Open wide

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - In a previous post it was 'stretch time' for the Princess. Now it's 'yawn time' for the Queen. This is the response we often get to any number of vocal requests...since she/they sleep all the time how can they be tired?

Reflections at breakfast

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The buffet line and reflecting pool dining areas were open this morning at low tide in the Tomoka River Basin. Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and a couple of other hungry birds all joined in on the activity. This grouping is the most birds we've seen in one place in nearly two months.

I dig, therefore I am

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - There are now yellow wing hibiscus growing in our front yard. And a maple tree which I won in an Earth Day drawing. Shovel, potting soil, water...and easy directions: "here is where you can plant them."

Stretccch

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The Princess is addicted to the morning workout shows on tv.

Slow time of year

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Not much happenin' around here. It seems all the birds have taken off for their summer vacation destinations. We're still here in OB waiting and hoping. The bird variety is so bad that we've taken to shooting sea gull pics. The above shot IS black and white through the wonder of computer tech photo programs. The shot below looks more like a bird of (real) prey instead of a gull in search of floating bread crusts in St. Augustine.

Spring Break

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The birds are on vacation.

Some Colorful Characters

MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - - It was a good day at MINWR, as a check of Lydia's blog (click on link) explains. It was our first sighting of an Eastern Meadowlark (above) and a large group of the scarcer variety of Ibis, the Glossy version (below). Note the white outline around the face.
Lydia has posted a great pic of this eagle in flight. The huge and heavy 600mm lens I was working with doesn't lend itself to quick movements, but use a mono pod and have subjects like the Ibis and the Eagle not trying to fake you out with moves and you can get some good shots. The yellow-belly at top was caught with a shorter lens in a shoot quickly before the bird takes off situation.

A closer look at the shuttle booster rocket separation

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - A closer look at the booster rocket separation on the Discovery space shuttle launch. The shot above is just seconds before booster rocket separation. The shot below has been really blown up so it's easier to see the shuttle head onward as the boosters flame begin to flame out.

Space Shuttle Discovery: up, up and away

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The night time launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery was quite spectacular. Normally, the shuttle's trajectory does not take it on a route towards (or so it seemed) our neck of the woods. Usually, the shuttle's path takes it more directly out over the ocean. This was our gain, along with near perfect weather. The launch was just after sunset with the shuttle visible for about 4 minutes. Above, the shuttle streaks toward a rendezvous with the space station on its 13 day trip.
The booster rockets separated after doing their job. The spectacular trail of flame is over, leaving the shuttle just a dot in the night time sky.
The contrail of the shuttle reflected the last glows of the setting sun. This pic was taken with the handy Canon SD1100 IS point and shoot both Lydia and I carry to augment our big lens cameras.

Black Skimmers in motion

MATANZAS INLET, FL - - The black skimmer air force was out at Matanzas Inlet, climbing, swooping and gliding around. But when it comes time to land, they all want to touch down on the same spot. There is no tower control, no holding patterns until the runway is cleared, just zip in and land..even if there are other birds in the way

Sunrise on both coasts

FLAGLER BEACH / PASS-A-GRILLE, FL - - Sunrise and birds. Sometimes you don't know there are birds in your photo until you look real closely...as in the above shot from Flagler Beach. (Look bottom left of the sun.) Other times opportunities present themselves....like the photo below of the fishing pier in Pass-A-Grille. No, we didn't spend the weekend criss-crossing the state. The Flagler photo was today while PAG is from last week's trip.

Laughing and eating

TIERRRA VERDE, FL - - He who laughs last laughs...alone. Laughing Gulls, like the one above, hang out in groups. This guy has apparently been laughing at his own jokes hence, the solo act.
Hanging out at the bait shop in Pass-A-Grille at the right time can be good for your daily food intake. However, figuring how you are going to swallow what you've pinched from the bait bucket could take some thought. And, you might want to keep an eye out as every other bird around will try to steal your meal. This heron actually did gulp the shrimp before it got stolen.

Something missing??

TIERRA VERDE, FL - - These two osprey seem to be wondering if anything is missig...like junior. This high-rise housing gives the birds gerat vantage point to observe breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks as they swim by in the water below.

Terns on vacation

TIERRA VERDE, FL - - While his buddies wash up, the leader of the pack heads out to scout for lunch. This is a group of Sandwich Terns, but I doubt the main item on their diets comes from Subway.

Food Fight

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - A group of 10 pelicans gathered near the fish cleaning station on the pier near our house. They got scraps. Then the fisherman threw a large piece of fish skin/guts into the water. One pelican got lucky. Others were not happy....especially the one seen attacking the 'lucky' one (above and below) who snagged the guts. Not sure if either bird got hurt, but it wasn't from lack of trying.

Colorful, thief

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - It always pays to take a second, closer look through recent pics. These two are add-ons from our Homosassa Springs trip. The orange-y coloring of the flamingo (above) is a true representation...somehow pink wasn't the color of choice for any of the flamingos we saw. And are these guys loud when they get angry; then the cranes joined the chorus.
This Great Blue Heron stole the fish he's taking flight with from an unlucky cormorant. Sometimes, although in different locations, both Lydia and I see the same action at the same time. Usually only one person blogs the incident, but we both had really good shots. Click on the link to her blog for more on the story and pics of the unfortunate cormorant as well.

Tough guy, bad hair

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Pity the poor Crested Caracara. He's supposed to be a tough guy. He's a halk-like member of the falcon family. He's supposedly tough enough and mean enough that he scares vultures off their road kill meals. Right. This poor sap looks like he's wearing a Kmart special $4.99 wig or maybe trying out his version of the Donald Trump comb-over. Those vultures probably roll over laughing when Senor Caracara shows up for lunch.

The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where Sr Caracara resides is a 'home' for injured birds and others. To get a shot of this bird in the wild would be pure, pure luck.

Three tons of fun

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, FL - - If you weighed 6,000 lbs. and were 49 years old like Lu The Hippo you wouldn't move too fast either. Lu was born on January 26, 1960 at the San Diego Zoo and has been a fixture in Homosassa since 1964 when the facility was more of an amusement-style park. In 1989 the park service bought the property, changed the name to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and began to focus exclusively on wildlife. I wonder what 49 'human time frame years' equals in 'hippo years.'

Whoo

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, FL - - Never try a stare-down contest with a Great Horned Owl. See the next post for the rest of the story.

Whooo are you

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, FL - - The Great Horned Owl is the largest of the American 'eared' owls. This guy, who has sanctuary in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, would seem to have a good life.....but he can't leave. So he stares, he winks, and he waits.