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Nature’s Very Busy Most Excellent Day

(Click images to enlarge, click again to zoom.) The Sun. The Moon. Sky, earth, water. Life. Death. Nature has it all. Spending time away from human-influenced distractions allows us to realize that nature incorporates rhythm into each and every day. I think that’s why humans invented music. A poor attempt to emulate nature’s never-ending heartbeat. A day in the forest, at the shore, in a grassy field, deep in a dark swamp… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: abbot's bagworm moth, acadian flycatcher, american crow, blue-gray gnatcatcher, carpenter-mimic leafcutter bee, cooper's hawk, eastern pondhawk, four-spotted pennant, gulf frittilary, hyacinth glider, red-shouldered hawk, royal river cruiser, snail, southern skipperling, two-striped forceptail

The Ridge (3)

Header Image: Great Crested Flycatcher We had been spotted by a gang and were soon surrounded. Either side of the path was covered with dense Saw Palmetto as far as the eye could see. Our only choice was to forge ahead and hope we would not be assaulted. Late summer in Florida. Some of our smaller avian citizens begin to form in mixed groups as they prepare for long migratory flights to… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: arbuckle tract, blackroot, blue dasher, blue-gray gnatcatcher, great crested flycatcher, lake wales ridge state forest, peelbark st. john's wort, pricklypear, sandweed, shrubby false buttonweed

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

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Our Natural Places

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