Florida Botanical Gardens

Linda and I took off for the Botanical Gardens last night. I couldn't stop her from wanting to have her picture taken. Usually she hides from the camera. I even told her there was a rat in the bushes, when she posed in front of the heart. It didn't stop her from wanting to be in the picture.

Click on the picture in the slide show,and you will be directed to the album. On the top left hand side it will read slide show. Click on that and see bigger pictures.

Linda wanted me to use the flash and take a picture of this plant. I have no idea what it is. Might have to go there in the morning, but knowing Katie she'll tell me. She's the one that told me the green grasshopper is named Katydid.

Green Grasshopper in the AM

Susie and Charlie have a routine. They get up a 5:00 AM every morning to do their morning business, and then have breakfast. As Charlie was finishing her breakfast, I headed out to the drive to retrieve the paper.

As you can see, there was a fairly large bug on the screen door. What can I say? My camera is always near, and even the bugs catch my attention. I should modify my last statement. The "Florida State Bug", isn't fascinating at all. It being the cockroach, creeps me out.

When we first moved here, we were standing in the garage with the door wide open, at night. Something flew in and hit Linda in the head. It was the size of a hummingbird. Turned out to be a Palmetto Bug, a cockroach with wings. It was one of the reasons I used to refer to this state as, "this God forsaken state!"

A bit of odd ball news. People are actually importing cockroaches to Florida. To either feed their exotic reptiles, or keep as pets. One of these, is the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. Just what we need, a cockroach that gets up to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. If the size doesn't freak you out, the hissing will.

Where's Charlie?

I'm not a very good dog owner. I let the dog dig in the back yard. She's so cute. She'll dig so deep that you can't see her head. Lucky for us, she doesn't dig near the fence. I just have to remember to fill the holes. With Linda's new hip, I don't want her stepping in one of them.

I think Charlie would have a great time in my home state. We always had moles in Bellingham, WA. On the other hand, I probably wouldn't have such a great time. When there is something in the star fruit tree, she won't come in until she's tired of jumping and barking.

Largo Central Park

Every year Linda and I look forward to the Christmas Decorations in Largo Central Park. I believe the park is 70 acres, in "downtown" Largo. (I used quote marks on the word downtown, because this city looks like a giant strip mall. I lived in Bellingham, WA and they had a real downtown.)

I won't write too many comment. Most of the night I was changing shutter speeds, ISO, and white balance to see what I could come up with.
Santa wants to be Elton John?


Usually I have to beg Linda to get in the photo. This time she suggested it.


Gingerbread house.

Getting Closer

I don't know why, but the cardinal seems to like to perch in the tree with the sun behind him. On the 13th I caught him in the morning, just east of me. Wouldn't you know, I forgot to change my ISO setting. I had been fooling around with night shots, and it was set at 3200.

Boat Parade

Joan invited us to her 9th floor condo in Gulfport to see the boat parade. Every year members of the Boca Ciega Yacht Club decorate the boats with lights. This year there were many participants.

We've had a cold front move into the state, and I thought I would need more than a sweat jacket. But it turned out quite pleasant, even down near the sea wall. We got a break, because we didn't have any wind.

Can hardly tell that this is a sail boat.

Little Grasshopper

I heard something above me. Then I seen something leap onto a branch. At first I thought it was a lizard. (There everywhere down here) Then I looked again. "It's a bug." A grasshopper on steroids. In Western Washington, the grasshoppers I grew up with were approximately 1" long. Here in Florida they are monsters. This guy was about 4 inches.

What's For Lunch

I had just finished eating my lunch (yogurt), when I spotted a hawk fly into a tree. It wasn't the frequently spotted Red-Shouldered Hawk. Its markings looked more like that of the Red Tailed Hawk. As I tried to get myself into position for a picture, he spotted me, and took to the air.

I walked the edge of the water to see if he had flown to some tree close, and that's when I spotted two dragonflies. I thought that they may be mating. The two landed, and I began to snap pictures. That's when I discovered I wasn't the only one on a lunch break. One dragonfly was devouring the other.

The dragonfly book I have doesn't mention anything about them being cannibals.

On a brighter note. I also spotted this Gulf Fritillary. I have a lot of pictures of these guys, but I really like the angle of this one.

By the way Gerry, I took your advise, and fixed my comment settings.

Cardinals and Turtle Eating Egrets

I've come to believe that Cardinal think like Crazy Horse, the camera still souls. I'm on a mission to get a really great picture of one of these beautiful birds. I take my camera out to the back yard at all times of the day, in hopes of finally getting that shot.

The first picture at the top was taken in the morning. It' like they know the sun is in the wrong spot.

The second picture I took of one trying to hide in the Elderberry tree. Whoops, I should say one of the Elderberry trees. Once you have one, the birds will make sure you have a few more as the years progress. Also be very careful of sitting in lawn furniture. One morning while waiting for the girls to do their business, I say in purple goop. Oh yea, I was writing about cardinals.

I'm still not happy with the third picture. It too was taken in the evening, and wouldn't you know the little guy was to the west of me.

I couldn't tell what the Great White Egret was spearing, until I down loaded the pictures, and started cropping. Deb, don't look at this picture! He was too far away from me, to get a clear picture of what he had in his beak, but after looking over the 20 shots I took of him, I've concluded his lunch today was turtle.


I like this picture. It is like he is saying, "Look, I don't have anything."

I Can't Decide

I heard a voice, "hey Mick".

I looked around and didn't see anyone. I asked, "did I hear my name?"

Mayra popped her head out of her office space and said, "the hawk is out there." She had a few feathers in her hand. "I wish I had my camera."

"I have mine."

Off we went. I don't think this is last years hawk. This guy just posed for me. Unlike the one I photographed last year at work, this one didn't get vocal as I got closer. He just looked down at me, or completely ignored me.

I've really had a real hard time picking the picture to post. Because he wasn't afraid of me, he let me walk closer and closer to the tree. Only the retention pond and the sun in the south keep me from taking pictures from more angles.

Ibis in the Pine

I was barbecuing last night, when I spotted Ibis in the a neighbor's pine tree. I've seen one, but never a flock of them in the the tree. Most of the time I see them walking down the road. I can always here Shelly Manne's song Clarence from Daktari in my head.

Left the nest

The little ones have left the nest. One stayed behind, while two others moved to the bushes in front of the bedroom window. We also have a neighbor's cat that has taken an interest in them. It was something to watch Momma and Papa bird dive bomb him.

The birds in this neighborhood have attitude. I used to be able to tell when the hawk was around by the silence. Yesterday morning the birds in a neighbors Oak tree started making a racket. Other birds flew into the tree, and the hawk flew out. It's like they were saying, "it's our tree, get out of it!"

A Trip to See Winter

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is about a fourth of the size of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. It isn't very pretty either. But then it isn't meant to be just some tourist attraction, all though Winter is causing their attendance to increase. Not only does Winter bring in the tourists and local media to the CMA, she brings in the national media.

Winter is one of many dolphins that have come to Clearwater for medical attention. Unfortunately this young dolphin, will only experience two of the three R's the aquarium tries to live by. She has been Rescued, and she is being Rehabilitated, but she will never be Released. She lost her tail after being caught in a crab trap a few years ago.

It's amazing to watch how well she swims without it. But that what causes the dolphin experts concern. She swims like a shark, and it may cause injury to her spine. She has been fitted for a prosthetic, but they are gradually working on her wearing it. As you can see from the picture, she wasn't wearing it on Saturday, when we visited.

She is the star. "Look! Winter!" I heard one woman say to her husband. I doubt the woman knew the name of the large dolphin in the tank with Winter. (I know I can't) You can buy caps, T-shirts, mugs, and even a stuff toy of winter in the gift shop.

Honeymoon Island, was our next destination for the day. Linda had never been there. Mosquitoes (we've had a very rainy July) and a darkening sky, kept us off the nature trail. I did learn that I should come back in January. The owls are nesting around then.

I did get a picture of a different bird. It's a Juvenile Gray Kingbird.

Florida's State Bird

For the last couple of years, I've watched Mockingbirds fix up a nest in the bush outside the living room window. But I never seen any little ones. This week I have awaken to the soothing sound of little ones asking for more food. Their poor parents rarely get any rest. Although, they may have been resting while I was trying to get a picture.

It wasn't an easy task. This nest is well hidden. It isn't very high in the bush, I would say my eye level, but the branches make it hard to get a shot. I had to grab a step ladder. Change the camera to flower setting, so I could focus, and get my shots very quickly. I watched on mockingbird take on a cat, and another take on five blue jays. These birds have the mentality of terriers.

This little guy decided he didn't care that I was watching or not. He wanted it to be known he was hungry. He's a bit blurred because he was moving, when I had a slow shutter speed. That was another problem I encountered. Not much light inside a bush.

Tarpon Springs 2008

It was a month ago when Linda, Mayra and I headed for Tarpon Springs. I had always wanted to catch on of the boat rides, but never got around to it. Mayra liked the idea, and for less than 20.00 what a value. We parked at the Sponge Factory, bought our tickets, and headed down the street for lunch.

Linda and I like eating at Santorini's. It sits right on the water. Most of the Greek restaurants in Tarpon Springs don't have water front views. The waitress thought we were nuts for wanting to sit out side. The temp. was just up in the upper eighties. The breeze off the water and the overhead ceiling fan keeps you from roasting. (I always prefer to sit outside. If I wanted to freeze I would have stayed in WA. I've never experienced anything like indoor living in Florida. You where your jacket at you desk, and remove it before leaving the building.)

Tarpon Springs used to be famous for sponges. The 1953 movie Beneath the 12 Mile Reef with Robert Wagner was filmed there. Today, the boats are used to take site seers out to see dolphins, manatees, and other wild life. Like the osprey family on the channel marker.

If you want to see dolphin up close, and don't have a kayak or canoe, go to Clearwater Beach, and ride The Little Toot. It's not a very big boat and the captain usually get the dolphins to swim in the bow stream.

Our little dolphin encounter wasn't too disappointing. We seen a pretty large group of them. I just used this picture because you can see the spray from one of them.


The Lighthouse on Anclote Key State Preserve was built in the late 1880's. Only a few years ago was it restored.

Like to buy a boat? It has air conditioning.

The old sponge docks may have been turned into tourist traps, but some of the water front property is used for a cannery and boat yards. Some of the boats in the slide show could use some work, or be towed out to the Gulf to be used a reefs.

Largo Nature Park July 2008

I know what your thinking more dragonflies.

I headed out for the park early this morning hoping to get a picture of the otters. I had barely left the car, when I spotted them. The four of them were there, and then they were gone. I didn't get a focused shot. The ran into the brush, and didn't come back out.

I like this Juvenile Little Green Heron. He just stood on the railing of the board walk, around the pond, and posed for me. As long as I didn't get too close he was willing to move around for me and give me diffent angles.



The pond had another willing subject. The gator didn't move. This guy is so big, that I would estimate that his head was about two feet head long. What suprised me was the common moorhens were swimming near him with the little ones.

.The water may be green, but you can still see the reflections. The little blue heron looked like he was checking out another bird.

I was still waiting for the otters to show up, but still they were a no show after hanging around the park for an hour.

The Park is one park that seems to have more people wandering around it with cameras, than just going for a walk. I ran into one guy that said he spotted a coyote. I met another that was looking for the coyote the other guy seen.

Me, I was taking pictures of Marsh Rabbits.

July 4th

Charlie started barking at something outside the fence. I looked and seen this little guy. I didn't see mama. Don't know what age they are sent into the world on their own, but this little one looked a little to be out here on his own. If he was alone, what a day to be out. All that noise.

.Speaking of the noise, my neighbors were quiet this year. The economy must really be going down hill. There were very little fireworks going off in my neighborhood

Not Sure

I was questioning myself if I made the correct decision. The Kodak has a very good lens on it. It's made by Schneider Kreuznach. Fuji makes there own lens. As I looked at some of my pictures, I wondered if Kodak supplied a better lens.


Today, I know I made a good choice. Even though this is just a picture of a lowly Mocking-
bird, it is a picture I would never have been able to make with the Kodak. The Kodak would have focused on the branches instead of the bird.

I still wish Kodak had come out with a version that is like the Fuji S100FS. Kodak's software is much better, and the camera set up is much cleaner.

Nothing New

I love dragon flies. They are as interesting as butterflies to me.


One of my books for birdbrains says that the red on the Red Bellied Woodpecker is barely noticeable. It isn't so, when the bird is in my neighbors oak tree. I think the red is easy to see.

Lake Seminole looks "healthy". It's a wonder anything survives in that muck.