Header Image: Eastern Phoebe Eyes Bagworm Moth
We seem to relish foggy days. For one, as Gini noted on this day, it just seems so quiet. The stillness of an early morning on the bank of a lake blanketed in gray with sight and sound limited heightens the senses. More importantly, we know clear skies lurk just above the mist and the natural world will soon be going about the business of surviving another day. As will we.
This particular visit to Tenoroc Fish Management Area took place in mid-December. Morning temperatures were mild but made to seem cooler by the fog. Not too long after sunrise, we were basking in the warm Florida sun under bright blue skies.
Small birds were active but fairly silent while the fog clung to the earth. Visibility improved slowly and the morning commuter flocks could navigate from roosts to feeding areas. Scores of White Ibis, Double-crested Cormorant and Anhinga crisscrossed the patchwork of lakes. A pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks whistled overhead. A Great Blue Heron materialized from the fog and flapped his way onto a cypress tree branch. A distant screech from a Red-shouldered Hawk seemed to signal the official start of the day.
We progressed slowly from one favorite spot to another. Lingering along a trail or at a boat ramp or fence row provided an incredible diversity of our three main goals: birds, blooms and bugs. Migratory birds were sprinkled throughout our morning which increased the pleasure provided by our normal resident population. At this time of year we don’t encounter as many insects as during warmer months, but we still came across butterflies, moths, dragonflies and small creepies and crawlies all enjoying the relative winter warmth. A few flowers brightened up the landscape.
One day I will concentrate on including fewer images and creating shorter blog posts. This is not that day.
The pretty panorama of Picnic Lake was mostly obscured by the morning fog.
Bright yellow blooms in the water are but a memory. American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea) in winter.
The strength of the sun will soon overcome the damp gray blanket hugging the earth.
A positive result of the delayed sunrise is that the Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba) remain open longer. This bloom measured almost eight inches in diameter.
With its bright yellow eyes, a Common Grackle just chased away my opportunity to photograph our first observed migratory American Robin of this season. Sigh.
Skulking in the lower portion of the brush is another winter migrant, the Swamp Sparrow.
I was hoping to change to the macro lens for a detailed image of this spectacular Arrowhead Spider (Verrucosa arenata), but she was much quicker than me. Two clicks with the big lens and she disappeared.
One of our (many) favorite winter visitors is the Northern Harrier. Their distinct owl-like face and low, lilting flight as they hunt over a marsh or field make them quite unique. This one was uncharacteristically perched in a large field. Based on the fairly dark plumage, especially of the head, this is likely an immature bird. I thought it had just captured breakfast, but after 20 minutes it took flight with no evidence of prey.
Our presence may have been detected. This young Red-tailed Hawk wouldn’t stop squawking about us. More like “Tattle-tale” Hawk.
Winter dragon. Like the Harrier above, this male Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) is normally airborne and we’re always surprised to find one sitting still. Dozens of these were active over the same field where we found the Harrier and Hawk.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are among our most common winter migrant songbirds. The majority of these handsome birds fly on to South America but thousands remain in the area until spring.
Gini thinks too much coffee may be the reason a Ruby-crowned Kinglet seems to never hold still. Fidgety, constantly flexing its little wings, hopping from one twig to another. These are considered “short-distance” migrants since in the fall they move from far-north breeding grounds to the southern part of North America and typically no further. We appreciate them entertaining us all winter!
Speaking of fidgety and entertaining. Meet the House Wren. These little brown jobs are all over the place in winter! They may be small but they are intensely aggressive. They have a surprisingly loud and beautiful song.
More tourists. Savannah Sparrows are easily identified (for a sparrow) by the striped breast, distinct face pattern and usually a bit of yellow over the eye. This is our most abundant migratory sparrow.
It may not be as brightly colored as some butterflies, but we think the Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) is stunningly beautiful!
With no trace of fog remaining, an Eastern Bluebird has plumage which is nearly a match for the morning’s recently revealed bright sky.
More blue revealed! This time in the eyes of a White Ibis as it probes the shallows for breakfast.
Our imagination thinks the flowers are grateful for the sun’s rays and open a little wider in thanks. This Climbing Aster (Symphyotrichum carolinianum) bloom is one of dozens adorning the bank of a lake.
We began the day on the shore of a lake straining to see what might be in the distance. As the fog cleared, so did our vision and our spirits. Life can be like that. Gloom can restrict our sense of what is important. Eventually, barriers are overcome and all is right with the world.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
A few weeks ago we had a chance to escape to our patch before the dire weather predictions came crashing down around us. Sunny skies and warm temperatures – the way a Florida winter should be!
For something a bit different, our trip began in mid-afternoon and we remained until sunset. We had a wonderful outing and saw more than we expected. We even spotted a few critters other than birds! When we first arrived, threatening clouds moved in but quickly scudded off to the east leaving us with bright blue skies overhead.
We typically see more birds in the mornings but we scared up a few migratory visitors as well as a couple of familiar residents. The calendar said it was December. For us, it could have been March. Our thoughts were with those in cold environments as snow and wind and ice certainly make life more challenging. Once that weather system reached us a few days later, our temperatures flirted with near freezing for three or four days and rain made being outside a bit uncomfortable. Not life-threatening as some have had to contend with.
At our final stop as the sun headed for the horizon we were treated to Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks overhead, wading birds hoping for a final frog feast, a curious mammal and a somewhat pleasant view of the sun through the lakeside cypress trees. A very nice afternoon.
The scene at our first stop was pretty dramatic. As thunder rolled in the distance, we wondered if we should head back to the house. Press on, she said. Good decision. (As usual.)
Adding to the local woodpecker population during migration. a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker probes a tree trunk for snacks.
Warm weather encourages many insects to breed in late fall. One result is that we get to enjoy adults such as this Gulf Fritillary (Dione incarnata).
Florida’s state bird, the Northern Mockingbird, may be very common, but he’s also very handsome. Or, she may be very beautiful.
An Anhinga and Great Blue Heron compare wing display techniques.
A warm sunny afternoon is not only welcoming to explorers, but a Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) thinks the road is just fine for soaking up the last rays of the day. I suspect he just had a meal as he didn’t move at all when I came a bit closer to get a photograph. Normally, they disappear very quickly.
Making hay while the sun is still shining. Mrs. Phoebe finds the top of this bale just perfect for spotting any movement in the field below.
Our patch does not contain much in the way of shallow wetlands or marshes, but a pair of Wilson’s Snipe decided a small drainage ditch by the side of the road to be quite suitable for foraging. These are also winter visitors.
There were not a lot of dragonflies flitting about, but a few got our attention. This bright male Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) even perched for us. They typically remain airborne forever it seems.
Yet another of our fall/winter tourists is the Savannah Sparrow. The light was beginning to wane but we could still enjoy the bird’s warm brown plumage and the bit of yellow in front of the eye. This bird was part of a group of six other sparrows which were part of a group of 20+ Palm Warblers. Fun!
A movement in a cypress tree turned out to be a Raccoon illuminated by the setting sun. We told her we meant no harm but I think she felt better once we departed.
As we reluctantly prepared to head home, the sun twinkled through the trees and a lone little cloud appeared above the lake. Was this the beginning of our cold front?
Autumn was ending. Winter was ravishing the lands to our far north. We appreciated a warm and rewarding calm afternoon before the storm.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
It’s that time of year when we sweep out the old in preparation for the new.
In a dusty corner of the archive closet, covered in cobwebs deposited by Halloween goblins, I found a few images which need to be shared. Hope you don’t mind.
We gave ourselves a treat on All Hallows’ Eve this year and spent the morning poking around another of the gems which makes up the Tenoroc Fish Management Area, the Long Lake tract. The lake is about one mile long and less than 600 feet across at the widest point. It is bound on the north by residential development, on the south by industrial warehouses and on the east and west by busy roadways. Within the tract, there is a nice oasis of pine woods, a small pond in addition to Long Lake, hardwood trees along the lake shore and a small wetland with a lagoon on the tract’s northeast corner.
Typical Florida weather for this time of year found us enjoying high humidity with heavy dew, little wind, mostly sunny skies and by 11:00 a.m. temperatures around 80 F (27 C). Halloween spirits prevailed and we discovered a plethora of spider webs at each stop and even a few of the construction engineers hanging about. Common Gallinules fussed as we interrupted their breakfast. Boat-tailed Grackles threw back their heads and let loose with raucous calls from high atop utility line support towers. Evidence of the ongoing fall migration manifested in myriad warblers in the weeds and trees. We saw our first of this season’s Yellow-rumped Warblers. A Red-shouldered Hawk was uncharacteristically silent as he peered down from his perch.
A morning such as this far surpasses any sugary treat we may have received from our neighbors. And we didn’t even have to wear a costume.
Belatedly – Trick or Treat!
Our sub-tropical environment allows us to enjoy many insects later in the year than some other locales. An immature male Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) begins life looking like the female and in a couple of weeks will assume the purplish hues of an adult male.
Spider webs sparkle with drops of dew in the early morning light. These webs may have been made by one of the Spotted Orbweavers (Neoscona species). In the second image, you can see one of the builders in the upper left.
Small and stealthy, a male Common Yellowthroat is curious what I’m doing tramping around in his weed patch.
I know we have plenty of bugs at this time of year, but I was still surprised to find a pair of Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) in the forest understory. These damselflies have four different color variations depending on sex and age.
Palm Warblers are among the first songbirds to show up as fall migration begins. They almost constantly pump their tales up and down which helps identify them even at a distance.
Our first Yellow-rumped Warblers of this fall were very busy at our initial stop. They were scooping up all the insects they could find in the trees and the willows along the shore of a small pond.
Small size, big thinker. The small Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) often spins fairly large webs during the night. This one easily spanned over two feet in diameter.
Pine Warblers can vary widely in appearance. The first photograph shows a fairly pale individual while the second has more yellow.
There are three species of the Leucauge genus of spiders found within North America. This genus is part of the Longjawed Orbweaver Family (Tetragnathidae). The first image is L. argyrobapta and the second is L. argyra. The third species, L. venusta, has been determined to not inhabit Florida. These three species have been referred to as Orchard Orbweavers or Orchard Spiders. Within N. America, L. argyra has been found only in central and south Florida. (There will be a test!)
Scooting down a tree trunk like a nuthatch, a Black-and-White Warbler proves one does not need a lot of different colors to be beautiful.
Ever have that feeling that you are being watched? As I glanced up, a Red-shouldered hawk was intently monitoring my movements.
Our Halloween was filled with so many wonderful treats this year! Excuse me, but I must return to the archive closet. I just KNOW there are more treats to be found!
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
“Are you sure you feel like going out this morning?”
I got one of those looks that needed no words.
It was a logical question. Gini and I are emerging from over two weeks’ worth of some sort of flu. Not quite back to 100% yet, I was concerned she might still be a bit too weak to go chasing birds. Her common sense self advised that sunshine and fresh air would likely accomplish much more than some pill. Again, I point to my genius as evidenced by my choice in a life partner.
Some years, it is difficult to tell if Florida is in “autumn” or just an extended summer. There are hints. We actually have a few species of deciduous trees which drop their leaves beginning in October. Morning temperatures may decline a couple of degrees. Relative humidity has been known to ease below 50%. Then there are our seasonal visitors.
We begin seeing three times as many out-of-state license plates as usual. “Snowbirds” arriving en masse present challenges in driving and downtown parking. The economy is replenished.
In addition to the annual migration of snowbirds, the fields and forests and lakes become more colorful and noisy as a steady stream of actual birds escape the cold temperatures of their breeding grounds. Most of the avian travelers stop for a rest and a bite to eat and press on to sunny summer in Argentina. Some will choose to remain in our area all winter. In a few days, they will question the wisdom of that decision as we are scheduled for near-freezing temperatures. Good news, feathered friends! This is Florida! The cold will only last a short while. Honest.
Our morning was purposefully short, despite the whining objection about heading home. She knows I had her best interest at heart. Maybe.
Most of today’s sightings were from the vehicle. I got out a few times to try and get better photos but we had a really pleasant drive. Fresh tangerines were tasty and added a bit of Vitamin C to our systems.
Once upon a time, this season was known in the English vocabulary as “harvest”. As humans began to leave farms for cities, someone (probably a poet) began referring to this time as “autumn”. It wasn’t long after that someone else (probably another poet) talked about the “falling” leaves and we lazy humans shortened that reference to the “fall”. At some point, a bunch of folks thought it would be great fun to get in some wooden boats and see if they could find a new neighborhood. They did. Eventually, these “Americans” either couldn’t pronounce the word “autumn” (what’s the deal with that “n”?) or we/they just wanted to be contrary and have mostly referred to this time of year as “fall” while our erudite cousins in the very Great Britain preferred “autumn”. There you go. The complete and no doubt accurate etymology of our seasonal linguistic divide.
Herewith a few of Florida’s “fall” flourishes.
The Blue Jay is one of our most common birds and we all too often overlook its beauty. This one found a fresh acorn and may locate a crevice in a tree trunk to keep it in place while it hammers through the shell.
A bit larger than the Blue Jay and not nearly as common, the Brown Thrasher is surprisingly versatile in the song department. It has been reported the thrasher can sing over 1,000 different songs and may be a better mimic than the Northern Mockingbird. All I know is its rich brown plumage is a pleasant addition to the landscape.
It may be autumn in Florida but we still enjoy our status as a sub-tropical habitat. We’re therefore able to enjoy late season insects such as mosquitoes and – more importantly – what we as kids called “skeeter hawks”. We encouraged this female Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) to get busy and devour as many of the blood-suckers as possible!
One of the migratory visitors which remain with us in fair numbers all winter is the Gray Catbird. We counted a dozen this morning calling from all sides of the road giving us the impression someone had abandoned several felines during the night.
We were entertained by this Blue-headed Vireo as it grabbed a caterpillar and smacked it on the limb several times to make sure it was adequately tenderized.
The colors and patterns on this Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) indicate it is a female.
Another very common local bird we tend to look past (to our shame) is the Northern Cardinal. This female does not have the solid bright red appearance of the male but is very attractive in her own right.
The highlight of the day for us was finding not one, but two Yellow-billed Cuckoos! This species breeds here but we also have migrants in the area during the fall. Normally they are quite shy and secretive. We found one feeding in the open and another quietly hanging about in a small tree.
More dragons! A bright male Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) on the lookout for breakfast. Hopefully, it will include tons of mosquitoes.
One of the most abundant migratory songbirds we see is the Palm Warbler. They are easy to identify even at a distance by their constantly pumping tails.
Not content with finding dragons, we came across several butterfly species. One which was kind enough to pose for a moment was the small Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius). Their wingspan is about 3/4-15/16 inches (20-33 mm) and they don’t hold still for long.
Another very common migrant which stays with us all winter is the Eastern Phoebe. Not only do they consume a lot of insects, they obligingly yell out their name for us. “Pheee-Beee“!
One more bug hunter was kind enough to allow a picture. The male Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) doesn’t perch often and when they do it is usually at a 45 degree angle as opposed to 90 degrees preferred by others in the skimmer family.
A quick fly-by of a Bald Eagle concluded our abbreviated morning outing. We appreciated it.
Call it autumn or fall or harvest. It is a good time to be outdoors. Migration brings diverse visitors. The landscape undergoes changes. Fresh air and sunshine provide healing for the body and the soul.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
My Dad was a builder of homes. Much like any kid, I valued those days I rode along in the pick-up truck to a job site. The sights, sounds and smells of a new house being built can be pretty heady stuff for an eight-year old. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but by far the most significant part of the experience was time spent with my Father.
On the way home from a job one day, Dad pointed to a huge billboard advertising “Buy A Piece of Natural Florida!“. He said, “See those trees beyond that sign? Those are cypress trees. They can’t grow if their roots aren’t constantly wet. What do you think will happen when folks try to build houses out there?”
Within 10 years, almost no homes had been built in that spot and those which had, needed a lot of fill brought in to create a suitable foundation. Even then, each summer their houses were surrounded by water. “Nature gives us hints”, Dad said. Wise man.
We surveyed the pine woods. Gini has the eyes (and skills) of an artist and her perception of a scene is usually different than mine. I see dead snags which might harbor a Red-headed Woodpecker nest. She sees the different shades of green pine needles and textures of overlapping bark of the trunks. I observe the dense growth of Saw-palmetto beneath the pines. She marvels at the dull green color of the fans and spots tendrils of several species of vines in the undergrowth.
“Nature gives us hints.” A Great Egret stands motionless, patiently waiting for the frog to make a move. The large white wading bird’s presence in the middle of a pine forest may seem incongruous unless one is aware that this area is pock-marked with shallow pools throughout most of the year. Without that knowledge and without the “hint” provided by the egret, one is destined to end up with wet feet.
Our morning was absolutely glorious! No birding checklist, no agenda. Observe. Breathe. Absorb.
In his 1836 essay, Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Nature always wears the color of the spirit.” If we are depressed our view of the woods may focus on the dead leaves. A cheerful attitude may enhance our enjoyment of the varying hues of those same leaves.
We know we are not normal. Our over-the-top zest for life has been known to actually annoy friends and family. Nature seems to appreciate our attitude and always manages to wear the color of our spirit.
Grab your sunglasses. It’s about to get bright in here.
The American Kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon. Bright facial stripes, crisp spots on a light breast and yellow legs really stand out while perched on a bright green pine tree.
Rays from the sun were captured and reflected in waves of sunflowers. Narrowleaf Sunflower, or Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) can grow to four or five feet in height and spread several feet in width. The results can be some pretty spectacular yellow vistas.
That Great Egret we mentioned is actually standing in a shallow pool which is almost completely covered in grass just waiting for the unsuspecting hiker to come splashing along.
As we neared the spot where the egret was hunting, the pool opened up a bit and its surface had the appearance of dozens of fallen stars. The illusion was thanks to the diminutive Virginia Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana). Closer examination of these hairy little plants revealed a really beautiful flower.
More highlights of white around the edge of the pool turned out to be Dotted Smartweed (Persicaria punctata). Again, a closer look at the very small blooms showed an intricate beauty we could have easily walked past.
Down in the weeds around the pond, one of the bright grass skippers, a Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) ignored our presence as it searched for sustenance.
Ray, a drop of golden sun. We were surrounded by gold! And we truly felt enriched. Pinebarren Goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) was blooming all along the edges of the forest.
Watching a Red-shouldered Hawk on the hunt was one of the high points of our morning.
Purple! It can be a bit startling to be surrounded by the green of the pine woods and green of the saw-palmetto understory and all of a sudden encounter large swathes of purple. Hairy Chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus), also called Deertongue, is impressive in this setting. Plants are nearly three feet tall and each “head” sports dozens of unique flowers. The Deertongue epithet is apparently due to the resemblance of rather large and wide basal leaves to the tongue of a White-tailed Deer. Those crazy botanists sure have an imagination!
So, there we were, watching butterflies nectaring at some tall flowers in the distance. Yours truly set out to get closer in order to present you, dear reader, with an acceptable quality of images. One of the large Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Pterourus glaucus) appeared in front of me and I snapped a quick in-flight shot knowing I would soon be obtaining better pictures once I reached the flowers. In tracking the butterfly through the lens, I stepped in a hole. I didn’t fall, but as I glanced down to see what I stepped into, my gaze stopped a few feet ahead.
I was convinced you all didn’t really need any more butterfly pictures. The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) agreed with my decision to back up. Rapidly.
Overhead, a Tufted Titmouse observed my predicament. You may not be able to see it, but there is a definite grin on that little beak.
Even more yellow to enjoy! Growing on stems about two feet tall and with leaves like grass, the Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) is also known as Golden Aster.
Tangles of bright red stars decorate saw-palmetto and the butterflies appreciate it. So did we! Belonging to the morning glory family, the Cypressvine (Ipomoea quamoclit) has a wonderful combination of beautiful blooms and delicate foliage. A Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) doesn’t care about all that as long as the juice bar is open!
We prepared to leave and were completely ignored by a Red-shouldered Hawk who seemed more interested in something she could have for a snack. Our feelings were not hurt at all.
Our attitudes, emotions and personal circumstances influence how we view life. That view changes as our mental state changes. More often than not, the two of us are able to be optimistic on a daily basis. It truly helps as we explore Nature since she “always wears the color of the spirit”.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 