From the 2004 archives

Yoho NP, British Columbia, Canada

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - A look back at a 2004 vacation stop in Yoho National Park.  Perfect weather and good hiking.  From this location we were heading back to the trail head at Lake O'Hara in the middle of the photo.  No hikers cars were allowed at the lake.  We took a bus to the exclusive resort there and headed out.  Only a small number of hikers are permitted each day.  You have to buy a ticket at the park visitor center and hope there are seats/spots available.  We got lucky to get our tix on the day we hoped for.
     The "friendly folks" at the resort were not happy if you ventured onto their area for the guests  and we expected to see 'no sweaty hikers' allowed signs.  Oh yeah, there was a designated time the bus left for our special parking area...miss it and it was a six mile walk back to the car.

Another bad hair day

I just can't do anything with my fluff.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - - The latest happenings from the Alligator Farm.

Sunrise, Easter morning

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Easter sunrise at a beach near our house.  If you are going to enjoy the sunrise and do some beach walking you better bring a camera along.  Or you bring a beach chair and hot coffee.

Quit yakking, I want some food

Please don't forget about me.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLe - -  Poor kid.  The parents squabble while he/she tries to get their attention.
      (It appears I've screwed up the photo somehow...which shouldn't be a problem if I had the slightest idea how to fix it.)

Dance, dance, dance

Liftoff

Touchdown

TITUSVILLE, FL - - Some male snowy egrets who are yearning for love ... or at least a date ... resort to all sorts of things to garner attention. This fellow,. for instance, was practicing his ballet-style moves.  Note the moorhen nearby who was transfixed by this fellow's stellar moves!!  

Raptor rapture

TITUSVILLE, FL - - A short excursion to the wildlife refuge at Cape Canaveral found us on a drive out among the mangroves on a connection of marl/gravel tracks favored by fishermen.  It usually is also pretty good for a good collection of birds very early (just before sunrise) in the morning.  The very narrow roads - -with water on both sides - - meanders all over.  You can't get lost if you drive around enough.
     Way out there the navigator spotted a large bird perched on a scrub with a good view of the water.  I backed up slowly and there was an eagle maybe 15 feet away almost at our level.  Usually unfamiliar noise or movement with spook an eagle into quickly flying off.  Not this one.  It was a juvenile, maybe three years old and scruffy looking.  No real coloring that you expect to see in a mature bird.  It checked us out and then went back to checking out the waters nearby looking for breakfast.
     (I refer to the eagle as it because while the raptor probably is male, I can't tell.)

The real eagle-eye

Green eyes and noisy neighbors

ST AUGUSTINE, FL - - Last post focused on red eye makeup and now it's green eyes which look sharp.  Explanation:  green eyes are for Great Egrets while red eyes identify a Snowy Egret.  This green eye tries to look regal while scouting out the neighborhood.
     When you've occupied room / nest in the apartment building you sometimes have to put up with

The eyes have it.

Waiting for the dancing to stop.

noisy neighbors.  You can't leave (because someone might swoop in and steal your spot) so you do your best to ignore the noise and antics of those around you.

My fine feathered friend

Of course, I'm just a shy kind of guy

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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - - In the Spring, a young bird's fancy turns to finding a mate.  For that, you've got  to look sharp.  Note the red eye-liner and the gel in the head feathers.  Don't we look hot.

A little bird told me...

Hello!  Hello!

 ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- Hello I'm back.  I took three months off because I couldn't think of anything to write, because nothing exciting was going on.