coming out of my shell

coming out of my shell

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Untitled by design

We had company last weekend, and took them on the "alligator safari" on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.  Here are some highlights from that drive.  The alligators will have to wait for another post.

First a great egret passing the time in a rather graceful manner:

























Next a few great blue heron pictures:



In her nest - so great...









































And a red shouldered hawk (I think)



















20 comments:

  1. I've had one egret opportunity in all my years here. We are not on the flight path, though there is a small nesting area on Lake Erie. My egret opportunity was on a brilliantly sunshiny spring day, and I had "white blowout." Still a neat picture. Yours are grand.

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  2. The egret looks like her legs were added by accident or as an afterthought. The seem so long compared to the rest of her.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it is hard to imagine how they hold her up.

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  3. Thank you for sharing this beauty!

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  4. One of my favourite things about FL is the number of beautiful birds! Nice shots.

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    Replies
    1. The more I live here, the more I find to love about Florida. Thanks for the positive reinforcement!

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  5. The egrets and the herons love our city and often sit on the golf course glaring at us for disturbing their quiet. I never tire of seeing their graceful beauty.

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    Replies
    1. They really are so graceful. I love to see a heron fly away. It takes my breath away.

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  6. Replies
    1. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Especially in the winter.

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  7. Wonderful pictures! Amazing birds - thanks for sharing your part of the world.

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    Replies
    1. I enjoy the pictures of your neck of the woods, too.

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  8. In the Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, near Gloucester, all was tranquil, even a bit stagey. Waders waded, a duck with a string of chicks sought who knows what, and a heron brooded. My attention was distracted and behind me a hullabaloo broke out: a cheeping of avian protest mingled with a heartfelt "Oh no!" from the human spectators. I turned to see the heron no longer impassive, engaged in some work or other. Seconds later all became clear as a bulge in the heron's neck moved ominously towards its digestive processes, and the mother duck - distraught - paddled round in maddened circles. Nature isn't always good to look at.

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    Replies
    1. You have such a gift, Rockerick. Once again, I was there seeing what you saw. The serious photographers down here try their best to get shots of predators eating their prey. I have only been that lucky a couple of times, and I tend to stop watching once the fish (or whatever)goes completely in their mouth. But a baby duckling, that would have broken my heart.

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  9. Those are lovely photos. I love herons and egrets are quite beautiful too. I want to convince the big guy to visit Florida just for the birds. We'll see.

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    Replies
    1. Florida is a really interesting place. Just don't come in July or August. Too hot and rainy.

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  10. Love seeing the wildlife there! Beautiful photos.

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So, whadayathink?