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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

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

Willful Wander

Header Image: White-tailed Deer Avian fall migration brings out the worst in me. Years of conditioning to be a better “birder” forces me to peruse local birding reports and to visit locations which have historically proven to be “hotspots” for our annual autumnal visitors. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, in the past few years I have discovered other interests in the natural world. I blame the inexorable advancement of… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: blue dasher, carolina saddlebags, cloudless sulphur, eastern bluebird, fiery skipper, great blue skimmer, pearl crescent, ridgeback grasshopper, saltmarsh morning-glory, sleepy orange, white-tailed deer, wild turkey

The Bugs of Summer

Header Image: Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) Excitement is hoping aloud a diminutive damselfly will arise from its blade of grass and land on your windowsill. It happened last year about this time and at this spot. Alas, not today. Gini’s disappointment was short-lived as we reminded ourselves this was only the fourth time a Seepage Dancer (Argia bipunctulata) has been observed in our county. We had little time to think about it…. Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: blue dasher, eastern pondhawk, fiery skipper, four-spotted pennant, great southern white, gulf fritillary, horace's duskywing, rambur's forktail, red-shouldered hawk, roseate skimmer, seepage dancer, tachytes, variegated fritillary, white peacock, zebra longwing

Escape To The Swamp

Header Image: Carolina Redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) Wait. Don’t you mean “Escape FROM The Swamp”?? We review the news from around the corner and around the world. Local roads and businesses are packed with people. Drama inserts itself into our lives unexpectedly. A dirt road leads into welcoming green pine forests where we soon encounter a small stream flowing under an old bridge. Cicadas buzz in a cacophonous wave which washes over our… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: bar-winged skimmer, blue dasher, carolina redroot, delta flower scarab beetle, eastern pondhawk, fiery skipper, four-spotted pennant, fungus, green heron, little blue dragonlet, needham's skimmer, obscure grasshopper, roseate skimmer, roundpod st. john's-wort, salt marsh morning glory, scarlet skimmer, slaty skimmer, viceroy, wild turkey, yellow garden spider

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