Just do it – A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens

'scene' along the way, a second look, coping, Florida landmarks, Just do it, learning, old dogs new tricks, perseverance, photography, sunset, technology, unintended consequences

Outsmarting technology…

July 10, 2021July 10, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

Turns out I’m not smart enough to outsmart technology, although I outsmart myself regularly. I’m back home on my desktop computer and I can’t get a start page to write a new blog post. More correctly, I’m on my phone at the moment. if I start a post here can I open it on the computer and finish a post? Guess I’ll find out.

And the answer is no, I couldn’t. So how many devices does it take to write a blog post? Three, so far. I’m now on my laptop, the pictures were in my desktop, but I bought a flash drive the other day so hopefully I’m good.

I have asked for help from WordPress twice so far with no response. And since I pay to upgrade so that anyone nice enough to bother reading this doesn’t have to see ads, I would hope that I rate a response from them. At least the post-storm sunset from Hudson Beach was nice. A low tide view when I had expected lots of water. And I almost gave up, but it did, finally, get pretty.

The new USB drive didn’t work, just saying. It was too new for this old laptop. But I found an old one that did work. Sometimes us old things do manage to save the day, at least when they stick together. Or something like that…

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, birds, brainstorms, connections, finding my way, Florida landmarks, Florida wildlife, friends, fun, Just do it, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, sky, weather

It was beach-y…

July 5, 2021July 4, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

,With day after day of rain, and a potential tropical storm ready to make landfall in a couple of days, I thought I’d lose my mind if I didn’t get out and go somewhere. To the beach, I thought. Dramatic clouds at the beach could be nice, especially when you are desperate. But then we remembered that the Skimmer chicks might be seen at the beach, so off we went with that vague notion and yet we managed to find them. It was a beautiful day, so unexpected, and with a great photo op to boot.

Skimmers on the beach. This row of adults will attract the babies when they are old enough, and thus they will learn to fly and fish for their dinner.

The nesting area is cordoned off, and a helpful volunteer gave us the run down on the nests. Which are just depressions in the sand where they lay their eggs, but in a spot vulnerable to people as well as predators.

And a black crowned night heron at the sanctuary.

The skimmer chicks will be susceptible to the storm, so we have to hope that it doesn’t hit with a lot of force when it gets here. Let’s all cross our fingers…

'scene' along the way, a second look, brainstorms, bucket list, Florida landmarks, friends, fun, Just do it, making memories, perseverance, photography, sky, sunset

Weather or not…

July 3, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

As I’m writing this I’m listening to distant thunder and pouring down rain. This has been the case for days, and my choice to stay home, snug and warm, has caused me to miss two spectacular sunsets in a row. But where my friends live to capture the wonderful sunset images, and where I live, are far enough apart that I would never have suspected that a nice sunset was in the offing. So last night we decided to head to Curtis Dixon Park, which is right on Tampa’s Riverwalk. Years ago a waitress at the Irish pub right there had said that photographers show up to capture the sunset color behind the turrets of Tampa University, and I never forgot that comment. But, as you can see, that’s not what happened. The cloud cover took over, but on the bright side it didn’t rain on us either. With a storm brewing in the gulf we may not get out for photos, or anything else, for a few more days. Summer in Florida, that’s just the way it goes.

'scene' along the way, a second look, bucket list, bugs, Florida landmarks, flowers, friends, fun, gardens, Just do it, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip, silliness, weather

And furthermore…

June 25, 2021June 24, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

Bok Tower Gardens is, of course, a garden, so we did see some flowers and beautiful vistas.

Do I know what this is? No, I don’t, but I like it.

The same with these, and I’m too lazy to look them up.

This looks like the plant from The Little Shop of Horrors, so I think that bug had better watch out.

There were angels in the garden, watching over the children.

And bee boxes to house the bees that don’t live in hives. A fact I learned at Felt’s Preserve.

You have now entered the children’s garden where there were endless opportunities for kids to climb, jump, run, and just about anything else they could think of.

There were fairy houses in the children’s gardens.

I loved the images in stone on the pathways.

There was a walk across an expanse of lawn to see this vista. I hurried to take a picture because we could hear the horde of orange-shirted kids approaching behind us. When they got to the hill one of the boys fell to the ground and rolled down, and I kicked myself for not getting the picture.

And then this happened. I should have expected it, since kids will be kids.

And sometimes grown-ups act like kids too!

It was fun to spend time with old friends and make a couple of new friends also. The rain and thunder held off just long enough for us to make the most of the trip to Bok Tower Gardens. And it left us wanting to return, eventually.

'scene' along the way, adventure, birds, egrets, exploring new places, Florida wildlife, friends, Just do it, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, Tricolored heron

A new favorite rookery…

May 28, 2021May 27, 2021 naturecoastimagesblog

There’s a new rookery in town. Or, more correctly, a rookery that I’ve been hearing about but it’s taken me too long to try and find it. But the other day we went looking and discovered a lovely spot with easy access, and, best of all, we didn’t have to shoot over a fence to see the birds. The babies are mostly grown now, so I have made a mental note to go back in the spring to see the babies at their cutest.

Judging by the feathers on his head this is a young tricolor heron.

Woodstorks were providing the most action.

It gives new meaning to the term ‘bad hair day’.

Young egret siblings were feeling their oats.

This tricolor was sounding off the whole time we were there.

I think he was playing king of the hill.

This nest had the most action going on, but we couldn’t see what was happening.

It’s always fun to find a new place to go take pictures, and this one is close enough to be able to drop in to see what’s happening when the timing is better. In the meantime there are lots more places for us to go and find new and different things to see.