Lake Hodge’s Grebes

While visiting Lake Hodges, CA in February 2022, I heard of the interesting birds called the Grebes. When courting, the birds appear to walk on water together and I wanted to see this! So, I went and waited for some action! Lo and behold, I saw what I was there for and was absolutely delighted.

The Grebes were some distance from me but with my trusty Canon camera and 400 lens, I was able to get close enough to capture the above image.

I was nice to be at the right place at the right time. I certainly enjoyed watching the Grebes in action and they did not disappoint me at all! Nature is Grand!

Thank you for stopping by.

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Fake Guardian

While on a road trip we noticed an owl sitting in the daylight on a power post by the side of the road. I thought this was strange in the middle of the day, but yelled at my husband to turn around, “There is an owl on the power post! I want to take a picture”!

In great hast, I rushed to the scene, careful not to frighten the owl away. I gradually crept closer and closer but the owl never moved which was strange….I pointed my long lens at the bird and bang, I got the image! Ha ha What a surprise!

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Mallards Visit

I was walking along the road and found a small pond. The pond was visited by mallard ducks probably resting from their travels.

The female was so pretty that the drake could not resist visiting her.

He could not resist asking if she would like to fly off with him.

And, so they did.

With this in mind, I wish them well. Safe travels, I said as they flew away.

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Social Distancing

As I sit here at my computer, the reality of the corona virus settles more deeply in to my life.  A neighbor’s daughter has a confirmed case, so it is hitting our neighborhood and the worst is yet to come I am afraid to say.

So, we will try our best to avoid social contact and stay home as much as possible. The reality is that we all will be exposed eventually.  We will hope for the best outcome and the safety of our families and friends.

On a more upbeat note, this isolation period has given me time to write a blog and share some beautiful places in Florida that I have had the good fortune to visit earlier in the year.  I will share a few spots with you.

This is Blue Cypress Lake.  There are many birds and old Florida beauty there.  I was thrilled to visit and go with “Steve” our local guide for the day.

Another place I visited for photography was Joe Overstreet Landing.  We again went out in a small boat to look for wildlife and birds but it was just pretty walking around the landing.

The Snail Kites had migrated to the area, so that was a special treat to see as well.

Of course closer to home was Merritt  Island which is just down the road from us and usually we can find something to shoot. A few days this winter, we really lucked out and saw an eagle praying ( Probably preening ) and an owl with chick nesting.

Hopefully, there will be more fun shoots in the future.  It is always so fun to get outside and enjoy the views.

Take care everyone, and BE SAFE!

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A Little Book of Aloha

Thank you for your views and comments throughout the years.  For those that are still with me or interested in stopping by,  I will share another “Thought Along the Way “with you.

I have been reading a Little Book of Aloha by Renata Provenzano. It is a sweet book with many good thoughts and ideas. One thought she shared is “He ali’l ka’ aina; He kauwa ke kanaka….The land is a chief; man is its servant.” by Mary Kawena Pukui.”  Renata shared that we are not superior to our earth but stewards of the land and the ocean… I wish we all were of that mind set and took care of our land and seas better. I am very concerned about what we are doing to our water and land.

Just a thought along the way… I want the birds to be able to continue swimming in clean nutrious water and our grandchildren to be able to enjoy the fruits of our good earth and water, too. We all need to help protect our resources for sure.  In a small way, I hope to contribute with this effort with my blogs and pictures for you in hopes we will be more aware of this important necessity.  Who knows, it might make a difference.

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Trash in the Eagle’s Nest

The other day, I passed a eagle nest while driving down the road,  I made a u-turn and went back to take a picture or two of the eagles.

Unfortunately,  the eagle nest had plastic bags hanging from it.   I do not know if the wind or the eagles attached the bags to their nest, but it did not sit right with me.   Hopefully, the bags will not interfere with their nesting.  I feel that nature has gotten the short end of the stick with our recycling of plastics or lack of recycling.

Anyway, just a few thought along the way….

 

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Field of Yellow

While visiting Williams, AZ, I found a field of yellow in the countryside.  For many years I had envisioned a field of yellow in my mind’s eye.  When I saw this field,  I had to photograph it because it was so uplifting to me. The camera was handheld using a 100 to 400 mm lens on a windy day, but you can get an idea of the beauty that I saw.

Thank you for stopping by to view my world on this beautiful AZ day in August, 2018.

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Swallow-tail Kites

I had the good fortune to go shooting with photographers Scott Helfrich and Kevan Sunderland this week.  Not only were these folks very nice, they are published photographers of exceptional talent and skills.

I took several friends and we headed out in a platoon boat with our guides to a special spot where the swallow tails were nesting.  We saw many birds displaying many behaviors.  Some were nesting.

Others were skimming the water, flying high, and doing what birds do.

To make a long story short,  I can not thank my famous photographers enough for letting us enjoy nature with them, and seeing the swallow-tail kites in their special environment.  What a treat! I recommend it to everyone!

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Love Your Subject More Than Your Camera

The other day,  I had the good fortune of going to Merritt Island to photograph and attend several workshops at at the  Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida.  I was there from sunrise to sunset, and what a day it was!  One of my instructors, Milton Heiberg, mentioned that you need to love your subject more than your camera.  I have given this a lot of thought and see the wisdom in the words.

With those words in mind, I will share a few shots that I took while looking through my lens at subjects that I love.    The sunrise, sunset, and the birds: Spoonbills, American Avocets,  and White pelicans totally turned me on!  Ha ha..

There is something to be said about loving your subject when photographing something.  When you love your subject,  it will show in your work, I think. I hope you can see the love I have for nature and joy that you can receive in just being there.  Thank you for stopping by to share the beauty with me.  Have a great day!

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Rainbow With An Eagle Passing By

The rainbow was blazing in the sky as I drove North on US 1,  South of Daytona, Florida. I had to stop to take a picture, so I pulled over.  Upon setting my camera`s focus on the rainbow, I noticed a lone bird flying toward the rainbow.  So, I waited until the bird crossed the colors in the sky.  Little did I know that the bird was an eagle until I had released the trigger on my camera.  When I saw the white head of the bird, I knew it was an eagle.  I felt “totally stoked” as the local surfers would say.  “Two for the price of one”,  a beautiful rainbow and an eagle.

Wowza, what a fine day!

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