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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

Dog Days of Summer Are Over – Siriusly

Header Image: Prothonotary Warbler It’s her fault, you know. She said: “Go birding. I have some crafting to catch up on.” I should have known to be wary. For some time now, I’ve wanted to explore part of the “Blue Loop Trail” at Tenoroc Public Use Area. According to the map, about a quarter mile from the trail head is an “overlook”. Along the way are huge oak, bay and hickory trees… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: carolina wren, downy woodpecker, golden silk spider, great crested flycatcher, northern cardinal, orchard orbweaver, prairie warbler, prothonotary warbler, raccoon, red-bellied woodpecker, spicebush swallowtail, swallow-tailed kite, tenoroc public use area

“Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.”*

Header Image: Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on Brazilian Vervain (Verbena brasiliensis) Sweet, tart and juicy slices of tangerine were refreshing as we rested on the shore of the lake a couple of hours after sunrise. We had already seen a lot. New bird babies, morning flowers in bloom, ducks flying overhead and now that the dew was drying from the grass, insects were beginning their day. Earlier, we entered the Tenoroc Public… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: bald eagle, brazilian vervain, carpenter bee, eastern amberwing, eastern towhee, gulf fritillary, indian blanket, lantana, man-of-the-earth, osprey, pricklypear, red saddlebags, showy rattlebox, tenoroc public use area, water moccasin, wild bushbean, xylocopa

No Work Patch Work

Header Image: Black-necked Stilt When is a birding patch not a patch? The word “patch” denotes something small. Talk to a birder about their local patch and it will usually turn out to be a city park, part of a forest, coastal area, wetland – but near home and with a chance to see a fair diversity of birds. The patch is a spot where a birder can go often and is… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american alligator, black-necked stilt, cedar waxwing, common buckeye, eastern amberwing, florida softshell turtle, freshwater mussels, great blue heron, great egret, great southern white osprey, lesser yellowlegs, norhtern mockingbird, red-bellied woodpecker, snowy egret, tenoroc public use area, tricolored heron, wood stork

So Much – LIFE !

Are the drops on the leaves and blades of grass from dew or last night’s rainfall? It doesn’t matter. They reflect the morning sunlight as though a thousand prisms had been scattered about. Photographers are told the best time to experience the most favorable light outdoors is an hour before and after sunrise and sunset – “The Golden Hour”. This was more like “The Rainbow Hour”. Gini said the landscape looked like… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: barred yellow, black-bellied whistling-duck, ceraunus blue, clouded skipper, dorantes longtail, four-spotted pennant, halloween pennant, limpkin, little yellow, needham's skimmer, ornate bella moth, rambur's forktail, tenoroc public use area, tricolored heron, variable dancer, whirlabout, white ibis, white m hairstreak

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