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:



Eastern Phoebe:



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





 

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:



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:



Gray Squirrel eats Melaleuca blossoms:



Where others may see black, I can see color.

Boat-tailed Grackle:



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



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



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





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



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!



Close-up of Wild Poinsettia:

 

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

 

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

 



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



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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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