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 ...

Beautiful Bird Spotted on New Year's Eve!

The final post for this year and this decade couldn't be better than this photo of a Great Blue Heron, looking for his breakfast this morning. I've seen (and shot photos of) a lot of herons, but this fellow is definitely the most handsome bird I've ever seen. I'm so very glad I had my camera handy! Although, seeing him with my own two eyes is the ultimate gift. What a beauty, huh? Now you know why I love living here in south Florida, in the Everglades!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Tuesday's Turkey Vultures

Upon arriving at the office this morning around 8 AM,
this pair was basking in the glow of the morning sun.

Often called buzzards or carrion crows, turkey vultures are not related to either family. One of two vultures found throughout south Florida, the turkey vulture is protected by Federal law and cannot be killed without proper permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The turkey vulture is approximately twenty-five inches tall and weighs from 3.5 to 5.3 pounds. The wingspan measures some seventy-two inches. This bird is blackish brown and has its own distinguishing features. As you can see in the photograph, they have a red head and legs, the tips of the bills are white, and the undersides of their wings are lined in gray. In flight, their tails extend past their legs.

Turkey vultures live in landfills, pastures, or wherever they can find sources of carrion (dead or decaying flesh). They will occasionally eat vegetable and plant matter or prey upon young, sick, or weak animals but carrion is their main diet. Turkey vultures have a well-developed sense of smell to help them find new sources of carrion.

Vultures are communal roosters and have two interesting habits: they defecate on their legs to keep cool (It must be effective. Why else would they do it?); and, when threatened with attack, vultures disgorge their stomach contents. This might explain why the word vulture conjures up such ill feelings and dark images. Historically, vultures were once thought of as spiritual messengers and symbols of strength. Today, they are important as natural garbage disposals that eliminate costly cleanup of our roads and pastures.

In south Florida, vultures are often observed soaring at great heights, riding the wind currents. They are elegant birds when in flight, a contradiction to their reputation as an evil dark bird. As an avid bird watcher and nature lover, it's important to understand that vultures are an important part of the ecosystem. We may not like them, but we need them ...

Iguanas ... and then some!

It's iguana mating season in south Florida and these guys are everywhere! Here along our canal this morning I counted 16 iguanas of all sizes. In this photo, you can see two, but there were four more scattered around the Brazilian Pepper tree. Keep in mind that both the critters and the tree are invasive exotic species ... but they sure are fascinating to watch!

Bird of the Day ... Cattle Heron

I've decided to capture images of birds I see every day. Now, I see birds every day. But, I don't always have my camera in my hand. Which is about to change for this little "bird a day" project of mine. Let's see what happens ...

These little guys are a fairly common site around these parts. Of course, with a cow pasture next door to my office, I may get to see them more often than others, but you still see them quite often even in the dense urban areas along the east side of the county.

Found this info on the Seminole Audubon web site:
Bubulcus ibis (BUE-bul-kus EYE-bis) Other Names: Cattle heron, cattle egret, buff-backed heron. Voice: Some croaking notes in nesting season; usually quiet.

Food: follows cattle and eats insects frightened from grass as cattle walk and graze; grasshoppers, crickets, frogs, spiders, toads; differs from other herons by feeding on insects and vertebrates in fields and pastures away from water.

Color: An all-white heron; yellow or orange-colored bill; eyes and legs yellow; in breeding season, spring to late summer, orange-buff plumes on crown and nape and white to golden plumes on lower foreneck and mantle; legs coral pink.

Nest: Usually with other herons in various habitats; mangroves, willows, live oaks and red cedars; nest built by female of twigs and branches gathered by male; 10-18 inches across; 5-12 feet above ground. Eggs: April and May; 3-5 per clutch. Egg color: light blue. Incubation time: 22-24 days; only species of heron able to breed in first year. Fledge: Young can fly after about 40 days.

Habitat: Dry or moist open fields. Range: Established on every continent. Observations: Apparently flew across Atlantic from Africa to South America; first seen in Florida in 1941; population is exploding.

Woodstork Watch

On my arrival at my office this morning, I spotted this guy.

He was fishing for his breakfast. I got a few shots of him,

then ...
he flew away!

Woodstork Breakfast Shop

Woodstork feasting this morning, around 7:30 AM
He's been around for a couple of days now, and it's such a joy to watch him work!

Bird Watching

Anybody know what kind of bird this is? He or she has been hanging around our office for about a week now. I heard him before I saw him and when I saw him sitting up on the power lines, I ran for the camera. He likes this spot. I suppose he can see all around from that vantage point. And, I've seen him there more than once.

I looked through hundreds of bird photos on the internet and at Flickr's photo web site, but nothing. So, if you know what it is, would you tell me?

Beauty & the Beast

Sunday afternoon we took a spin down to Homestead for the International Orchid Festival. The orchids were absolutely spectacular as was Fruit & Spice Park where it was held. But, it was the ride back that was r-e-a-l-l-y AMAZING! We took Krome Avenue north to Broward and stumbled on an entrance to the Everglades. The vista was beautiful beyond words and I wish my camera could have captured the majesty of it all!


A boot and a Budweiser in the Everglades ... and hundreds of spent gun shells on the ground left me feeling violated. Targets had been set up 100 yards away and were riddled with bullet holes while the ground was littered with broken beer bottles. A huge mound of burnt trash indicated a fire. A very recent fire. There was still the smell of smoke. And, what really frightened me is how easily this area would have burned if a spark had been blown out on the parched, dry earth of my precious Everglades. It's been so dry for so long ...