We have had several foggy mornings here in south Florida. High humidity coupled with lower temperatures and calm winds create a layer of cooler air which settles over the ground. Under these conditions before sunrise the air may cool to the dew point (this morning in the low 60's F), causing moisture in the air to condense into tiny droplets-- a blanket of fog.
As the sun warms the ground, the droplets evaporate and give the appearance of "lifting" like a translucent ceiling above our heads as we walk out into the wetlands:
Fog imparts beauty to the wet prairie, defaced by abandoned utility poles and scarred by "wreckreational" off-road vehicles:
The diffuse light isolates subjects and creates interesting photo opportunities. A Great Egret reflects in the lake:
A Great Blue Heron accents the landscape as fog lingers along the far shore:
Not accustomed to the human presence, the heron squawks its disapproval:
A Great Egret comes to rest on a small island:
The sky brightens as the fog layer continues to melt. The lack of shadows softens the images of a Little Blue Heron:
On another misty morning before sunrise, the same or another Great Blue Heron shifts from a regal to a contorted posture:
Lakeside, a Belted Kingfisher:
A Palm Warbler in Brazilian Pepper:
A Turkey Vulture rests on the guard rail fence of the unfinished highway to nowhere:
A female Soldier sips nectar from a Bidens alba. These flowers are the richest source of nectar of all Florida's native plants, second only to cultivated citrus:
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Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to GOOD FENCES 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 Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise
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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It was a morning when you could truly "see what you were breathing." Fog shrouded the local wetlands. Dew coated my camera and binoculars, and weighed down the high blades of grass. A great Egret was barely visible through the murk:
The blanket of fog blurred the background and muted the colors in my images of the egret, imparting a two-dimensional effect:
Expecting that my photos had been ruined, I was surprised to see them on the computer screen back home. The egret's black legs stood out as if etched on rice paper:
Slowly, the fog lifted and the pine bank on the opposite shore gradually emerged into view:
A bedraggled dew-soaked Prairie Warbler eyed me curiously:
Nearby, an unruffled Northern Cardinal:
The sky brightened up, and a male Soldier basked in the light. This butterfly is often difficult to find in our patch:
The Lantana flowers attracted newly emerged male and female Julias:
A male American Kestrel, perched 100 yards away, had returned for the winter:
He suddenly flew right towards me-- was it something I said?
He kept watching me as he flew off:
Our friend Scott has ready access to the lake through a private gate, halfway into the wetlands preserve. We must walk 15-20 minutes to get this far:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to GOOD FENCES 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 Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise
Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jeannette
________________________________________________
Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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