I'm Getting Closer

I'm learning to take my camera every time I step out the door. Today I had it wrapped around my neck as I emptied the trash. A bird flew by me. I thought it was the feathered imp that teases me with his presence. As it zoomed past me, I realized I was seeing hawks everywhere, mostly in my imagination. I looked up from the trash can to the north, and perched on a tree top in my neighbors back yard was a very large bird. Could I be so lucky to finally get the chance to take a picture of him without the sun interfering? I made my way to Lee's drive way. It was the hawk. I snapped a few, but knew I was still too far away.

Lee's trash was out and his paper retrieved. I made up my mind. I knocked on his door. I just had to get in that back yard. My 94 year old neighbor became my assistant. He held the back door open; so the hawk wouldn't hear us. I only got a few pictures of him, before myself or the dive boming mocking birds scared him off.

The Elusive Neighborhood Hawk

He's driving me crazy. I can sense when he is the neighborhood. It not only get quiet, it gets very still outside. I've walked out the back door and he flies over my head. Friday Morning I was chasing him down in the fog. He was on the power pole, a few houses down. As I got closer, the neighbor's basset hounds started to bark. That caused him to take off. I seen him later in the afternoon, and the neighbor shut her door. He took to the air once again.

Today, he was on the pole just Southwest of me. So was the sun. This is the best picture I have been able to get of him. It not that great. I can't tell what type he is.

Out and About

We were going to take the kayak and canoe out on Friday morning. The weather didn’t look good. It was overcast and we had sprinkles. Linda called Mayra, and told her we would try next weekend. Linda then headed out the door, to do who knows what.

I prepared to work on the bathroom. An hour later, the phone rang. Mayra was calling. She wanted to hit George McGough Nature Preserve. She had never been to the park. I told her I couldn’t go, because I was working on the bathroom. Then I called back. Oh what the heck. What’s another day?

Should have worn a sweatshirt. It was 68 in the shade. Now I’m glad we didn’t hit the water .
Wasn’t much to see at McGough. The Laughing Gulls made themselves comfortable on the boardwalk. They weren’t frightened by Mayra or me.

Mayra hadn’t ever been to John Bonner Nature Park either. It is just a few blocks north, and we jumped in to her Jeep. We spent most of the time at the beginning of the birding trail. Didn’t see any birds as we walked further on the trail. It seems no one has told the birds that the trail is for them.

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher is a bugger to photograph. He is almost as fast as a hummingbird. The little thing finally stopped flying from branch to branch.

The Yellow-Rumped Warbler. One of the bird brain books tells me the Palm Warbler likes to forage on the ground like this bird was doing. But the half rings around the eyes say Yellow-Rumped Warbler; not Palm Warbler.

A Little of This, A Little of that

The night before Charlie went in for her operation, we had to remove water dishes. We have one in the back yard for the girls, and as you can see, once I emptied it, she turned it into a toy. Sometimes I wish I could read Susie's mind. She must think Charlie is just nuts.

The vet said Charlie drove them crazy when she first arrived on Friday morning. I know she used to make a racket when we crated her. I can only imagine the sounds she made as other dogs came in and out of the office. Once she was spayed, she settled down. Yea, the sedative and pain killlers had to help.

I think Susie actually missed her on Friday

As the vet was telling me what to do, what to look out for, he informed me that there has been a tick infestation. He exterminate the builing himself, but dogs have been coming in with tick much more this year than in years past. I couldn't be informed about this before they took her? I think I should have had the option of leaving her or not.

Dr. Mike seemed a lttle miffed about the tick thing. All I could think was, I didn't bring in ticks. I chalk it up to a bad day. He has called to check on Susie, after we've taken her in to see him.

We are supposed to keep her from jumping. Yea right. She acts like she spent a day at the spa. The little bundle of energy has only slowed down a little.

Monk Parakeets. They aren't native to Florida, but the 1960's escapees have certainly made themselves at home. My neighbor likes to feed the birds. They sit on the wire waiting for their shot at the food.

I wait with camera waiting for a flight shot. This is the only one I got. As I was waiting with camera ready, my arm got tired. I let the camera down, and they flew off.

Hit the Trail Jack

Mayra and I decided last weekend to hit Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs. (Linda didn’t want to go. Her knees hurt, and I forgot to ask Deb. ) We were gawking at the osprey nest along US 19, that we drove right past state highway 582. We drove into Pasco county before we noticed our mistake. Whoops!!

8300 acres promised to offer otters, bear, dear, fox and etc. As we drove into the park, the vultures were circling along with the Osprey. After walking the 4 mile loop, you can see what we seen. Several Golden Silk Spiders. We heard the eagle and the hawk, but they were no shows. Nothing but mosquitos seemed to fly within our eyes. Of course I forgot mosquito repellant.


We then figured we’d check out John Chestnut Park on the way back home. We didn’t get out. Just checked to see if there was a good area to put in the canoe and kayak. The barbecues were making us hungry.

I tried calling Linda, but she wasn’t home. So we decided to head out in search of some place to eat. We ended up crossing the Dunedin causeway and found ourselves at the entrance of Honeymoon Island State Park. Mayra paid the $5.00 to enter and we headed for the cafe. Food!! Fish and Chips never tasted better. And you couldn’t beat the the view.

We then went in search of the nature trail. As we turned towards the parking lot, Mayra spotted a snake in the road. Mayra stopped the her Jeep in the middle of the road, and we jumped out to get a picture of it. Nothing like seeing an Eastern Diamondback Rattle Snake in the wild. Absolutely beautiful. Good thing Linda wasn’t with us. She would have screamed like a girl.

I was trying to take a picture of a woodpecker with my Minolta (I figured I should use up some of my film), when we a man walking his pit bull came upon us. “There’s two owls in a pine just to the right. Follow me.” We took of with him and with white pit bull, with the black patch over her left eye.

I’ll tell you the Great Horned Owls are hard to spot. He kept pointing and talking about the second one. “It’s in the same tree. See it?” Not really. It took a while to spot it.
The best picture I could get with the digital camera of the Great Horned Owl. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see what I captured on film

I was taking a picture of the Monarch Butterfly, when the phone rang. Linda was calling. We had running water in the laundry room. It was time to come home.

Back to Jungle Prada

Deb and Mayra had gone to Jungle Prada without us one weekend, and spent time with the manatees. Mayra wanted to go back.

We didn’t see manatees or dolphins this Sunday. We did see these bozos speeding through the area we had seen the manatees. No wonder the gentle giants have scars all over their bodies.

We decided on 9:00 AM. Linda realized, we hadn’t turned the clocks back. She didn’t want to wait another hour. I’ happy I bought hoodies in Raymond, WA, earlier this year. It was cold out there this morning.

I was taking pictures of the terns. I kept clicking in hopes of getting a bird in flight. I got the picture. But I also go this picture. I was focused on the bird, when I noticed something in the back ground. It is a fish in flight. Click on the picture and you get a better view.

I did get a picture of a tern flying.

A we got closer to the rockery that serves as a bird sanctuary, we could smell a foul smell. The turkey vultures were flying above. We didn’t see what they were trying to get.

We did see nesting Herons. Like this one coming in for a landing. The pelican didn’t seem to happy with him.

One would pick up twigs, and hand off to the other.

A Ruddy Turnstone. Gets its name from turning stones over to look for food.

Late for Work Again

I was going to be on time. Then I noticed this guy in the parking lot. I should learn to leave my camera at home.

I thought finding the names of birds is difficult. You should give dragonflies a try.