Archives

Coming To Our Census – Part The First

Header Image: Burmarigold or Smooth Beggartick (Bidens laevis) Standing by the side of the road in the dark. Hands cupping our ears. Straining for the sounds of the night. “Whip, whip, whip, whip!” The loud call accompanied the sound of flapping wings passing us as an Eastern Whip-poor-will flew along with mouth open wide to inhale insects hovering above the sandy stretch of road. Ten minutes later, the surprisingly soft trill of… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Photography Tags: american kestrel, american robin, audubon christmas bird count, belted kingfisher, blue-gray gnatcatcher, boat-tailed grackle, brown pelican, burmarigold, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, great blue heron, killdeer, palm warbler, red cornsnake, red-bellied woodpecker, red-shouldered hawk, sandhill crane, wilson's snipe

It Is Our Nature To Be Happy

Header Image: White-tailed Deer “What a really nice morning!” This was the second time Gini had made that statement since we left the state park. As we pulled into the Bar-B-Que restaurant, she observed that we always seem to say that no matter where we have been. She is right. This particular morning had not been particularly unusual. We saw a few birds, a few insects, enjoyed nice scenery and we talked… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: bar-winged skimmer, black-and-white warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, dorantes longtail, eastern black swallowtail, fiery skipper, gold-marked thread-waisted wasp, green lynx spider, red saddlebags, white-eyed vireo, white-tailed deer

Our Favorite Day

Header Image: Red-eyed Vireo “What day is it?” asked Pooh.“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.“My favorite day,” said Pooh.” ― A.A. Milne As we entered the month of September, thoughts turned to fall migration. Even in a region which barely alters appearance during “autumn“, we can sense all sorts of changes. We actually do have some trees which have leaves showing us a golden or reddish hue instead of forest green. Annual bird migration is… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: blue-gray gnatcatcher, brown pelican, brown thrasher, cicada, cypressvine, eastern towhee, gulf fritillary, northern cardinal, northern parula, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, slaty skimmer, spicebush swallowtail, velvetbean caterpillar moth, zebra longwing

Ups and Downs of Nature

Header Image: Prairie Warbler Autumn. In many parts of the world, seasons are marked by distinct, often visible changes. Green in spring, white in winter, bright warm days of summer and colorful leaves in autumn. In our sub-tropical environment here in central Florida, we had to invent the calendar in order to keep up with what season we were experiencing. It is now (looking over at the wall calendar) “autumn”. Gini and… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: barred yellow, blue-gray gnatcatcher, common ground dove, fiery skipper, hyacinth glider, indigo bunting, northern parula, prairie warbler, red-shouldered hawk, spicebush swallowtail, tenoroc public use area, tufted titmouse, two-striped forceptail green lynx spider

Slipping Into Spring

Header Image: Clouds In The Marsh “Should I wear my sweatshirt?” It’s that time of year here in sub-tropical central Florida. Important fashion decisions are made difficult by seasonal ambiguities. Yesterday, it was humid and at sunrise it was a pleasant 70 F/21 C. Today, it is somewhat chilly at 50 F/10 C. Will it warm up quickly? What will the wind be like? Wear the sweatshirt or just throw it in… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american white pelican, blue-gray gnatcatcher, brown thrasher, common yellowthroat, dorantes longtail, gray catbird, pine warbler, rain lily, rosary pea, spring, swamp sparrow, white-eyed vireo, yellow-bellied sapsucker

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