What kind of bird is this?

July 4 fell on Sunday this year, so I had Monday, July 5 off from work in observance of the holiday. It was a rainy day (we got 4.5-inches in my yard) and not good for much else other than laying on the sofa watching movies.

Until something flew past the window and got my attention. When I got up off the sofa to investigate, I had the good sense to grab my camera. And, this is what I saw.

The thing is, I don't know what kind of bird it is. I can't say I've ever seen one before. It turns out there were two of them in the neighborhood, so maybe they were mates or siblings. So, do you know what kind of bird it is?

Summertime and the living is Hot! Hot! Hot!

Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I was last here! I guess I've been pretty busy...

School's out. Student tally is done. 1,943 students for this school year. Not bad. That's 1,943 young people who have heard about water pollution and how to prevent it here in sunny South Florida!

The sky is blue all the time, but it's a different shade of blue at different times of day. I managed to catch this little shot on my way to work the other morning. I had stopped to photograph the Royal Poinciannas along 10th Avenue in Oakland Park and the sky was as beautiful as the trees, which are really spectacular this year! Here's what the camera and I saw:

10th Avenue, north of Oakland Park Boulevard, west of Dixie Highway.

Ninth Avenue in Wilton Manors, near the Island City Park Preserve.

We experienced a prolonged and cold winter this year and I find myself wondering if that's why the blooming trees have been so spectacular. The tabibeua were something to see when they bloomed in late April and early May (which is late for them to bloom) and now the Royal Poincianna's are just amazing to behold. The reds are vibrant and, early in the morning, they shimmer in the sun. Only Mother Nature could've come up with something like this!

Where have you been?

From my house to my office I saw a flock of ibises flying west to east, and a woodstork, a small grey heron and two large white herons on Viele Road.

This is what I encountered when I arrived at my office this morning. A flock of ibis and a woodstork, eating their way toward each other.

Yet another cold front is moving through. Low temps tonight in the forties. It's been a very cold winter in sunny, south Florida ...