Thursday, February 2, 2023

Crops & Clips: Flashback to February, 2020

As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, to remember how things were then in Florida, as compared to events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and scenes which speak for themselves. 

We spent the entire month of February at home in south Florida. I processed 458 images, mostly captured under fair skies in the local Wounded Wetlands. 

A wintering American Kestrel was the first bird photographed that month:


A single Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was settled in the remains of the rookery. Its crown, no longer streaked, was starting to take on the breeding yellowish tone. In coming weeks its legs will brighten to deep orange and long plumes will develop on its back. Spoiler-- they will not breed here this spring because their habitat has been so degraded:

A female Northern Flicker spread her tail and called out to attract males:

The full Snow Moon served as her backdrop:

Only one male responded. Sometimes 3 or 4 may gather and display:

At local Chapel Trail preserve, Gray-headed Swamphens foraged in the flooded spikerush:


Red-shouldered Hawks were courting:

Northern Cardinals were in fine color:

The adult female Painted Bunting is our only native all-green bird:

A Green Heron looked down from its perch on a dead branch:

This male Northern Parula warbler exhibited colorful plumage:

Other birds of note included White-eyed Vireo...

...an occasional winter visitor,  an American Robin...

...a permanent resident, Carolina Wren...

...and a local Blue Jay, ready to bury an acorn:

A member of the local pair of Bald Eagles crossed my path:

A male Bobcat prowled in the dry prairie:

Gulf Fritillary on Lantana blossom:


A pair of Mottled Ducks reflected nicely:

A flock of White Ibises traversed the blue sky:

Twenty minutes before sunrise on February 24, the clouds resembled brush strokes:

The setting Snow Moon emerged from under the cloud deck against the western  horizon before sunrise:

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Linking to:



Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World
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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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27 comments:

  1. That bird with the moon in the background makes for a great photo.

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  2. ...Kenneth, you enjoyed and captured so many beautiful sights. The last two are my favorites. Stay warm and well.

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  3. Kestrel looks amazing. I found them most regal

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  4. All your pictures are great! I think the bottom one is my favorite.

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  5. You got some amazing shots - the Jay and the eagle in flight, but I like best the yellow faned tail and thesecond shot of the swamp hen best. The colours on that initially (in the first shot) plain looking bird are quite beautiful. Like us, in the right light our beauty grows. Anyway, you mentioned the degradation of their habitat. Is that climate change or man made or something else? Thanks for joining #Allseasons

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    1. @Lydia--The heron rookery was cleared by the storm water management department of all the trees which extended over the water of the canal. They removed the entire trees, not just the branches, which resulted in a virtual clear-cutting of all the nest trees.

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  6. Hello Ken,
    A wonderful look back at the birds, critters and the sky. I see so many favorite birds and all the photos are beautiful. It is sad what they did removing all the trees at the rookery. Pretty skies and moon captures. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  7. Dear Kenneth,
    what a good idea to look back over the years in this way. Your fluffed up kestrel is a delightful sight. Less gratifyingly, that the night heron habitat has been degraded. I am very enthusiastic about the photos of the female Northern Flicker - such a beautiful tail fan and the picture with the moon in the background you should have it enlarged to poster size!
    Your other nature photos also make my heart happy, and I am particularly enthusiastic about the sight of the bobcat - I think such a sighting does not happen every day... for me at least it is something exceptionally special.
    Thank you too for writing me the correction of your luggage - I can imagine 12 kg better than 2. If necessary, even I could manage it ;-) .
    Happy weekend ❤️ and all the best from Austria!
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/02/costa-rica-4-kapitel-streifzug-durch.html

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  8. Fantastic images! Love all the birds, butterfly and views.

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  9. These photographs are top notch every week. I enjoy seeing the birds. Some I recognize. Others I don't. I am glad you explain each image so well. Thank you.

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  10. That very first image...the lighting is incredible! As always a fabulous array of your camera expertise.

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  11. So sorry that for some reason, I no longer get your blogs in my email..I miss them..I'm still listed as a follower..Your photography is wonderful as well as your subject matter..Have a nice week.

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  12. These are lovely phots and great views of the birds and lovely colours too :-)

    Have a wingstastic week 👍

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  13. Great photos all, but I especially love the northern flicker - what a gorgeous set of tail feathers!
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-few-images-from-chinese-lantern.html

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  14. Yet another really outstanding flashback series, Ken!

    Our local area looks very much like your posted images. Spring is rushing in, at least as far as the avian population is concerned! Courting, nest building, territorial spats. We're enjoying the added benefit of spring migrants in the mix as well. Good times!

    Take good care as we progress through a new week.

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  15. Kenneth, I love seeing your bird photos, and the photos of other critters. Your archives are rich with well composed photos in great light. Hope you can enjoy your time up north during the end of winter.

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  16. Wonderful photos.
    The flicker looks so beautiful.

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  17. Beautifully captured birds. As usual, perfect photos.

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  18. Yellow feathers fanned out - how spectacular!!!?

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  19. You are a maestro in capturing birds, the clouds do resemble brush stokes. Thanks for joining in Garden Affair.

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  20. Such stunning avian wonders and then there was the regal Bob Cat and the Gulf Fritillary.

    I loved the Northern Flicker. Never seen one before, even in images and I doubt we see them in our part of the world.

    Always such a joy to stop by here and savour the natural world in all it's glory on your blog dear Ken.
    Love your charming posts.

    Thank you so much.

    Wishing you and yours well. Loads of love and prayers for you good health and well being always.

    https://natashamusing.com/2023/02/tiger-safari-in-bandhavgarh-experiences-in-bandhavgarh-natasha-musing/

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