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Big Cypress National Preserve

(Click image to enlarge, click again to zoom.) We had not taken a road trip for quite awhile. March is the month in which we married, 56 years ago. Time to celebrate. Several locations in southwest Florida have been on our “sure would like to go” list for several years. As we reviewed the map, two new spots and one long-time favorite were declared the winners. The vehicle was serviced, hotel reservations… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american alligator, big cypress national preserve, blue-winged teal, cardinal airplant, great egret, halloween pennant, leafy bladderwort, northern flicker, palamedes swallowtail, palm warbler, saltmarsh morning-glory, sunrise

On Little Bird Feet*

“At least it’s not cold.” How can I not remain in love with such an optimist? The thick fog permitted a very limited view of our surroundings. We could hear the Whistling-Ducks whistling as they flew above us. We could hear a Limpkin crying about no sunshine. We could hear a big splash – it was close – probably just a turtle. Yeah, that’s it. A turtle. We have written about Lake… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Photography Tags: american alligator, common water-hyacinth, common yellowthroat, gray-headed swamphen, lake apopka, marsh wren, northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, red-shouldered hawk, white ibis

Out There

Header Image: Northern Flicker (Female) A trio of sleek Swallow-tailed Kites appeared above the cypress trees on the bank of the lake. Gini and I were enjoying a mid-morning brunch of fresh tangerines and granola bars and were content to sit back and enjoy the show. Long tails acted as rudders and the pointed wings hardly moved as they glided effortlessly just above the tree tops. Having spent the winter in South… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: common grackle, eastern pondhawk, glossy ibis, gopher tortoise, northern flicker, red saddlebags, saw palmetto, snail, swallow-tailed kite, tenoroc public use area, white ibis

That Perfect Blend

Header Image: Picnic Lake At Sunrise A liter of water and about 60 grams of coffee beans, for me, is a pleasant way to begin a morning. One of my favorite Central American coffees is lightly roasted at a small local roastery. The flavor is wonderful, but I wished it could be “more“. I tried increasing the amount of beans to the grind but, although stronger, it didn’t increase the flavor. When… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american kestrel, american robin, cedar waxwing, double-crested cormorant, eastern phoebe, migration, northern flicker, osprey, palm warbler, red-tailed hawk, savannah sparrow, sawtooth blackberry, sepia baskettail, snowy egret, spring, tricolored heron, white ibis

These Are The Good Old Days

Header Image: Atlantic Coast Sunrise Sleepless nights were common for me about a week before Gini and I were married. Tossing and turning. Worry. Will I really be able to support us? Will she be able to put up with me all day, all night, forever? Anticipation. The night before the BIG DAY, was also devoid of sleep. But this was different. All I could think of was – HER. Eyes open,… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Photography Tags: a max brewer bridge, american alligator, black skimmer, black-bellied plover, blue-winged teal, caspian tern, dunlin, gator creek, great egret, green heron, laughing gull, marbled godwit, merritt island nwr, mottled duck, northern flicker, northern shoveler, osprey, redhead, ring-billed gull, roseate spoonbill, ruddy turnstone, sanderling, sunrise, tricolored heron

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