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Local Color

(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.) “Sounds like an alley-cat convention.” Gini’s hearing, which is significantly superior to mine, was picking up at least a dozen individual Gray Catbirds calling. During pre-migration, this species forms up into groups of one to a couple of dozen birds as they prepare to return to their northern breeding territory. After some far-flung adventures, it felt good to be in our familiar “patch”… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: blue dasher, bluejacket, canadian toadflax, cucumberleaf sunflower, cutleaf evening primrose, eastern amberwing, eastern phoebe, eastern pondhawk, florida toadflax, gray catbird, long-jawed orbweaver, prairie/savanna iris, river sage, spicebush swallowtail, spider web, woodland false buttonweed, zebra longwing

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

Finding Nature

Watching a sunrise is special. Sharing it with someone you love – priceless. We have an established routine at this spot. Begin near the boat ramp, walk along the lake shore until we reach the canal, check the big trees near the footbridge for warblers and vireos, traverse the open grassy area stopping again to inspect the scattered oaks, linger around the low wet area, look at the small pond for ducks… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american alligator, american coot, american redstart, anhinga, black-and-white warbler, common gallinule, downy woodpecker, eastern pondhawk, limpkin, little blue heron, sunrise, white ibis, white peacock

Morning In The Wetlands

I gave up wearing hiking boots. For one thing, my days of going on lengthy hikes over rough terrain are in my rear view mirror. Water-resistant linings and treatments for preventing water soaking through footwear can be somewhat helpful, but walking through Florida’s eternally wet grass is pretty much like wading a stream and your feet are just going to get wet. So I now have a pair of very comfortable shoes… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: bandanna of the everglades, black-crowned night heron, blue dasher, bumble bee, common buttonbush, eastern gama grass, eastern pondhawk, great blue heron, great egret, itchepackesassa creek wetlands, marsh rabbit, pickerelweed, purple gallinule, queen, rambur's forktail, sachem, scarlet skimmer, seven sisters

Morning Marvels

Header Image: Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) We missed sunrise. It was necessary to be home before lunch time. The decision to go for only a short while was, as usual, the right one. I take full credit. (Don’t let her know. I wouldn’t want her to be embarrassed.) Our local birding patch has now become our “sure hope we see some stuff today” patch since spring migration has ended. Fortunately, there are… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american alligator, carolina desert-chicory, common ground dove, eastern pondhawk, florida alicia, four-spotted pennant, grassleaf lettuce, halloween pennant, little blue heron, needham's skimmer

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