cats – A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens

'scene' along the way, a second look, cats, dragonflies, Just do it, perseverance, photography, road trip

Around this neighborhood…

July 25, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

It has taken me all this time to notice that the kids on the playground in this neighborhood get to teeter-totter on a dragonfly. How fun.

The usual suspects seem to line up in anticipation of the sunrise every morning.

My plumeria cuttings are benefitting from my gardening skills, better known as benign neglect. There were three cuttings in the right hand pot, but two didn’t make it. The third one is holding it’s own.

This kitty was feral, but she has adapted to family life very well. I think she knows something is up as we pack our bags for a trip north to a wedding. But she loves her kitty-sitter so she won’t miss us too much.

a second look, blessings, cats, friends, moments, nature, perseverance, photography, sunset

Easter sunset…

April 19, 2022April 19, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

When the day begins to wind down you will find me in a comfy chair with my feet up, probably watching Jeopardy. And that’s usually the end of my day when I’m home, but if I’m at my friend’s house I will be looking at the TV, but with a view of the window over the front door. Sometimes that view includes some wispy clouds that begin to glow pink, and that will roust me out of the chair and out the front door. Rushing down the street a little way brings me to the feature photo view.

The closest option for view is this one, steps out the front door looking down the street across the way.

And this kitty has usually just settled onto my lap for a snooze when a glance out the window sends me out the door. She was a feral cat, fed by the neighbors who moved away. She was parked on the lawn beside an empty food bowl when my friend took up the feeding routine. Then she started napping on his lanai, entering through a ripped screen. That led to short trips into the house, and the rest is history. Sweet kitty.

This time of year is a challenge. Do I go out to see if the sky is on fire, or to I stay put to see who wins Jeopardy? Sometimes it’s not an easy choice.

'scene' along the way, a second look, birds, cats, ducks, eagles, Florida landmarks, Florida wildlife, natural wonders, perseverance, photography

The Secrets of ZooTampa…

March 17, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

Yes, there are other amazing animals at ZooTampa, although you’d hardly know it based on my fixation with orangutans. This last trip to the zoo was our first chance to visit the newly completed Florida exhibit that has been under construction for quite a while now. Obviously we are surrounded by Florida wildlife every day, but we don’t get to see them up close and personal the way we did at the zoo.

I loved this view of a baby manatee, who looked to me like he had a smile on his face. There were heads of lettuce floating on the surface making all the manatees happy.

There were ducks swimming with the manatees so I had to zoom in on this unusual view.

On second thought we also visited the Malayan tiger who;s habitat is next door to the orangutans. So, no, we don’t run into tigers when we are out and about in Florida.

Now I’m confused. I think we were still in the Florida exhibit, but the pink birds we saw were flamingos.

And a spoonie, who was almost too close for a photo.

I love the way the camera will ignore the mesh of the cage and focus on the subject beyond, in this case a sleepy barred owl.

This little screech owl was winking at us.

This iguana was posing so perfectly, begging to have his picture taken.

There are two eagles at the zoo, Ross, for Betsy Ross, and Glory. I’m not sure which one this is, but Glory is celebrating 30 years at the zoo. Both eagles are not able to live in the wild, so this is their permanent home.

Of course the star of the Florida exhibit was the Florida panther in the feature photo. It was a treat to see one, and this one looked quite content in his new habitat. Later we heard that we missed the stork chicks in the Africa exhibit, but it was time to meet the group for lunch, and we were hungry. So that means another trip to the zoo will be in order, but in a few weeks, not while spring break is in full swing here.

Let me highly recommend the series from National Geographic called Secrets of ZooTampa. So much goes on behind the scenes, it’s very interesting. And, much to my delight, the segment on orangutans covered the birth of Riplee, my favorite baby boy.

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, boats, cats, friends, fun, making memories, perseverance, photography, second chances, sunset

Hooters…

August 31, 2021August 30, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

I’ve been meaning to go back to Hooters. For wings yes, but really for the sunset. Another photographer’s photo had clued me in to the view from the deck at the Hooters in my neighborhood, and on my last trip there my shenanigans with the camera didn’t seem to bother anybody. I must have mentioned it to my friend because last night he suggested we go there, so off we went. I was a little disappointed to see that the string of lights that had hung at the dock weren’t there this time. They went a long way to making me like the shots I had gotten there before. And as I stepped out onto the dock I remembered that last time there was a kitty out there and I thought it was a shame that she wasn’t there this time. I had taken a lot of pictures of her, which had amused me no end. I opened my mouth to mention the kitty to my friend and there she was…

She decided to investigate my phone, and when I scratched her ears I think I made a friend for life.

I saw the lights coming on as the evening grew darker, and I hoped for a colorful sunset.

There was some color, but I hoped for more from the sunset. This was as good as it got.

When we drove in I was pleased to see that this little bait shop was still in operation, and I said that on the way home I wanted to stop for a photo when it was dark and the lights were on.

The feature photo is a panorama taken with my iPhone. Even if it wasn’t the prettiest sunset ever, it was a pretty enough night to make me happy. And there is always next time to look forward to…

a second look, adventure, birds, cats, ducks, Florida landmarks, friends, fun, making memories, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography, weather

Zootampa residents…

January 27, 2021January 26, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

Watching this tiger pacing and yowling has distressed me in past trips to the zoo.. Until yesterday that’s all that I’ve ever seen him do. So seeing him relaxed on that platform was nice, even if he did yowl a bit.

I do force myself to walk the rest of the zoo, instead of spending all my time at the orangutan enclosure. And in doing that I sometimes notice an animal, or in this case a bird, that I hadn’t noticed before. It’s a Black Spur-winged goose, called such because of a spur on it’s wing that can actually be poisonous. Who would have thought that?

Just ducks I know, but I liked the color here.

This elephant is taking a dust bath, doesn’t that sound like fun?

The whole giraffe, not the easiest shot to get. Plus a zebra.

This is a Schmidt’s red-tailed guenon. I love his little heart shaped nose.

This family was enjoying an encounter with an Alhabra Giant tortoise. I was frustrated with out limited view. I wonder how that photographer’s photos turned out.

I thought this orangutan was hiding it’s face completely, until I got the photo into the computer. She was keeping an eye on us.

'scene' along the way, a second look, cats, foggy sky, moments, perseverance, photography, sunrise

Daybreak…

January 29, 2020January 29, 2020 naturecoastimagesblog

Aripeka again. I approach from the south these days, which means that the first bridge I get to is the one I failed to realize was there for quite a long time. Even on a day that didn’t turn out to be so pretty, as the sun comes up it lights up the faces of the houses even when the sky isn’t as dramatic.

This little bait shop always catches my eye when I arrive at what’s now the second bridge. It isn’t always as well lit as it was today, and that lighting is what drew me over to take a picture as soon as I got there. I didn’t see the kitty until I was getting the camera ready and I was sure he’d move before I got the shot. How nice of him to stay put.

And a little color in the sky before I left. The sun was rising too far to the right of my view for the best color. I found better color on the way home with no way to stop for a photo, but that’s okay. Tomorrow is another day…