Gulf breeze

TIERRA VERDE, FL - - This Double-crested Cormorant apparently couldn't decide whether to go back to work fishing or hang out on North Beach at Fort De Soto and catch the breeze.

Heron watch

TIERRA VERDE, FL - - Nothing beats searching and finding special shots out in the 'bush' of Fort De Soto. This Great Blue Heron was hiding way up in an Australian Pine. His spot was so good he was constantly making noise about it and, by walking around enough, I was able to spot the rascal.

Construction work

TERRE VERDE, FL - - It's construction time in the Heron household. In the top picture Mr. Heron is looking for building logs (twigs) while Mrs. Heron tends to the construction. Check out Lydia's blog (link below) for the rest of the story and her photos. We were very lucky to stumble upon these two working in a part of Fort DeSoto County Park where we are camping.

SEASONS GREETINGS

Happy Holidays to all

Reflections

DE LEON SPRINGS, FL

Could be a long winter

DE LEON SPRINGS, FL - - We returned to De Leon Springs today to see if we could catch some more action. The Immature Blue Heron I posted last week was there again. This time I noticed something different which may curtail this bird growing to a ripe old age. Note in the top picture that the bird is favoring a limp right leg.

In the photo below you can see that he also has a problem with keeping the leg alongside the other to streamline his flying. A problem like this could make it hard to hunt and, maybe, give other birds the opening to steal his food.

Will swim for pennies

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - These coy koi were spotted in a store front fish pond in
Fernandina Beach. These guys would not fit in a normal fishbowl.

Tough times

NEWS FLASH - - It appears santa's sleigh and eight reindeer have been forclosed upon. St. Nick has been photographed spreading cheer from a three-wheeled bicycle. This could make his trip on Christmas Eve a lot longer. Note: The PS sticker on the seat is the Polar Express logo. CHEERS.

Youngster stalking snacks

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - This youngster we encountered at De Leon Springs could easily cause a case of mistaken identity. What might look like a Snowy Egret on first glance is really an immature (young) Little Blue Heron. You can't seem them, but this guy has legs as green as the wetland area leaves he's stalking through. Once he gets older the plumage turns a darkish blue and the legs get more of a gray hue to them.

De Leon Springs

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Today we checked out De Leon Springs State Park. It was a bit overcast, but a large cast of characters was on hand to get their pictures takes. This has got to be the fattest turtle I've ever seen of the non-snapping turtle type. Think for a moment aboutA how he/she got up on this dead log...and check out the big feet. Yes, the pic is a bit 'soft.'
This double-crested cormorant had just taken off after landing a bit too close to the alligator giving us the evil-eye (below).

Soaring

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - This Brown Pelican was gliding on the wind above the Halifax River looking for 'snacks.' These birds have the ability to hover at up to 50' above the water before dive-bombing their unsuspecting prey.

Terns in the wind

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - These Terns were getting buffeted by the wind on a stretch of beach in Ponce Inlet, an area about 12 miles south of where we live. The group includes Royal Terns (orange bill) and Forster's Terns (black eye patch and black bill). The largest portion of the group belong to the "I'm hiding my face and bill in my feathers so you can't tell who/what I am" section of the Tern family.

Manatee or Momatee??

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - We took a trip to Blue Springs State Park near Orange City yesterday. When the weather turns cooler in the area where we live lots of West Indian manatees 'living' here head for Blue Springs. The natural aquafer flows at a steady 72-degrees...a bit cool for humans but like a hot tub for the manatees. These floating/swimming masses of blubber (above, with friends in the clear water) send out some signal and the race is on. Yesterday's unofficial count: 166 including twins among the 11 newborn calves on hand. "How do you know there are twins?" I asked. "There are two of them closely following one of the females instead of the usual one,' was the answer. Highly scientific thinking, that.

Here's looking at ya!

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Oh, yeah...I'm cool.