One last look

Before we head back up to colder climes, I thought I'd share a last glimpse of the wildlife we've encountered down south. On our way to a friend's home recently we had to stop as a group of 4 sandhill cranes strolled nonchalantly across the street. Against my better judgement, I was dissuaded from grabbing the camera to get some shots.

Later that day as I toured the neighbourhood in our friend's golf cart, I was rewarded for my earlier contribution to marital harmony by spotting another couple of cranes. These are frequent visitors to the golf course and are quite accustomed to people. I have read, however, that they can be aggressive if they feel threatened (and especially if defending their young) - they can stab with their sizeable beak and kick with their feet. No problem this day - they were focused on eating and I was focused on them.

[I will again be MIA for several days as we brave the increasingly cold elements on our trek north. I hope to catch up with y'all again next week]

Birds of a feather ... IV

I first saw one of these odd-looking (to a northerner) birds from an airboat in the Everglades a couple of years ago [note - an airboat is not the best way to get close to wildlife, unless the wildlife is quite deaf]. But a couple of weeks ago patience paid dividends as I was able to approach a mixed flock of some 70 - 80 birds of different species precariously perched in a lone pine tree.

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, let me introduce to you the obviously-named roseate spoonbill. A little research revealed that the ones I saw were juveniles (either they haven't learned to fear humans yet, or my stealth skills were exceptional). They almost became extinct as they were hunted for their plumage, but in Florida there are now an estimated 1,000 breeding pairs.

I don't know what startled them, but after an hour of creeping up and getting my shots, the birds decided they'd posed enough and flew off in unison. I then turned my attention to a nearby slough where there was bound to be some action, but that's fodder for another day.

I hope all my American friends had a lovely Thanksgiving; we did as we were invited to share it with our wonderful neighbors and their family.

Birds of a feather ... III

Hope you haven't tired of our feathered friends quite yet. While the more gregarious ones were gathered on the pine tree, I noticed a few less sociable, or perhaps ostracized, birds nearby. Careful not to disturb the group just above me, I swung my lens around to capture a great blue heron and a turkey vulture.

Today's interesting fact: vultures often appear to have white legs because they squirt feces onto their legs and feet to cool themselves. Who says reading blogs can't be educational ? Keep that one in mind for your next trivia quiz. And a bonus fact: vultures are related to storks.

Note: I will be MIA for the next number of days as we welcome company. I expect to come visit you in about a week (although I might sneak a peek at comments you leave here ... shhh).

I don't think this spot was very conducive to fishing ...

 and it seems he agrees

 a member of the clean up crew arrives

Birds of a feather ...

I developed a habit while completing a Project 365 during 2010 of making mental notes of places to visit, or re-visit, where I thought there were photographic opportunities. [editorial note: a better practice is to carry a notebook to jot down the info since, if your memory is anything like mine - good but short - you greatly increase your chances of finding the place again].

While on an expedition recently to get another check mark on our Christmas gift list, I saw a spot along a highway where a large number of birds were gathered. Mentally noted. Three fortunate things then happened - 1) I remembered by the time we got home; 2) I had the opportunity the next day to go back there; 3) the birds were waiting for me.

There was a bit of a logistical problem, however. The birds had congregated in a lone pine in the middle of a field. There would be little cover to allow me to get close. I parked a hundred yards or so away and assumed my best nonchalant stealth shuffle. I paused every so many feet to get a few shots in case I lost the whole flock suddenly. All went well until I got a sand spur (those of you living in Florida know what those are) lodged between my sole and the sole of my sandal. I managed not to do a crazed pain dance as I balanced on one foot, removed the sandal and sand spur, and continued my advance. Amazingly I managed to get within about twenty feet of the tree. Now and then a bird would depart but another would come in to take over the vacated spot, while most of the others just stared curiously at the slow-moving creature below them.

I'm no bird expert but I think most or all the ones I spotted in the pine tree are known as wading birds. Maybe they just appreciate a change of view. I'll show you them over the next few posts.

The first one is an ibis which I affectionately call a pinocchio bird.

Here's a partial shot of the tree, and an incoming ...

Pause for the cause

Dear visitors,

I will be away from blogland for the next week and a half. Enjoy a nostalgic trip into outer space by clicking on the clip below. Note that I didn't have the advantage of close proximity for my shot which I took from a distance of about 250,000 miles/400,000 km (give or take a foot/metre or 2).

I will drop by to see what you've been up to when I return ...

(70-200mm with 2x extender  f5.6  1/100 sec  ISO200)

... as eagles

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

(shot in Florida in April; 70-200mm lens with 2x extender, f11, 1/500 sec, ISO200)

The day you gave us, Lord, is ended

The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at your request.
To you our morning hymns ascended;
your praise shall sanctify our rest.

John Ellerton (b. London, England, 1826; d. Torquay, Devonshire, England, 1893)

Armed for mortal combat

While my 2 youngest daughters accompanied their mother on a shopping trip today, I left them to pursue one of their favorite pastimes and I pursued mine. Not far from the outdoor mall, a small stream extended inland from the bay for a ways, one side heavily covered with red mangroves. I thought there might be an opportunity to spot some exotic birds or other wildlife so I started following it, walking along the open bank. Although I walked slowly and quietly I saw only the occasional fish do a back flip in the air. When I came to a point where I could go no further, I stopped, and as I put down the camera bag a movement caught my eye.

I stood very still and soon I saw more movement nearby. As I reached for my camera, I saw little creatures scurrying at top speed along the bank and disappearing into little holes. I waited quietly for several more minutes and slowly they reappeared, many of them brandishing what appeared to be a sizable weapon. I watched through the telephoto lens as they jousted with each other.

It turns out that these fierce little creatures were mud and sand fiddler crabs. The males are adorned with one large claw, which can be either right or left handed (clawed ?) and with which they hope to flag down a passing female, or thwart a male rival. I think the object of their desire is the subject of the last photo (although to me she looks a bit like Darth Vader).

(all photos made with a 70-200mm lens with 2x extender, ISO200, 1/320 - 1/400 sec, f6.3)

click on photo to enlarge

Not for the faint of heart

Our third group of visitors returned home earlier this week - we thoroughly enjoyed their company. I and my shutter are taking a brief rest and then we'll prepare to meet our last set of visitors during this stay down south.

My son-in-law was as enthusiastic as I was to spend a day under a hot sun swiveling our heads to watch the action at an airshow last week. I had no idea that an airplane could be made to do the maneuvers that these daredevil pilots subjected them to. I tried to put together a sample of the different aircraft that we saw, but this doesn't begin to do it justice. For the first time (in a long time) I filled a memory card (well, 2 actually) at a photoshoot. The car in one of the photos consists of a jet engine with a frame and metal shell around it resembling a car - from a standing start it raced the green/purple airplane which had a head start flying above the runway - and beat it (the engine generates 12,000 HP) !

I hope to visit many of you over the next few days before I enjoy the company of our last set of visitors.
 

(all action photos made with a 70-200mm lens plus a 2x extender giving a 140-400mm focal length, at 1/1000 sec, ISO200)

B-29, Lockheed L-12

Team RV - kit planes built in owners' garages

Matt Younkin in a Twin Beech 18

Gary Ward in an MX-2 unlimited aerobatic aircraft

In the lower right is the jet engine car that from a standing start beat Gary's plane !

(top) Vought F4U Corsair; (bottom) Grumman F8F Bearcat

F/A-18 Super Hornet, Mig-17

F/A-18 Blue Angels

When the playing's done

Our son, daughter-in-law, and 2 year old grandson escaped winter's (rather loose) grip to come and visit us for a couple of weeks. Of course that entails visits to any place with slides and swings and things like that. Amidst the countless captures of family (naturally) there were also the occasional moments to capture a very brief moment of solitude:

(18-55mm  f5.6  1/50 sec  ISO200)

Now I couldn't let this opportunity pass without letting you have a peek at who's driving the daily agenda around here:

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/160 sec  ISO200)

Overheard

"Hey, looks like something interesting going on down there."

"Sam, what do you think ?"
 
"I don't know, Charlie; do you think we should go check it out ?"

"Well you two can sit here talking all day; I'm getting hungry !"

"Hmmm, the grasshoppers DO look greener on the other side !"

"Eenie, meenie, miney, mo ..." "Aw, forget it; last one down's a dirty rotten egg !"

"That figures - Art's always last; what a birdbrain !"

"Finally ! Now I've got this side all to myself !"

Curses! Foiled again!

We returned to Fisherman's Village a few days ago to walk around a little, visit the shops, and check out the eateries. Seems like one of the 'locals' had similar ideas.

Normally these fine feathered fellows are wading around in the shallows seeing what's on the lunch menu. Instead, this one was checking out the back of a shop for something to eat. When he was shooed away off the loading dock, he looked entreatingly up to the shopkeeper for a handout - to no avail. A little later I spotted him on a pole by the water checking to see if there might be a morsel for him there. The last I saw of him he was winging out over the water, presumably to a more favourable eatery.

(70-200mm  f9.0  1/400 sec  ISO200)

Winter Wonderland III

I've seen from news reports that winter has arrived across much of the North American continent. I mean really arrived, which those of you driving in it daily don't need to be reminded of. While we were back home in the north over the Christmas season we were fortunate not to have to drive in any adverse weather. In addition, I was able to go out several times to capture the beauty of the creation enhanced by a dusting of snow, before real winter had arrived.

Join me as I traipse through a secluded wonderland not far from home.

This is the creek that flows below the waterfalls I posted recently and which you might have visited with me last spring

A small creek which tumbles from the hill on the other side yields these ice formations

A few hundred yards downstream we come across another waterfall - don't get too near the edge - it's a bit slippery

The snow-covered ice that's formed across the rocks reminds me of cauliflower

At this point it hasn't been cold enough long enough for the ice to completely conceal the stream

The stream disappears around a bend below this waterfall. We have to scramble through the forest, away from the waterfall, and find our way down a side gully to find the stream again. The sides of the gully are coated with ice built up by dripping water - winter must have surprised these plants

Another few yards through the underbrush and we see the stream as it tumbles around the corner. From here it disappears to our left but the steep gully side means we'll have to bid it adieu, and we'll make our way back

 And throughout our trek Sasha has been patiently accompanying us - whenever the camera bag is unzipped she knows it's time for a rest in the snow. But she doesn't mind - she's in her element

What's in a name

Thanks to the ABC principle that was burned into my subconscious whilst completing a 365 photo project last year, I was prepared when I happened upon this anhinga striking a familiar pose - for anhingas, that is. Since water does not run off their backs, like a duck's, anhingas must dry their feathers after diving for fish and frogs if they want to take to the air again.

Now anhingas are also known as snakebirds since most of their body is underwater as they swim on the surface with only their long neck and beak showing. I've seen them swimming like that, and the name is an apt one. But apparently they're also known as water turkeys, and to be honest, I just can't make the connection. No one here mentioned them during the recent Thanksgiving celebration.

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/80 sec  ISO200)

'Walking trees'

The more you observe and learn, the more you realize how little you know about this wonderful, complex Creation we've been commanded to be good stewards of.

An encounter with a fellow dog lover at the harbour near here (where I made my current header shot) provided us with the location of a doggy beach near appropriately-named Lover's Key state park. We spent several hours there yesterday, and although I limited the number of shots I made, I saw all sorts of interesting things, among them - mangroves.( I'll share some others at a later time).

Of course, there's a lot of interesting information to be learned about them, not the least of which is that they thrive in salt water and yet are uniquely created to filter salt out. They provide habitat for many species of fish, crabs, and birds. And they can be severely damaged by as little as a few hours of freezing temperatures (if you're interested in learning more, check this out). I learned that the ones we saw, and are pictured below, are known as red mangroves.

Savour the season

"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o'er the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
(A Childrens' Song of the 1880's)

"A tangerine and russet cascade
Of kaleidoscopic leaves
Creates a tapestry of autumn magic
Upon the emerald carpet of fading summer."
(Judith A. Lindberg, Shades of Autumn)

You might want to listen to this while you view the photos ...

click on images for a better view

Sailor's Delight

This age-old saying proved true again recently as storm clouds were swept away to the east, illuminated by the setting sun. But you don't have to be a sailor to enjoy and appreciate a sunset.

This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

(70-200mm  f6.3  1/400 sec  ISO200)

click on photo to enlarge

(18-55mm  f6.3  1/1000 sec  ISO200)

Venice Venture

Pack a lunch, bring some chairs, and settle back on one of the beaches in Venice (Florida, not Italy). It's summertime - the living is easy, the weather is hot and humid, and the tourists are few. You'll almost have the beach to yourself.

We sat in the shade of the Australian pines and did what you can only do when it's 34C/94F - nothing. Well, we did walk out on the jetty to see what the few fishermen were catching - not much, besides plenty of sun. And we took in the beauty of the place.

(10-22mm  f11  1/320 sec  ISO400)

the view from my chair

(70-200mm  f8.0  1/2000 sec  ISO400)

 looking west down the jetty
(10-22mm  f8.0  1/1600 sec  ISO400)

view across the inlet to North Jetty Park
(10-22mm  f8.0  1/1600 sec  ISO400)

in the shade of the Australian pines
(10-22mm  f11  1/250 sec  ISO400)