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.