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.