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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

As The Fog Clears

Header Image: Eastern Phoebe Eyes Bagworm Moth We seem to relish foggy days. For one, as Gini noted on this day, it just seems so quiet. The stillness of an early morning on the bank of a lake blanketed in gray with sight and sound limited heightens the senses. More importantly, we know clear skies lurk just above the mist and the natural world will soon be going about the business of… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: arrowhead spider, climbing aster, common grackle, eastern bluebird, eastern phoebe, fog, house wren, hyacinth glider, moonflower, northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, ruby-crowned kinglet, savannah sparrow, swamp sparrow, tenoroc fma, variegated fritillary, white ibis, yellow-rumped warbler

Winter Prelude

A few weeks ago we had a chance to escape to our patch before the dire weather predictions came crashing down around us. Sunny skies and warm temperatures – the way a Florida winter should be! For something a bit different, our trip began in mid-afternoon and we remained until sunset. We had a wonderful outing and saw more than we expected. We even spotted a few critters other than birds! When… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: anhinga, eastern phoebe, great blue heron, gulf fritillary, hyacinth glider, northern mockingbird, raccoon, savannah sparrow, sunset, water moccasin, wilson's snipe, yellow-bellied sapsucker

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

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

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Our Natural Places

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