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The random pictures of evilmike
#1
evilmike
evilmike
First up, a couple for Nick:
#2
evilmike
evilmike
#3
PatrThom
PatrThom
#4
evilmike
evilmike
#5
evilmike
evilmike
Quick picture from this morning
#6
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
#7
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#8
PatrThom
PatrThom
#9
evilmike
evilmike
From this morning.
#10
Yoshimickster
Yoshimickster
#11
evilmike
evilmike
Still experimenting with long exposures, sailboats, and rockets:
#12
Dave
Dave
#13
evilmike
evilmike
#14
Dave
Dave
#15
evilmike
evilmike
#16
evilmike
evilmike
#17
evilmike
evilmike
#18
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
#19
Terrik
Terrik
#20
evilmike
evilmike
#21
jwhouk
jwhouk
#22
Terrik
Terrik
#23
evilmike
evilmike
#24
evilmike
evilmike
#25
evilmike
evilmike
#26
Bowielee
Bowielee
#27
evilmike
evilmike
#28
PatrThom
PatrThom
#31
evilmike
evilmike
#32
evilmike
evilmike
#33
evilmike
evilmike
Attachments
#34
Terrik
Terrik
#35
evilmike
evilmike
#36
evilmike
evilmike
#37
Bowielee
Bowielee
#38
evilmike
evilmike
#39
evilmike
evilmike
#40
Krisken
Krisken
#41
evilmike
evilmike
I find that black vultures are often a source of mystery. It isn't that they are particularly cryptic in and of themselves. It's their coloration. Since they have black feathers, a bald black head, black eyes, and a dark beak; they are effectively all silhouette. And since they often tuck their head in or hold it at odd angles, they are often fairly indistinct silhouettes at that. Often, I will spot a bird perched in a tree or on a pole with the sun at its back and start thinking of all of the possible birds that it could be, only have it turn out to be this living silhouette, the black vulture.
Sunday, as I was riding in the middle of nowhere, I spotted a large bird perched on a power pole. The sun was at its back, so all I could make out was its shape. My first thought was, "this has to be a black vulture, of course."
As I got closer, I started to have doubts. "The head just isn't right for a black vulture. Could it be a turkey vulture?"
I get closer. "Hmm. The head shape doesn't really work for either vulture. The beak looks too thick for a hawk. Crested caracara?"
I start to get a bit hopeful. Crested caracaras have been reported in the area, but I haven't seen any on this trip. They are striking birds and it would be a great opportunity, but there's a problem. "The head would work for a caracara, but that bird is huge. What could it be?"
I finally start to get parallel with the bird. The pole that it is on is now 10 yards away from me. The light has shifted enough so that I'm not just looking at a dark shape. I can now clearly make out the bright yellow beak and the pure white feathers on its head. I couldn't help but think, "Aha. American bald eagle. I guess that will have to do."
Fortunately, the bird did not hold the slow identification against me. It stayed on the pole and let me take as many pictures as I wanted. (Such as the 2 below)
Sunday, as I was riding in the middle of nowhere, I spotted a large bird perched on a power pole. The sun was at its back, so all I could make out was its shape. My first thought was, "this has to be a black vulture, of course."
As I got closer, I started to have doubts. "The head just isn't right for a black vulture. Could it be a turkey vulture?"
I get closer. "Hmm. The head shape doesn't really work for either vulture. The beak looks too thick for a hawk. Crested caracara?"
I start to get a bit hopeful. Crested caracaras have been reported in the area, but I haven't seen any on this trip. They are striking birds and it would be a great opportunity, but there's a problem. "The head would work for a caracara, but that bird is huge. What could it be?"
I finally start to get parallel with the bird. The pole that it is on is now 10 yards away from me. The light has shifted enough so that I'm not just looking at a dark shape. I can now clearly make out the bright yellow beak and the pure white feathers on its head. I couldn't help but think, "Aha. American bald eagle. I guess that will have to do."
Fortunately, the bird did not hold the slow identification against me. It stayed on the pole and let me take as many pictures as I wanted. (Such as the 2 below)
#42
evilmike
evilmike
I had originally planned to follow up my bald eagle post with one that included pictures of black vultures. I wanted to demonstrate that I don't dislike vultures, in spite of how their silhouettes may occasionally mislead me. It's just that they are difficult to get good pictures of because of their coloration, and they are such a common sight in this area that I often don't think of trying to take pictures of them. My plan changed because of a couple of sightings that I had while I was out running errands last weekend. I happened to take notice of another ubiquitous bird -- the osprey.
There really isn't any reason I should fail to notice the osprey. They have distinctive markings. They catch fish and carry them off in their claws (thus the nickname "Fish Taxi"). They don't shy away from human areas. They make huge nests. They even hover -- about as close to posing for the camera as a bird can. It's just that I see them every day and they faded from my potential subject list. So, here are two birds that I happened to notice:
There really isn't any reason I should fail to notice the osprey. They have distinctive markings. They catch fish and carry them off in their claws (thus the nickname "Fish Taxi"). They don't shy away from human areas. They make huge nests. They even hover -- about as close to posing for the camera as a bird can. It's just that I see them every day and they faded from my potential subject list. So, here are two birds that I happened to notice:
#43
evilmike
evilmike
I realized that I have been remiss in keeping this up-to-date. (After all, @Squidleybits can't have all the fun posting pictures!)
For the past few days, a different kind of bird has dominated my photography -- the Thunderbird. The Air Force's Thunderbird flight team performed yesterday and today for an airshow at the local airport. They also practiced for a couple of days prior to that. Even though the F-16 is a remarkably agile jet, it's still a jet (and I assume not being pushed to its operational limit during the shows), so a performance at an airport is really a performance for the entire area around the airport. I have seen multiple flyovers at work and at home, both miles from the airport in different directions. Today, I split the difference -- I went to a park halfway between work and home. It was a great vantage point, and I think I got some good pictures. The "inverted" picture really illustrates how good of a vantage point I had -- the original picture has enough detail to show that the plane is Thunderbird #6, assigned to Major Jason Curtis.
I also found time to bother one of the local birds (in this case an anhinga):
#44
Squidleybits
Squidleybits
Those are awesome! What lens are you using for these?[DOUBLEPOST=1412563604,1412563405][/DOUBLEPOST]You have some really fantastic photos here, I went back and enjoyed your whole thread 
#45
evilmike
evilmike
Most of my telephoto work is with a 70-300mm lens on a 60D. I normally leave the camera in shutter priority 1/400" with the ISO limited to 800 max. I usually leave the auto-focus on the center mark. Though, today I was manually pulling the focus because I was worried the autofocus wouldn't keep up.
Thank you kindly.You have some really fantastic photos here, I went back and enjoyed your whole thread
#46
evilmike
evilmike
Working through my picture backlog...
Here is another sequence from the airshow:
Here is another sequence from the airshow:
#47
evilmike
evilmike
I'm hoping to finish the airshow pictures as they Thunderbirds do -- with a big finale:
#48
evilmike
evilmike
These are a series of related pictures that I took during my trip to Raleigh in August. The first three pictures are from a small park called "The Rose Garden". As would be expected, everyone goes there to take pictures of the flowers. Being something of a contrarian, I went there and took pictures of bugs.
#49
evilmike
evilmike
Happy Pi Day everyone!
#50
evilmike
evilmike
While waiting for the next group of airplanes to pass by thanks to the recent airshow, I decided to practice my aerial focus technique on a slower, though no less challenging, target:
#51
evilmike
evilmike
More pictures from the recent airshow:
#52
evilmike
evilmike
Another airshow picture:
#53
evilmike
evilmike
Experimenting with the "magic hour", when the sun is approaching the horizon and the sunlight softens and takes on a golden hue:
#54
evilmike
evilmike
I was experimenting with taking a picture of the full moon (and overexposing it in the process) when I caught a flash of lightning:
Experimenting with a "vanishing point picture" for a recent shooting challenge:
Experimenting with a "vanishing point picture" for a recent shooting challenge:
#55
evilmike
evilmike
Between the lines...
#56
evilmike
evilmike
#57
evilmike
evilmike
I didn't have any luck with today's launch. I did have some luck with the terns flying around the pier that I was on while waiting out the launch:
#58
evilmike
evilmike
#59
Grytpipe-Thynne
Grytpipe-Thynne
#60
evilmike
evilmike
Yesterday, I had the good fortune to find a herd of manatee (and pictures will be forthcoming). While I was taking pictures of the sea cows, a green heron decided to walk right below me on the embankment where I was taking pictures. I have to wonder if it was a little jealous that I wasn't taking pictures of birds and decided to show off to get my attention.
#61
evilmike
evilmike
One of the few times I am disappointed that an answer turned out to be entirely logical:
I looked up the collective noun used for manatee, hoping for something spectacular and unusual like a wake of vultures, a murmuration of starlings, or a murder of crows. Imagine my disappointment to find out that what applies to cows also applies to sea cows -- a group of manatee is simply called a "herd".
I looked up the collective noun used for manatee, hoping for something spectacular and unusual like a wake of vultures, a murmuration of starlings, or a murder of crows. Imagine my disappointment to find out that what applies to cows also applies to sea cows -- a group of manatee is simply called a "herd".
#62
evilmike
evilmike
#63
evilmike
evilmike
I recently learned about an unusual air plant. It's a type of tree, that has been introduced to Florida and looks similar to a rubber tree, called the Schefflera. It also has a number of interesting colloquial names such as the Umbrella Tree or the Octopus Tree. (Thank you, Google.) The fact that it can exist as an epiphyte - a plant that grows on another plant without harming it, or directly drawing subsistence from it, is quite surprising. The Schefflera that I routinely see in this area grow from the ground and can end up 30 feet tall or more. The reason I know the tree can exist in as an air-plant was because I found an example of it. The picture isn't that spectacular, but the plant itself certainly is. It's a ~18 foot tall tree growing out of the trunk of a ~35 foot tree. (The host tree isn't dead -- it's a northern species that doesn't understand Florida so it sheds its leaves for the winter.)
#64
evilmike
evilmike
#65
evilmike
evilmike
A bird showing off its golden slippers -- the snowy egret
Also, a bird showing off its ... three colors (?) The tricolor heron
Also, a bird showing off its ... three colors (?) The tricolor heron
#66
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#67
evilmike
evilmike
One of the main feeding strategies of the reddish egret is to cause as much as chaos as possible and then attack whatever prey is left dazed and confused in its wake. Here is a glimpse of an egret mid-ruckus.
#68
evilmike
evilmike
I wonder if the heron is imagining itself as the captain of the doomed vessel.
#69
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#70
evilmike
evilmike
That's ok. It encouraged me to look over the rare bird alerts for the area.
#71
evilmike
evilmike
Sea Oats at Dusk
#72
Terrik
Terrik
#73
Dave
Dave
#74
Sparhawk
Sparhawk
#75
PatrThom
PatrThom
#76
evilmike
evilmike
Beachcomber
#77
Bubble181
Bubble181
#79
evilmike
evilmike
Tranquility
#80
evilmike
evilmike
Birds on a wire
#81
Sparhawk
Sparhawk
#82
PatrThom
PatrThom
#83
Yoshimickster
Yoshimickster
#84
evilmike
evilmike
I wasn't able to get a picture of the GOES-R launch last night, but I did manage to get out today and get a few bird pictures. The first of which:
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
#85
evilmike
evilmike
Last night's Atlas launch
#86
evilmike
evilmike
An eagle and osprey, mid-disagreement:
#87
evilmike
evilmike
Over the Moon
Technically it's 'In the same general direction as the moon' but that's not as catchy.
Technically it's 'In the same general direction as the moon' but that's not as catchy.
#88
evilmike
evilmike
Breakaway
#89
evilmike
evilmike
#90
evilmike
evilmike
Mourning Dove
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evilmike
evilmike
#92
evilmike
evilmike
Rose garden, take 2
#93
PatrThom
PatrThom
#94
evilmike
evilmike
She doesn't mind as long as I stay away from IR stuff and long exposure night sky pictures.
#95
Squidleybits
Squidleybits
Start driving! Group night photo shoot
#96
Squidleybits
I'm loving the pink flowers! Keep them coming!
Squidleybits
The more the merrierShe doesn't mind as long as I stay away from IR stuff and long exposure night sky pictures.
I'm loving the pink flowers! Keep them coming!
#97
evilmike
evilmike
#98
evilmike
evilmike
#99
evilmike
evilmike
Years ago, there was an advertising campaign promoting Florida tourism that proclaimed "the rules are different here!" I can't remember exactly which rules it suggested were different, though if I were to hazard a guess, I would think those rules involved how often you could go to the beach, ride on a roller coaster, or find a party. Today's picture is inspired by a rule the advertising campaign no doubt omitted -- "if you want to mow the yard, you must first move the frog."
#100
evilmike
evilmike
#101
evilmike
evilmike
Another bird from the bird park:
#102
evilmike
evilmike
Working through my backlog of pictures -- some pictures from a Chinese lantern festival:
#103
evilmike
evilmike
Cedar waxwings catching a moment's rest
Also, I recently posted some pictures over in the NASA/Space thread.
Also, I recently posted some pictures over in the NASA/Space thread.
#104
evilmike
evilmike
Local livestock?
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evilmike
evilmike
#106
evilmike
evilmike
#107
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#108
evilmike
evilmike
#109
PatrThom
PatrThom
#110
evilmike
evilmike
#111
evilmike
evilmike
#112
evilmike
evilmike
#113
evilmike
evilmike
#114
evilmike
evilmike
#115
evilmike
evilmike
Red Shouldered Hawk
#116
evilmike
evilmike
More clearly showing of the red shoulder of the red shouldered hawk:
#117
evilmike
evilmike
Not everyone was as pleased to see the hawk in the neighborhood as I was. This mockingbird spent several minutes buzzing the hawk, trying to convince it to move on.
#118
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#119
evilmike
evilmike
#120
evilmike
evilmike
Nighttime at the River
#121
evilmike
evilmike
An Impression of Fall
#122
evilmike
evilmike
Working through my backlog of pictures. First up, four birds from the Sylvan Heights Bird Park:
#123
evilmike
evilmike
The moods of a red shouldered hawk:
Serious:
Relaxed (or possibly "floofy):
Serious:
Relaxed (or possibly "floofy):
#124
evilmike
evilmike
From last year's Chinese Lantern Festival:
#125
evilmike
evilmike
A new family
#126
evilmike
evilmike
#127
evilmike
evilmike
Sailboats, taken during this morning's launch delay
#128
evilmike
evilmike
There appears to be an unusual symbiosis between anhingas and alligators. Alligators move into retention ponds, encouraging humans to put up warning signs, thereby giving the anhinga places to perch.
However, the birds have not entirely given up on more natural perches:
However, the birds have not entirely given up on more natural perches:
#129
evilmike
evilmike
Little Blue Heron
#130
evilmike
Flight
evilmike
#131
evilmike
evilmike
The Bird with the Golden Slippers
#132
evilmike
evilmike
#133
evilmike
evilmike
A Chinese merganser, a smew, and a mandarin duck, courtesy of the Sylvan Heights Bird Park
#134
evilmike
evilmike
Another picture from my backlog of Sylvan Bird Park pictures, a trumpeter swan:
#135
evilmike
evilmike
Another picture from my backlog of Sylvan Heights pictures. This time, it is one of their "poster bird species", the american flamingo.
#136
evilmike
evilmike
An opsrey at dusk
#137
Sparhawk
Sparhawk
#138
PatrThom
PatrThom
#139
evilmike
evilmike
#140
evilmike
evilmike
#141
evilmike
evilmike
#142
evilmike
evilmike
A small itch
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evilmike
evilmike
Scrub Jay
#144
evilmike
evilmike
Swimming in the Clouds
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evilmike
evilmike
Gopher Tortoise
#146
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
#147
evilmike
evilmike
Flowers Against the Sky
#148
evilmike
evilmike
Hawk at Dusk
#149
evilmike
evilmike
Black Skimmer and Puddle
#150
PatrThom
PatrThom
#151
evilmike
evilmike
#152
evilmike
evilmike
Sunday Morning
#153
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#154
evilmike
evilmike
#155
evilmike
evilmike
Almost a tri-colored heron
Sometimes, birds have their own ideas as to when they are done posing
Sometimes, birds have their own ideas as to when they are done posing
#156
evilmike
evilmike
Sometimes, finding a bird is simply a matter of looking "up" as is the case with this white ibis on a streetlight.
#157
PatrThom
PatrThom
#158
evilmike
evilmike
#159
PatrThom
PatrThom
#160
evilmike
evilmike
#161
jwhouk
jwhouk
#162
PatrThom
PatrThom
#163
evilmike
evilmike
#164
evilmike
evilmike
Mine!
I'm not sure what they were fighting over, but the caracara won the prize.
I'm not sure what they were fighting over, but the caracara won the prize.
#165
evilmike
evilmike
Two hawks scanning the sky
#166
PatrThom
PatrThom
#168
evilmike
evilmike
Little blue heron
#169
evilmike
evilmike
#170
evilmike
evilmike
Todays contribution to working off the backlog -- a snowy egret
#171
evilmike
evilmike
I had aspirations of a much longer ride and many more birds (and a rocket launch!) today, but the light rain that moved through the area had other ideas. Still, before I had to turn back, I was lucky to find a pair of red shouldered hawks and a limpkin.
#172
evilmike
evilmike
A Congregation of Ibises
Another congregation
Another congregation
#173
jwhouk
jwhouk
#174
evilmike
evilmike
#175
jwhouk
jwhouk
#176
evilmike
evilmike
#177
evilmike
evilmike
Not the Regular Osprey
It's not unusual to see an osprey perched on a dead palm tree across the street. This morning however, as I was heading out, I glanced over and realized that it wasn't the usual bird. Now,I don't have any special skill to tell one osprey from another. On the other hand, I am quite able to tell the difference between an osprey and a bald eagle.
It's not unusual to see an osprey perched on a dead palm tree across the street. This morning however, as I was heading out, I glanced over and realized that it wasn't the usual bird. Now,I don't have any special skill to tell one osprey from another. On the other hand, I am quite able to tell the difference between an osprey and a bald eagle.
#178
evilmike
evilmike
Still Not the Regular Osprey
Taken a few days after the first -- now with better light:
Ultimately, the eagle moved on, and an opportunistic starling claimed the perch:
Taken a few days after the first -- now with better light:
Ultimately, the eagle moved on, and an opportunistic starling claimed the perch:
#179
evilmike
evilmike
Brown Pelicans
#180
evilmike
evilmike
This loggerhead shrike is trying to look innocent...
even though I had just caught it trying to mess with my bike.
even though I had just caught it trying to mess with my bike.
#181
evilmike
evilmike
Meadowlark
Anhinga
Anhinga
#182
evilmike
evilmike
Red winged blackbird
#183
PatrThom
PatrThom
#184
evilmike
One thing that I find fun about meadowlarks is that the sound to me like red winged blackbirds that are singing the notes out of order.
evilmike
Thank you.
One thing that I find fun about meadowlarks is that the sound to me like red winged blackbirds that are singing the notes out of order.
#185
evilmike
evilmike
Spoonbill in Flight
#186
evilmike
evilmike
Florida Scrub Jays
#187
jwhouk
jwhouk
Oh, is that what the team from Toronto is calling themselves now. 
#188
evilmike
evilmike
Woodpecker at Home
#189
evilmike
evilmike
A Watchful Eye
Today, I went looking for birds, and found this gopher tortoise instead. (I did hear a number of birds, but, for the most part, they were content to stay hidden in the trees.)
Today, I went looking for birds, and found this gopher tortoise instead. (I did hear a number of birds, but, for the most part, they were content to stay hidden in the trees.)
#190
evilmike
evilmike
A busy day
I spent part of the afternoon taking pictures of the jets performing at a nearby airshow, then went off to get a picture of the day's SpaceX launch, and somehow still managed to get a bird picture too.
I spent part of the afternoon taking pictures of the jets performing at a nearby airshow, then went off to get a picture of the day's SpaceX launch, and somehow still managed to get a bird picture too.
#191
evilmike
evilmike
Today, in between pictures of jet aircraft, I was able to catch another type of flyover
#192
evilmike
evilmike
#193
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
#194
evilmike
evilmike
Scrub Jay on Branch
#195
evilmike
evilmike
Yesterday was a pretty good day out:
#196
evilmike
evilmike
Today, I stopped by a beach access and walked over to "Peacock Beach" to see the launch. I didn't have any luck with the rocket, as the launch was scrubbed due to an errant airplane. Fortunately, I did have some luck finding a few of the beach's namesakes. They weren't actually on the beach, but nearby. In the space of 15 minutes, I was able to find 3 and heard several others.
Here is 1 of them resting in the shade:
Here is 1 of them resting in the shade:
#197
evilmike
evilmike
I spotted a few birds while I was on my trip to see the rocket and barge, including this spoonbill.
#198
evilmike
evilmike
#199
evilmike
evilmike
Hiding in the leaves
#200
PatrThom
PatrThom
#201
evilmike
evilmike
A Long-tailed Skipper
#202
evilmike
evilmike
Loggerhead shrike
#203
evilmike
evilmike
#204
evilmike
evilmike
An Egret at the Waterline
#205
evilmike
evilmike
A bird to be thankful for -- in this case a cooperative red shouldered hawk
#206
evilmike
evilmike
An Osprey in the Morning Light
#207
evilmike
evilmike
I was only a couple of miles into the day's ride when I started thinking "even though there are suburban neighborhoods on both sides of the road, I usually have pretty good luck right here" and there, as if on cue, was a red shouldered hawk, ready for its closeup.
#208
evilmike
evilmike
Emergence
#209
evilmike
evilmike
#210
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
#211
evilmike
evilmike
#212
evilmike
evilmike
Tricolored Heron
#213
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#214
evilmike
evilmike
Annual Visitors
#215
evilmike
evilmike
More Visitors
In this case, white pelicans:
In this case, white pelicans:
#216
evilmike
evilmike
Enjoying the Sunshine
#217
evilmike
evilmike
Finally got a couple of pictures of one of the burrowing owls that live out at the local airport.
#218
evilmike
evilmike
Red-bellied woodpecker
#219
evilmike
evilmike
"Fuzzy"
#220
evilmike
evilmike
A little something for the nest
#221
evilmike
evilmike
Balancing Act
#222
PatrThom
Blackbird singing in the dead of niiiight...
HALP SOMEONE GET ME DOWN FROM HERE HAAAALLLLLP
--Patrick
PatrThom
Blackbird singing in the dead of niiiight...HALP SOMEONE GET ME DOWN FROM HERE HAAAALLLLLP
--Patrick
#223
evilmike
evilmike
A Small Disagreement
#224
evilmike
evilmike
Little Blue Heron in the Sun
#225
evilmike
evilmike
Got a little too close to my subject today...
#226
evilmike
evilmike
A Quiet Moment
#227
evilmike
evilmike
A Scrub Jay on a more traditional perch
#229
evilmike
evilmike
I saw a report yesterday that the short tailed hawks at Turkey Creek haven't started migrating yet and decided to see if I could track them down. They were wonderfully easy to find. I hadn't actually reached the sanctuary before I spotted two of them flying and calling. I was able to follow the calls and found one of them perched in a sand pine. I believe this is the chick that fledged earlier this year.
#230
evilmike
evilmike
Bonus picture from after the launch this morning
#231
evilmike
evilmike
A Limpkin by the Water
#232
evilmike
evilmike
A Balancing Act
#233
evilmike
evilmike
Egyptian Geese
#234
evilmike
evilmike
Pileated Woodpecker
#235
evilmike
evilmike
Crested Cara Cara
#236
evilmike
evilmike
After the Falcon Heavy rocket launch, I made a small detour with no more of a plan than "there's a bike path, I wonder where it leads". At the end of the path, I found a small park with a pond across the street. There I found 2 birds. The first was a tricolored heron, while, always a nice find, isn't all that unusual. The other was a brown wading bird. For just a moment, I wondered if I had spotted the ever elusive American bittern. That elusiveness made me reconsider. Bitterns prefer to wade near (and hide in) tall marsh grass, and there was none to be found here. That only left two likely suspects -- the night herons. The adult versions of the two species, yellow and black crowned, are easy to distinguish from one another, but the immature versions are another story. Ultimately, after double checking with my phone, I decided it was the stockier immature black crowned type. They aren't unusual for the area, but finding an immature one in bright sunlight, just 20 feet from a bike path was certainly a welcome surprise.
#237
evilmike
evilmike
Not quite a turkey
In truth, it's not even quite a chicken. It's just that, with how it was posed in the sunlight, it was obviously having a moment. All I could do was oblige with a photograph.
In truth, it's not even quite a chicken. It's just that, with how it was posed in the sunlight, it was obviously having a moment. All I could do was oblige with a photograph.
#238
evilmike
evilmike
A Limpkin with an Evening Snack
#239
evilmike
evilmike
Sandhill Cranes Relaxing
#241
evilmike
evilmike
A Scrub Jay to start the New Year
#242
PatrThom
PatrThom
#243
evilmike
evilmike
A Gull in Focus
#244
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#245
Sparhawk
Sparhawk
#246
mikerc
mikerc
#247
sixpackshaker
sixpackshaker
#248
Sparhawk
Sparhawk
#249
PatrThom
--Patrick
PatrThom
--Patrick
#250
evilmike
evilmike
Sea Turtle
Attachments
#251
Bubble181
Bubble181
#252
evilmike
evilmike
#253
evilmike
evilmike
Last week, I was looking for a couple of types of birds that I did not find. However, I did not have the same difficulty with the brown pelicans.
#254
evilmike
evilmike
A Meadowlark Calling
#255
evilmike
evilmike
Great Blue Heron
#256
evilmike
evilmike
Royal Tern in Flight
#257
evilmike
evilmike
Something for the Nest
#258
evilmike
evilmike
For another nest...
#259
evilmike
evilmike
The Right Kind of Habitat
A Florida scrub jay perching in a recently burned area of the scrub sanctuary where it makes its home. Interestingly, the fire didn't cause any habitat loss. Instead, Florida scrub needs to catch fire every few years to maintain the biome and keep it from turning into a forest. The sanctuary maintains 4 different cells of scrub, separated by fire breaks, so they can set fire to one every couple of years to rejuvenate them. The scrub jays were taking advantage of this fire-cleared area. They were all over this cell, going about their business, hunting for bugs (and helpfully ignoring photographers.)
A Florida scrub jay perching in a recently burned area of the scrub sanctuary where it makes its home. Interestingly, the fire didn't cause any habitat loss. Instead, Florida scrub needs to catch fire every few years to maintain the biome and keep it from turning into a forest. The sanctuary maintains 4 different cells of scrub, separated by fire breaks, so they can set fire to one every couple of years to rejuvenate them. The scrub jays were taking advantage of this fire-cleared area. They were all over this cell, going about their business, hunting for bugs (and helpfully ignoring photographers.)
#260
PatrThom
PatrThom
#261
evilmike
evilmike
#262
evilmike
evilmike
Good morning!
#263
evilmike
evilmike
One unexpected side-effect of Hurricane Idalia was a sudden influx of American flamingos to the United States. The birds have made appearances as far north as Ohio and Pennsylvania. And even though Florida has a few accidental visitations a year from flamingos, it has never been in numbers like this. There have been multiple sightings, and some of those have been of as many as 50 birds. Unfortunately for me, almost all of the sightings have been over 150 miles away from here.
So far, the closest sighting that I have been able to manage is finding another type of pink bird -- the more common, and paradoxically less well known, roseate spoonbill:
So far, the closest sighting that I have been able to manage is finding another type of pink bird -- the more common, and paradoxically less well known, roseate spoonbill:
#264
evilmike
evilmike
Even though ospreys are fairly common here, I still end up taking pictures of them with some frequency. There are two reasons for this. They're easy to find, but more importantly, they are masters of the dramatic pose.
#265
evilmike
evilmike
Reflecting
#266
evilmike
evilmike
A Pause before Chaos
The reddish egret's feeding strategy is to patrol the tidal flats, and when it thinks there is a potential meal nearby, it unleashes as much energy as it can in a short burst. It runs; it hops; it flaps its wings. It does anything it can to startle, confuse, and harass any small fish in its zone of chaos, ultimately making them easy prey.
The reddish egret's feeding strategy is to patrol the tidal flats, and when it thinks there is a potential meal nearby, it unleashes as much energy as it can in a short burst. It runs; it hops; it flaps its wings. It does anything it can to startle, confuse, and harass any small fish in its zone of chaos, ultimately making them easy prey.
#267
evilmike
evilmike
A Bird Tale
Every year, a few fork-tailed flycatchers get confused as they migrate between Brazil and Argentina and fly the wrong way. Ultimately, they end up in North America, often in Florida. This year, one of them ended up in Floridana Beach. It's a fairly obscure community (nestled between the equally unknown Melbourne Shores and Sunnyland Beach). The community does have one important detail however -- it's easy to get to. Some years, a flycatcher will visit the area, only to stay miles from the nearest public road. This year, not only is the area accessible, the flycatcher is amusing itself by flying between a county park and the state park right next door -- much to the delight of dozens of bird watchers. The only trick is figuring out which park the bird is currently visiting, or to be stubborn enough to stay in one spot until it eventually flies by. I caught up with the flycatcher on the road between the two parks. It flew right in front of me and perched on a wire just long enough for me to get a couple of pictures.
Other than its rarity, the flycatcher has one other feature that is noteworthy -- its tail is at least as long as the rest of its body.
Every year, a few fork-tailed flycatchers get confused as they migrate between Brazil and Argentina and fly the wrong way. Ultimately, they end up in North America, often in Florida. This year, one of them ended up in Floridana Beach. It's a fairly obscure community (nestled between the equally unknown Melbourne Shores and Sunnyland Beach). The community does have one important detail however -- it's easy to get to. Some years, a flycatcher will visit the area, only to stay miles from the nearest public road. This year, not only is the area accessible, the flycatcher is amusing itself by flying between a county park and the state park right next door -- much to the delight of dozens of bird watchers. The only trick is figuring out which park the bird is currently visiting, or to be stubborn enough to stay in one spot until it eventually flies by. I caught up with the flycatcher on the road between the two parks. It flew right in front of me and perched on a wire just long enough for me to get a couple of pictures.
Other than its rarity, the flycatcher has one other feature that is noteworthy -- its tail is at least as long as the rest of its body.
#268
evilmike
evilmike
Repurposed
I don't think this old dock can be used for its intended purpose. Fortunately, the pelicans have found a new use for it.
I don't think this old dock can be used for its intended purpose. Fortunately, the pelicans have found a new use for it.
#269
evilmike
evilmike
Reddish Egret in the Surf
This was a pleasant surprise from a few weeks ago. I normally find reddish egrets in isolated areas, far from the crowds. Imagine my surprise when I spotted one going fishing in the surf, with all of the typical reddish egret energy (otherwise known as "zoomies"), near the surfers and swimmers at a popular tourist beach. It's off-season, so the beach isn't as crowded as it might be, but it was far from deserted.
This was a pleasant surprise from a few weeks ago. I normally find reddish egrets in isolated areas, far from the crowds. Imagine my surprise when I spotted one going fishing in the surf, with all of the typical reddish egret energy (otherwise known as "zoomies"), near the surfers and swimmers at a popular tourist beach. It's off-season, so the beach isn't as crowded as it might be, but it was far from deserted.
#270
evilmike
evilmike
A couple of Spring visitors:
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
#271
evilmike
evilmike
Pictures from my trip to the botanical gardens last weekend. It might be cheating slightly to take Spring-like pictures at a Botanical Gardens, but I'm happy with the results. Lucked into a bug in the second picture, which is a bonus.
#272
evilmike
evilmike
#273
evilmike
evilmike
A New Family
#274
evilmike
evilmike
A Backyard Visitor
#275
evilmike
evilmike
Another Backyard Visitor
#276
evilmike
evilmike
Black Skimmers Against the Sky
#277
evilmike
evilmike
Another Black Skimmer picture:
#278
evilmike
evilmike
I found a small friend at the Scrub Sanctuary today:
#279
evilmike
evilmike
A Limpkin in the Late Afternoon
#280
evilmike
evilmike
A Sailboat by the Space Center
#281
evilmike
evilmike
With the flamingos hiding in the remote parts of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, it's nice that spoonbills are around to provide a much more accessible pop of color. I found this one relaxing on the side of a drainage ditch.
