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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

Summer Rewind

Florida. The Sunshine State. Our climate is sub-tropical with an average annual rainfall of around 55 inches (140 cm). Mild winters range from the low 50’s F (10 C) in north Florida to the mid 60’s F (18 C) in the south. Throughout the state, average summer temperatures in the hottest month of July are in the low to mid 80’s F (29 C). High humidity levels are due to the fact… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: black and yellow argiope, colt creek state park, great blue skimmer, green lynx spider, gulf fritillary, hummingbird clearwing moth, leaf-footed bug, northern cardinal, phaon crescent, roseate skimmer, sleepy orange, swallow-tailed kite, thread-waisted wasp, tropical checkered-skipper, variegated fritillary, zebra heliconian

Diversity Training

Once upon a time (stop me if you’ve heard this one), our primary consideration in planning an excursion into the Great Outdoors was limited to researching what birds might be found at a particular location. Was fall or spring migration in progress? Could we hope for wintering birds? Perhaps new bird families would offer an opportunity to observe chicks pestering parents for food or practicing flight lessons. As time progressed, so did… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: black and yellow mud dauber, blue dasher, butterfly, colt creek state park, common buttonbush, dragonfly, great crested flycatcher, leaf-footed bug, leavenworth's tickseed, little blue heron, northern parula, pale meadowbeauty, purple passionflower, red-spotted purple, spurred butterfly pea, squirrel tree frog, wandering glider, wild turkey

Our Natural Places

Exploring - Naturally