incoming

Sit with this image for a while and discover how it reflects our lives...

a matter of minutes

6:28 am

6:43 am

seeing eye to eye

This great blue heron took waaaaay to long to eat this huge fish. He struggled with it, flipping it, cleaning off the seaweed, pushing it down his throat only to throw it up again and start the process all over again. We watched him for the longest time, not because this process was so fascinating but because of his neighbor.

Who had been CREEPING up closer and closer to this unsuspecting hungry heron. My hope was that the alligator was not as hungry as the heron. Our big decision was to wait and see the horror or throw our hands over our eyes and leave the scene. 

We stayed. The tension was palpable.

The final decision to leave was made by the tricolored heron. He flew away so fast that I missed him! If you look really really closely in the upper right hand corner

 you'll see a bit of his wing and feet as he left the scene. 

As he departed the roseate spoonbill flew in. 

Joined later by the great egret. 

We finally left relieved ...

Cormorant

drying wings in the early morning

time for breakfast

lift off....

glossy ibis

When you first see a glossy ibis you think it's just black or dark brown, pretty non descriptive.

But wow, at closer viewing this bird comes to life with gorgeous iridescent colors.

love the down curved bill

another favorite of mine.

Roseate Spoonbill

So rosy and vibrant.

Love this bird

How can you not?

Merritt Island

I could spend the next month posting the images from our trip to Merritt Island.  I have never seen so many Roseate Spoonbills in one place, well maybe once before in the Everglades years ago. We saw 42 different species of birds on this trip. It was heavenly. 

Yet I'm still getting up and shooting the sunrise and now I have developed a creative overload in my head.

 Birds, beach, birds, beach, birds, beach.... hmmm

captive

I spent the morning at Busch Wildlife Center. 

All the birds and animals were broken in some way. Some wounded, others forgotten, or treated poorly by humans. They have all found a home here where they are carefully tended to and protected from the life they can no longer handle. This pair of barn owls were always together.

Its all so bittersweet, these beautiful creatures. My favorite the Crested Caracara.

Just look at this little screech owl, the size of my fist.

And this panther was taking a break from the heat but raised his head when he saw me with my camera. Look at his paws...

A play date

They flew in to join the others.

Played "wing flap" and "puff up" but the others didn't join in.

Tried a juice break but others weren't thirsty.

Even a game of who can stare the longest didn't work.

Guess we'll leave and find some others to play with....

pre dawn

I woke up on the late side for going to shoot at the beach. Ran around to gather equipment while waiting for the coffee to brew. Can't find my 24-105 lens that I love to use for the morning shoot. Nuts will have to use another. Defensive driving so as not to run over all of the bunnies darting across the road, I may have nicked one. Sending positive vibes into the universe in hopes he's alright. Forgot my tripod, turn around and head back home for it. On my way again when the car in front of me clearly runs over a bunny in the road. Horror mixes with hope for him.

 Maybe I should have stayed in bed. 

I found my 24-105 lens on the front hall table when I got home. 

Also noticed that I have two different colored socks on.

Tomorrow I plan on getting up earlier and organizing my camera bag the night before.

So many rainy mornings has thrown me off my stride...

Your choice

We can look at our world and judge or we can look at our world and wonder. 

Turkey vulture yuck, or turkey vulture interesting naked red head and beak.

Turkey vulture digging out the remains of dead stuff yuck, or turkey vulture preening in the sun.

Turkey vultures glaring at me, or two devoted parents taking care of their young.

How would you have spent your time with them?