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Transitions

(Click images to enlarge, click again to zoom.) “Wow!” That’s an overused interjection, for certain. Sometimes, however, nothing else conveys the meaning one seeks. Besides, it’s a direct quote, so there. The object of Gini’s amazement hove into view as we came to the first bend in the road after entering Colt Creek State Park. A large swath of lavender along the edge of the pine forest offered a spectacular “Welcome Back“…. Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Photography Tags: american robin, canadian toadflax, carolina desert-chicory, carolina jessamine, colt creek state park, common yellowthroat, gray catbird, leavenworth's tickseed, lyreleaf sage, mexican pricklypoppy, oakleaf fleabane, osprey, pileated woodpecker, red-shouldered hawk, savannah sparrow, sawtooth blackberry, walter's viburnum, wood stork, yellow-rumped warbler, yellow-throated warbler

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

Fall’s Flourishes

“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… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: bald eagle, blue dasher, blue jay, blue-headed vireo, brown anole, brown thrasher, cassius blue, eastern phoebe, gray catbird, hyacinth glider, northern cardinal, palm warble, roseate skimmer, yellow-billed cuckoo

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

We Are Not Normal

(Header Image: Great Blue Heron On The Nest) I keep thinking if I arrive at sunrise the view will be spectacular, what with all that “Golden Light” photographers continuously seek. Unfortunately, the light still reveals the same old dusty roads and converted phosphate mines. Looking at the water is pleasant and the surrounding trees are nice enough, but it is not exactly an “iconic landscape venue”. Fortunately, the habitat is quite agreeable to a diversity… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american alligator, cypress clubtail, eastern ribbon snake, gray catbird, great blue heron, leaf-footed bug, moonflower, northern flicker, osprey, rambur's forktail, regal darner, tenoroc PUA

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