bugs – A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, attention to detail, attitude adjustments, birds, bugs, bunnies, butterflies, egrets, exploring new places, friends, fun, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip, technology

Celery Fields…

January 2, 2023January 1, 2023 naturecoastimagesblog

A couple of years ago I spent a day being chauffeured around by another photographer, seeing many birding spots that day. Celery Fields was one of our quick stops, since we were in the area. But my over all impression was that it was rather flat and we didn’t take pictures there that day. Maybe we stopped with a different view that day, but I never added it to my mental ‘must see’ locations. Our intention in going this time was to ride the trails and see some birds that a friend had photographed there. But we quickly found that those long slow dirt trails were going to be too much for our trike and scooter, so we rode on the sidewalk and found plenty beautiful subjects to shoot.

I’m always on the lookout for bees and that’s what I hoped this was. I didn’t have the right lens on the camera and it didn’t seem to be focusing as I wanted it to, but I took some shots anyhow. I’m glad I did. The feature photo seemed to have the same problems also, but turned out okay.

This is the view we saw, definitely not flat. Each turn of the trail revealed yet another hill to climb.

Though the people on the hill caught my eye. I think he was being sent to retrieve his brother. I wish I’d rolled the zoom back a little.

If this guy had been lost he was found in the end,

This egret was the reason we did ride on the sidewalk, which revealed a few more photographic subjects.

I thought this was a glossy ibis, but I had to check to be sure and it is, but he’s in his non-breeding plumage.

A little blue was hanging out with the egret and ibis also.

We missed a great opportunity to get pictures of this immature red-shouldered hawk when we first arrived. Lucky for us he flew into the trees nearby and posed a while.

I saw the beautiful color of this fella’s feathers, but when he turned his head I was a bit disappointed to see that it was a turkey vulture. But I suppose they have their place in the big scheme of things.

This little bird was high in a tree so I had to zoom to the max, and then look it up on Merlin. It’s a loggerhead shrike, which I’d heard of but seeing it was a first for me.

It’s a shame that we didn’t look up info on this location before we visited because there is a lot more to be seen here. But we’ll be back…

a second look, adventure, bugs, Florida wildlife, live and learn, nature, perseverance, photography

Admitting defeat…

November 28, 2022November 27, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

The wildlife at the Hillsborough River State Park chased me away from the photo walk I had been looking forward to attending today. The wildlife in this particular case were some very aggressive mosquitos. I tried to suck it up and be at least as tough as the two Mikes that did finally show up were, but eventually I cried uncle, apologized, and high tailed it back to the car. When I add hashtags to my posts I always include ‘perseverance’ and ‘photography.’ But the photo walk I attended today defeated me, at least as far as perseverance goes. I did get a couple of photos though, so it wasn’t a total bust. And the rapids, such as they are, were flowing better than usual so I’m happy that I got that far into the woods at least. I took a Benedryl as soon as I got home, but tried to resist taking another one or I’d have slept the rest of the day away.

If I hadn’t been so busy swatting mosquitos I would like to think that I would have climbed (carefully) down to the bank of the river and have had a much nicer view of the rapids.

I’ve learned my lesson. I will keep bug spray in my car, as well as in the basket of the trike, which is where it was today. Maybe even in my camera bag if I’m sure it won’t leak. Then I will do better at that perseverance thing. I’m afraid I may have promised myself that in the past, but this was the worst mosquito attack I’ve ever experienced. Or I’m getting wimpy in my old age.

bugs, butterflies, flowers, fun, gardens, nature, Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography, second chances

Buzzing by the gardens…

November 17, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

Yesterday I did what I used to do when I lived in Spring Hill, I dropped by the botanical garden rather than drive past it. I doubted that butterflies would be in abundance in this cooler weather, and I was right. But right there in the butterfly garden I found something I haven’t seen in ages, a big fat bumble bee. And the afternoon light was nice. What a treat.

I was amazed at how solid his wings look in this photo.

He was ignoring me completely as he flitted from flower to flower.

I wish I could claim to have set up this shot, but it was just lucky.

I love it when a spur of the moment inspiration turns out so well. Life is simple these days, all it takes is seeing a tiny little creature to make my day. Life is good.

a second look, birds, bugs, Florida wildlife, flowers, fun, perseverance, photography, Pine Island, sunset

All about the birds…

November 3, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

It really was all about the birds last night at Pine Island. Surprising birds if you consider the 5 or 6 chickens that were milling around just outside the entry to the parking lot. They must have headed back to the coop before I could get a picture. But walking onto the beach I saw seagulls in the air, lots of them.

They weren’t flying all the time, but when they did!

I was looking at the sun dipping low and reflecting on the water when the birds started flying through my shots.

It seems there is always something going on, and when I saw that this guy’s shirt said STAFF I thought there was an event happening. I guess he was just taking it easy at the end of his day.

This shrub was covered in these flowers that I thought were very pretty. So I looked around for a couple that were in the light and at a good height to get a picture, and this is what I found. I didn’t see the bug at first, and I wish it was a bee or a butterfly, but I guess it’ll have to do.

adventure, attitude adjustments, birds, bugs, butterflies, exploring new places, friends, fun, nature, on closer examination, perseverance, photography

Taylor Lake Park…

October 26, 2022October 25, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

I hardly know where to start. Somehow we came across the name of a park in the area, one that we hadn’t heard of before. The John S. Taylor Park in Largo, FL. It’s not a huge park, the walk was an easy 1.6 miles around. We stopped to see and photograph birds quite a few times. I’ve seen comments about migratory birds being in the area at this time of year, or maybe it’s just such a pretty park that the birds like to call it home.

Bluejays used to visit my backyard in Spring Hill, but it was a nice surprise to see them yesterday. This one seemed to want to say something.

I think I like this photo of a bluejay the best.

But my new camera has the ability to track birds in flight, so I was happy to capture this photo. I have a lot more to learn about the settings in this camera though.

Anhingas were sunning themselves, as they are most everywhere you go in Florida.

Getting the camera to focus in for a macro shot was a slight problem.

I had just said that we hadn’t seen any bees that day, meaning big fat bumble bees. But when I stopped to look at the little flowers in the bushes along the shore I found tiny little bees on tiny little flowers.

The tiny little butterflies in the grasses were plentiful also.

A fisherman pointed out this little gator to us.

I would like to think that we would have noticed this big gator sunning itself even if the fisherman hadn’t pointed him out.

There are lots more photos to go through, but they will have to wait for another day. It’s time to go out and enjoy another gorgeous day in sunny Florida.

'scene' along the way, a second look, attention to detail, boats, bugs, exploring new places, flowers, friends, fun, making memories, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

Sails, and rocky shores of Maine…

August 15, 2022August 14, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

I had crossed this ‘swing bridge’ the last time I visited this area. It takes you to Southport Island, where, according to our map, there are three lighthouses to be seen just off shore. The bridge operator told me that the bridge opens every half hour so that the boaters and the residents can plan their trips over land or water. I was glad that my friend got a chance to see it in action. There is a sign that warns, ‘draw bridge ahead,’ but this is what you see when you come around the bend. As far as the lighthouses go we weren’t totally successful this time, just like I wasn’t the last time I tried to find them either. Two out of three ain’t bad, or so I’ve heard.