Line up ... smile ... click

I set out this afternoon to try to find some large birds that we had spotted along a highway a few weeks ago. I found the highway and drove up it for a number of miles - nothing to be seen. Several miles further I finally spotted some birds in the water-filled ditch. I pulled onto the shoulder and got out quietly. These were the same ones - they were quite wary and while I managed to make a few shots, they flew off before I got within close range. I drove several more miles but the ditch came to an end so I reluctantly turned to head back home disappointed. The ditch on the return side appeared to be almost dried up.

As I came near the end of the highway where I had to turn off, I noticed what appeared to be construction ahead. I slowed, and then noticed a large excavator removing plant material from the ditch. And there, surrounding the digging, were scores of egrets, ibises, some herons, and the birds I was after. The noise of the excavator drowned out any sound I made, and I was able to capture what I was after. These 'beauties' are known as wood storks, and they lined themselves up nicely to have their photo made before taking up new positions on the other side of the ditch.

Note: our popularity with our friends and family in the frozen north was ratcheted up a few notches when we bought a home in Florida. We have company again for the next few days which will limit my time to visit and respond to comments. I hope to continue to post during this time.

(70-200mm  f10  1/320 sec  ISO200)

Over the moon

That's how I feel for having recently been honoured by 3 fellow bloggers who awarded me the

Thank you Darlene at My Life For A Year
                   Joseph at CarreraCaballo's
                  and Cat at The Whimsical Gardener

Now according to the 'rules' I need to reveal 7 things previously unknown about me - that's the tough part because you know I've been like an open book ...

1. I try to avoid politics (here on my blog) but let me just say that I don't like how we're letting ourselves become ensnared ever more deeply into a nanny state
2. I hate having those 'senior moments' where I temporarily set something down only to have it 'disappear' in an instant - I'm still searching for a pair of glasses I set down a week ago
3. psst - promise not to tell ? ok. I like speed - the car type. Nothing really crazy mind you, just driving at the speed that's 'appropriate' for the road conditions e.g. not feeling limited by the posted 'guidelines' on an empty highway on a sunny day. I have a little Tiburon GT in the garage back home (you should see it corner !) and we just bought a Mustang GT convertible here (I would really love to have had the Shelby, but ...)
4. I think I have developed patience, although I will admit to having a little less of this on the road with drivers who obviously got their licence out of the cereal box
5. I'm an unabashed night owl; years ago I learned to operate on less than 6 hours of sleep (6 is nice though); hence sunrise shots are rare on my blog
6. when I travel to places I find it hard to sit still - I like to explore wherever we go; a real punishment would be to force me to lie on a beach doing nothing for more than 15 minutes
7. I rarely watch TV but love to read a variety of history books (recent ones: The Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, The California Goldrush of 1849; currently reading The History of Coffee; on deck - The Great Depression). I also just read this fascinating online book.

Ok, that was probably more than you bargained for. I'm also supposed to give this award to 15 (?) newly discovered (by me, I think) bloggers. But you already know that I'm not always that good at following 'rules' so I'm splitting this assignment into 2 parts. Part 1 I completed above and I promise to do part 2 this week.

(70-200mm  f11  1/250 sec  ISO200)

The Creator's signature

There are few scenes more glorious than a sunset. A sunset can gild any setting, even a suburban one. Scott started a Sunset Sunday theme one year ago - feel free to join in by posting a sunset on Sunday. Note that the sunset does not have to occur on the Sunday (as I mistakenly thought at first). I have 2 shots to share today - the first was made yesterday evening from our front lawn. The second was made 2 weeks ago as I was scurrying back to my vehicle to avoid a parking ticket.

May there be just enough clouds in your life to create a glorious sunset !  (author unknown)

(18-55mm  f6.3  1/25 sec  ISO200)

(10-22mm  f8.0  1/30 sec  ISO200)

Winging it

The definition of impossible - 'sneaking up on wildlife in an airboat' !

A few days ago (it already seems like weeks ago) my son and I visited the Everglades. Part of that experience included an airboat ride. They provide ear covering for a reason.

I have to admit it was a bit of a challenge to capture birds on the wing from a fast-moving platform. Continuous shooting mode was my friend that day.

This great egret must have had a good day of fishing - he was a bit slow getting off the water. For which I was thankful.

(70-200mm  f8.0  1/2000 sec  ISO200)

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil ...

Continuing with my bird theme, I found these three trying their best to imitate the famous monkeys, on one of our beach strolls recently.

(70-200mm  f11  1/400 sec  ISO200)