it on good authority from a little orphan girl that The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.
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I was just been trying to catch up with all of your rich, informative, and inspiring posts of late! I must try to get to my WordPress reader more regularly. Your photos are wonderful and you’re a great storyteller.
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You are really kind. Thank you.
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Well-deserved compliments, I assure you.
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Love this post, it has all the ingredients for happiness. Don’t know if I’m ready for the 3D Weather Printer; I’d be ordering “bright clouds and 60F” while my neighbor wanted “sunny and 85F”. Maybe a set of rose-colored glasses would be better.
You inspired me to read up on the Cattle Egret. They have quite a prolific history, moving between continents, and establishing new populations quite readily, often following the development of the cattle ranching industry. And they haven’t become pests – a true success story/ I can’t wait to see them here in their breeding plumage, they are so pretty!
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Thank you so much Sam.
We’ll continue to take whatever weather shows up. Makes life more exciting.
It’s hard to believe the ubiquitous Cattle Egrets I grew up with are such relative newcomers. Gini says watching them change to their breeding plumage is like watching your marshmallow roast over the campfire. White to light brown spots to perfection. (And then there’s mine – in flames. Hope no egrets attempt that one!)
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My husband tells a story of camping out with kids and showing them how to roast marshmallows. Invariably, they burned some, but he ate them with gusto, exclaiming at how delicious even the blackened ones were… and then he realized that the kids were spoofing him, and burning his marshmallows on purpose. Everyone fell over laughing when their trick finally dawned on him. Fun times!
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The only thing better than camping is camping with kids. (Or those who may be kids at heart.)
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Beautiful photos and a very productive morning. It would be nice to dial up that sunrise every morning to give you inspiration for the day!
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Thanks, Peter.
Perhaps our great-great-grandchildren will wake up one day and want a pretty sunrise and will shout: “There’s an app for that!”
Have a great weekend.
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Beautiful pictures!
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Thank you very much.
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I know there are some photographers who think anything between a bird and the lens — twigs, for example — is a disqualifier, but I especially like the photo of the Loggerhead Shrike. The curves surrounding the bird are pleasant, and the way one bit obscures one of the bird’s eye really makes it look more the predator that it is. If that eye were fastened on me, I might think about relocating.
It took me a long time to properly identify a few bits of Narrowleaf Silkgrass that I found in east Texas; it is a pretty thing. Seeing so much of it in a single spot is really something, and a reminder to keep it on my ever-expanding list of ‘look-fors.’
It’s almost rodeo time in Houston, so “all beak, no cattle” really made me laugh. The human equivalents will be roaming the urban fields soon.
Your photo of the pond is nearly perfect. Spanish moss on both sides to frame the water, and russet leaves floating in the foreground to go with the trees: on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d put that one at about a 9.92. Something must be missing; I just don’t know what it is.
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I have “evolved” from thinking of myself as a “photographer” and accepted the fact I am, instead, a “picture-taker of things I like”. So far, I prefer the latter. Fewer rules.
Butcher birds are one of my favorites. They have a surprisingly nice song. My goal is to add to my library (of two) images of the subject expelling a pellet.
We liked the way that little bunch of silkgrass appeared to be blown by the wind. There was no wind. They were likely reaching for the sun.
Rodeo! My son will be braving the dime-store Stetson-and-spur gangs to take the kids. I wish them luck.
I’ll take a 9.92 any time. Thank you. (Where was an alligator when I needed one?)
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I see nothing wrong with your winter, Wally, although I suspect that it’s not for me. My only quarrel with the English winter is that the soaring costs of heating bills is getting a bit daunting. Slightly more worrying is the unprecedented wind and rain that we’re experiencing this winter.
Printing one’s own climate is probably a few years off, but could be a useful climate stablisation tool. I suspect that we’ll have the ability to send each other wildlife by email before that happens, however.
Lindsay had her second knee replacement late on Tuesday – all went well, and I got her home again late yesterday.
I hope that all is good there. Best wishes to you both – – – Richard
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I don’t know who originated it, but the old saying “everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it” probably would hold true if we were to develop “designer weather” as well.
On days of rain and wind, I will be whining loudly until I can get outside again. Poor Gini.
We are both extremely glad to hear things went well for Lindsay on Tuesday. Now our fingers remain crossed for the recovery phase. For you both.
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Love seeing the variety of birds enjoying the Florida winter! Jealous!!
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And we love sharing the variety of birds enjoying the Florida winter!
Don’t be jealous. Come join us.
Thank you so much for visiting and leaving such kind words.
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Unlike people in climes closer to the poles, anyone who’ are’s a glorious son of a Floridian winter is content indeed.
Did you see evidence that a spider was behind the pulled-together ray florets of the “bashful bloom,” or is this a species whose flower heads tend to do that on their own?
This former New Yorker is curious to know what part of upstate New York you used to live in.
Maybe technologists will improve 3-D printers to the point that they’ll be able to print out pleasant mornings.
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I checked the “bashful bloomer” but saw no obvious spider manipulation. Will need to do more research to see if this one naturally does such a thing.
I attended Syracuse University and Gini and I fell in love with autumn color, apple orchards, deep clear lakes and yes, even snow.
I reckon if we were able to print out pleasant days, we would soon become bored with perfection. Imagine that. Longing for cold, wet weather!
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Sorry the edit in my first line didn’t take properly. I’d originally had a plural and thought I’d changed it to a singular. Shakespeare had no such editing problems.
In 1971 I lived for half a year in Union Springs, an hour southwest of Syracuse. It’s pretty country up there, especially with autumn color or when snow-clad, but plenty of people find five or six months of winter hard to bear.
Journalist/commenter Megyn Kelly also graduated from Syracuse University, but years after you did.
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Contentment is something to be grateful for and content about! A fabulous sunrise, blooming flowers, and wonders on wings, including Pine Warblers at Pine Lakes are perfect proof.
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We’re pretty easily contented. Give us a pretty sky and a few birds. What else matters?
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A wonderful set of photos, I love the Palm Warbler on the wire fence! (you know me and wire, ha!)
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Thanks, Donna.
Those wire fences are the perfect height for little warblers taking a break from bug munching.
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