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:
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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 Jeannette
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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This month's potpourri gathered from the archives features the themes of critters, fences, skies, macros and reflections. It is a retrospective view of photos taken three years ago, in December, 2012. At the time I did not seek to portray each of these memes, so it is a bit of a scavenger hunt. Let's see how far I need to go into the month to find at least one of each. If I can get them all I will have won the game twelve months in a row since starting in January, 2015. This month's flashback tour was particularly easy, with an abundance of "critters" and completion of all of the themes by December 12.
As we set out for our morning walk into the wetlands a half hour before sunrise, the SKY as seen from the back yard of our home is colorful. It even shows some green (December 5, 2012):
It is just an abandoned utility easement, but the rising sun touches its far reaches, adding depth and vibrant color to the humble scene:
Roseate Spoonbills have extended their stay on the lake:
A spoonbill forages with a White Ibis and a Great Egret...
...as well as with an immature Little Blue Heron:
The flock of American White Pelicans returns:
A Snowy Egret seems unhappy about the presence of an immature Little Blue Heron, drives it away, and then lifts off, its "golden slippers" trailing behind...
...as a Tricolored Heron arrives to take their place:
A Belted Kingfisher flies over the assembly, its rattling call echoing:
A soaring Short-tailed Hawk is on the lookout for small birds:
An immature Little Blue Heron occupies the "Enchanted Island" stump, providing a nice REFLECTION on December 9:
Another Little Blue Heron, in adult plumage, takes flight:
Not even half way through, I completed my search for all required memes with this image of a Cooper's Hawk occupying a FENCE, on December 12:
There is no shortage of CRITTERS in my December archives, but I cannot pass by this MACRO view of a Northern Mockingbird on a fence post next to our home:
Earlier in the month, on December 5, I obtained MACRO shots of two butterflies-- a Soldier...
...and a White Peacock:
In the back yard, two White Ibises hurry by, photo-bombing a Great Blue Heron:
The ibises "cross swords":
On December 27, the local female Bald Eagle is low in the nest, incubating:
The month's not over yet! Near Everglades National Park, on December 30, I catch a Vermillion Flycatcher on a barbed wire FENCE:
So, we close out the year with another visit to the eagle nest. Both adults are now spending much time peering down into the nest, suggesting that the first egg is hatching:
Success! I have now found photos to match each of these memes for all 12 months in 2012!.
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Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa).
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 I Heart Macro by Laura
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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