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Resurgence and Transition

Header: Osprey The weather forecast advised we would encounter heavy fog and once it lifted around mid-morning skies would be mostly cloudy. We decided to go anyway. Perhaps we could get some of those “mood” pictures of thick fog blanketing a lake. We rolled up to the bank of Picnic Lake, its calm surface reflecting the crystal clear blue sky as the sun rose above the cypress trees on the far shore…. Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Photography Tags: limpkin, northern parula, osprey, palm warbler, tenoroc, tricolored heron, white ibis, yellow-rumped warbler

Bright (Bright) Sunshiny Day*

(Note: We’re changing to a somewhat more stable header image which will probably be some sort of generic Florida habitat display.) We love exploring new places. The excitement of finding something different. Anticipating new birds, blooms and bugs. The unknown – what’s around the next bend? Today is not like that. Today is relaxing with a good friend as she and I talk about our grandson’s recent visit, our son’s European trip,… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: barred yellow, belted kingfisher, blazing star, great egret, gulf fritillary, northern parula, red-headed woodpecker, salt marsh moth larva, spurred butterfly pea, tievine, white ibis, white-tailed deer

Field, Forest, Fun

Header Image: Sandhill Cranes Thank goodness we have venues nearby where we can travel less than ten minutes and enjoy birds, blooms and bugs! If we had to plan for a long drive, we might “accidentally” oversleep. Our unscientific research reveals that sunrise and the early birds wait for no birder. One of our current favorite patches is Tenoroc Public Use Area. It is near the city of Lakeland in central-west Florida… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american kestrel, bald eagle, common ground dove, coyote, northern parula, ornate bella moth, palm warbler, prairie warbler, red-femured spotted orbweaver, sandhill crane, spicebush swallowtail, tenoroc public use area, tufted titmouse, wild bushbean

Our Favorite Day

Header Image: Red-eyed Vireo “What day is it?” asked Pooh.“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.“My favorite day,” said Pooh.” ― A.A. Milne As we entered the month of September, thoughts turned to fall migration. Even in a region which barely alters appearance during “autumn“, we can sense all sorts of changes. We actually do have some trees which have leaves showing us a golden or reddish hue instead of forest green. Annual bird migration is… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: blue-gray gnatcatcher, brown pelican, brown thrasher, cicada, cypressvine, eastern towhee, gulf fritillary, northern cardinal, northern parula, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, slaty skimmer, spicebush swallowtail, velvetbean caterpillar moth, zebra longwing

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

Exploring - Naturally