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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Crops & Clips: It's not just about birds

Being out in the imperfect wild area adjacent to our home brings on a different mindset. The sounds of morning traffic and passing aircraft seem somehow muted, but the chirp of a distant phoebe and rustle of wing-beats overhead are magnified.

Immature Wood Stork:

Wood Stork immature in flight 03-20170612

Eastern Phoebe:

Eastern Phoebe 20171203

Time stands still, measured not by a clock but by the depth of morning shadows and the increasing heat of the south Florida sun.

Shadow 2-20141113

Sunburst 01-20171205

 Harbour Lakes to NW HDR COREL 20150120


In a shady spot or on an overcast day I can spend the better part of an hour just staring into a thicket, tracking slight movements of limb and leaf, following shadowy figures among the twigs and enjoying the distractions caused by fluttering butterflies.

Zebra heliconian on Ligustrum:

Zebra heliconian on Ligustrum 20170103

The touch of a breeze, the hint of smoke in the air, the sweet scent of  Ligustrum blossoms and the turpentine smell of blooming Meleleuca are nearly subliminal but essential parts of the outdoor experience.

Ligustrum attracts a Polka-Dot Wasp Moth:

Polka-Dot Wasp Moth-Syntomeida epilais 20111217

Gray Squirrel eats Melaleuca blossoms:

Gray Squirrel eating Melaleuca flower 03-2017112

Where others may see black, I can see color.

Boat-tailed Grackle:

Boat-tailed Grackle 20091119

At the rookery, watch and wait. The hidden beauty of a courting Yellow-crowned Night-Heron will be  revealed:

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron full display 20150311

The Tricolored Heron includes many tints in its three-toned palette:

Tricolored Heron 03-20160519

Uninvited, but so welcome, a bright green female Painted Bunting decides to spend a few seconds before me, in perfect morning light:

Painted Bunting female 01-20171130

Painted Bunting female 02-20171130

Another small but thrilling surprise-- a curious Bobcat cub makes ready to retreat:

Smaller cub ready to run 20111125

A Carolina Wren, often so elusive, is staged very prominently in front of a tree trunk, but look-- beneath it is a carpet of wild Poinsettias. Christmas is not far away!

Carolina Wren 02-20171203

Close-up of Wild Poinsettia:


 Wild Poinsettia 02-20171216

They are just a row of boulders along the path...

 Life on a rock 06-20171203

...but look closely and find "life on a rock:"

 Life on a rock 03-20171203

Life on a rock 01-20171203

Back home, a Green Iguana sun-bathes on our patio wall:

Green Iguana HDR 20160714


= = =  = = =  = = = =  = = = = =

Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to FENCES AROUND THE WORLD by Gosia

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

 Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display

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28 comments:

  1. Hello, awesome series of photos. Love the pretty sky captures. The juvie Wood Stork is a favorite and I also love the Painted Buntings. Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year! Enjoy your day and weekend!

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  2. great wildlife. Happy New Year from Poland

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  3. Some great pictures! Thanks for sharing :)

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  4. I love your two cloud images...impressive crepuscular rays in the top one! I don't quite know what to make of the bottom shot; i.e. it has an HDR quality about it, but I'm not sure. In any event, absolutely striking sky and its reflection.

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  5. If i knew how to look with your eyes, i would want to stay out there all day!

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  6. Wonderful pictures. That Night-Heron is just amazing!

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  7. @ Stanley Hattman-- The final photo of the iguana was taken with my point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot SX700 HS. I used Corel PaintShop Pro to layer 3 different exposures from the single original jpg. So yest, this provides enhanced HDR-like effect.

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  8. awesome photos...especially of that colorful moth!

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  9. Hello Ken, I wanted to stop back and say thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. I Have appreciated all your visits and comments on my blog in 2017. I wish you all the best in 2018, Happy New Year. Have a happy weekend!

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  10. Excellent shots! The yellow crowned night heron is amazing!

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  11. Fabulous photos! I love getting to share in your outdoor experience.

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  12. So much I enjoyed in this post. The skies - wow! And the courting Heron - reminds me of some of the video in the latest Earth series - many birds go to great lengths to court the gentler sex! And the bobcat - truly a blessing! Happy New Year to you and thanks for sharing your artistry with us!

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  13. Wonderful photos! The Polka-Dot Wasp Moth is unbelieveable. Is it for real?

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  14. Oh, my that is a fabulous post! Love every single photo and word.

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  15. You were first this week! Thank you for your compliment in your comment:) Seeing this post though, have to say, you know what is beautiful and know where to find it in nature! The zebra butterfly I have only seen on a calendar (2016) and the polka dot moth is even more stunning.
    Great getting to know you this year Ken, and many thanks for all the beautiful thumbnails and posts you shared with All Seasons! Wishing you and Mary Lou a great New Year and that you may capture a myriad of beautiful nature photos!

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  16. I certainly fell in love with the courting night-heron - I'm sure he found a mate! Great shots as always. Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/01/curiosity.html
    Happy New Year!

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  17. Nice post. The closer you look, the more you see. Something about Paying Ready Attention I think!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  18. What wonderful images! There are so many different kinds of birds that you found. I'm so glad that you share them.

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  19. Beautiful photos, and especially welcome today while our temperature in North Mississippi this morning is 9F.

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  20. That bobcat cub is a real find! Love the painted bunting. Lots of awesome pics!

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  21. Love these especially that shadow shot

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  22. Another magnificent series of shots.

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  23. An amazing morning ... that patch of nature looks pretty perfect to me!

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