Nature Photography by Pam & Richard
January 30, 2022 5 Comments
Here is a look around our Florida Yard in January. The sandhill cranes are getting ready for nesting season. Mama raccoon always stops by for snacks leftover for the birds. Our orchids are blooming – they never stop year round. And the new koi pond on our back porch is a joy – so much fun!
Sandhill Crane in Yard
Raccoon Eating a Snack
Indoor Display of Blooming Orchids
Purple and Yellow Cattleya in Bloom
New Koi Pond on Back Porch at Night
August 28, 2021 2 Comments
Sebastian Inlet State Park, Florida, is a favorite of ours year round. In summer we especially enjoy walking out on the pier. It’s a great way to see the wildlife and enjoy the breeze. Great birds we’ve seen include royal terns, osprey carrying a black sea bass, and a rare black tern.
June 6, 2021 5 Comments
We’ve had a great year for purple martins! Nesting season is now coming to an end, with only a couple of nests remaining with babies. Here in Florida the season starts in January and ends in June. The total colony count this year was 176 birds including 28 nests (56 adults) containing 120 babies. Very soon the flock will leave, gather with others into roosts, and then migrate back to South America for the rest of the year.
Purple martins are so nice and cheery to have around. We miss them when they are gone!
This 4 1/2 minute video includes camera footage taken from inside one of the nesting gourds. We had never realized that purple martins collect green pepper tree leaves for the nest to act as a natural insect repellent. I have no idea how such tiny babies eat such big dragonflies!
April 19, 2021 8 Comments
Goodwin Marsh near our home in Palm Bay, Florida, is a wonderful place to see birds in spring. So much beauty to see!
March 2, 2021 6 Comments
Cute and Fuzzy Baby Crane Chick Walking
Sandhill Crane and Baby Chick by Sabal Palm Tree
Sandhill Crane Feeding Baby Chick a Kernal of Dried Corn
Sandhill Crane and Baby Chick Walking Together
Sandhill Crane Family in Yard
Sandhill Crane Face Portrait
One of the joys in Florida is having sandhill cranes living in your neighborhood. We were thrilled this week when “our” sandhill crane pair brought their new fuzzy baby chick to our yard for a visit. So cute!
February 13, 2021 11 Comments
Two Male Painted Buntings
Male and Female Painted Buntings
Male Cardinal and Male Painted Bunting
Male Cardinal
Female Cardinal
Female Cardinal and Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove
Goldfinch (winter colors)
Catbird
Purple Martin Pair Inside Nesting Gourd (visitor peeking in on left)
For Christmas Richard got me a BLINK automatic outdoor security camera. Instead of using it for security, we use it to take wireless videos of the birds that visit our feeder. We also put one inside our purple martin nesting gourd. I extracted screenshots from the videos to post here. Love the variety and color of birds right outside our door here in Florida!
February 6, 2021 6 Comments
One of Several Ponds at Sanctuary
Moorhen (Common Gallinule) on Pond
Trail Lined with Scrub Oaks
Christmas Lichen (Cryptothecia rubrocincta) on Scrub Oak
Powder Puff Lichen (Cladina evansii)
Author Pam Photographing Sandy Goldenaster-Lined Trail
Coastalplain Goldenaster (Chrysopsis scabrella)
Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) Pink Bell Flower
Rusty Staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea)
Florida Paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus) (member of sunflower family)
Rare Rosemary Scrub (look closely and you will see a crab spider in middle)
Sandhill Crane
Florida Scrub Jay (vulnerable species)
Gopher Tortoise at Underground Burrow (vulnerable species)
Malabar Scrub Sanctuary is a protected rare scrub habitat in Brevard County, Florida. It is part of the Space Coast’s Environmentally Endangered Lands program. Visitors come to see rare plants and animals in a beautiful setting. It’s a great place to hike!
November 1, 2020 4 Comments
Bees Made Honeycombs
Sandhill Crane (4 feet tall)
Cottontail Rabbit
Mushroom Fairy Ring
Ladies Tresses (native orchid growing in lawn)
Blooming Agave Spike at Sunset
Pink Hidden Ginger
Sunshine Mimosa Flower
Purple Passion Flower
Front View of Plumeria Flowers
Back Candy-Stripe View of Plumeria Flowers
Rain showers made our yard lush and green and the flowers happy. Here is a little tour of what we see every day.
August 15, 2020 2 Comments
Author Photographing Sardines at Open Seas. “The sea is as near as we come to another world.”
Sea Pen Display
Chambered Nautilus (cousin of the octopus)
Green Moray Eels
Bigfin Reef Squid
Lookdown Fish
Stone Scorpionfish (looking left)
Orange Cup Coral
Southern Sea Otter
Avocet (at least 26 years old)
Marbled Godwit (at least 21 years old)
Black Oystercatcher ( at least 24 years old)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (at least 20 years old)
Beautiful California Coast South of Monterey
We visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium at the end of February. It is always a delight – one of the best aquariums we’ve ever seen! It is extra special because of its beautiful location on the central California coast. Although temporarily closed now because of the pandemic, you can visit virtually through these live cams: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams.
Some of the birds at the aquarium are quite old (https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/stories/the-aviarys-amazing-senior-citizens). Each one was found injured and unable to be released back into the wild. They have been happily living their lives in the aviary ever since. I read that birdwatching and nature is good for the soul and health – agreed! https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-of-bird-watching/
May 25, 2020 Leave a comment
Great Crested Flycatcher on Nest Box
Great Crested Flycatcher with Dragonfly for Babies
Inside the Nest Box (Babies Hunkered Down)
Flycatcher Baby Fledgling After Leaving Nest
We are so excited to have a pair of great crested flycatchers nesting in our yard! For identification, look for the bird’s pretty lemon-yellow belly. The picture inside the nest box was taken with our tiny Insta360 ONE camera. We could see 3 babies in the nest at the bottom (middle). Surrounding the babies are the flycatcher’s unique nesting materials – lots of feathers and even a bit of black and white fur (upper right). Flycatchers are well known for weaving snakeskins into their nest, and this one has one too – how exciting! The nest also has two round white empty mud dauber pots (top). I wish we had gotten a picture of the eggs – they are creamy brown with purple squiggles on them. Maybe next year! A previous post about flycatchers is at: https://naturetime.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/great-crested-flycatchers-are-nesting/
May 11, 2020 16 Comments
Great Blue Heron Pair on Nest
Great Blue Heron Nest Building on Tree Tops
Male Anhinga’s Beautiful Green and Blue Eye Colors in Spring
Fuzzy Anhinga Babies in Nest
Double Crested Cormorants Have Turquoise Blue Mouths During Breeding Season
Beautiful Iridescent Colors of Glossy Ibis
Green Backed Heron in Marsh
Yellow Crowned Night Heron in Tree with Spanish Moss
Juvenile White Phase of Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron Transition from White Phase to Adulthood Plumage
Adult Little Blue Heron’s Dark Feather Colors
Tricolored Heron’s Crest Feathers
Adult Tricolored Heron’s Beautiful Blue Color During Breeding Season
Juvenile Tricolored Heron’s Funny Face
Tricolored Heron Baby Hello!
Paired with my other post about Florida’s egrets and other white birds in spring, this post is about herons and dark feathered birds during nesting season. These colorful birds and their babies make me smile!
May 2, 2020 21 Comments
Snowy Egret Breeding Feather Plumes
Snowy Egret Funny Face
Snowy Egret Plumed Head Feathers
Snowy Egret Golden Slipper Feet
Snowy Egret Face Breeding Colors
Snowy Egret Babies
Cattle Egret Breeding Colors
Cattle Egret Face
Great Egret Face Breeding Colors
Great Egret Feather Plumes
Great Egret with Outstretched Wing
Great Egret Babies
Great Egret Baby Hello
White Ibis Face Breeding Colors
Wood Stork on Nest
Wood Stork Family (3 babies)
We love our Florida birds, especially in spring. This post shows egrets and other white birds during nesting season, when feathers are plumed and colors are bright. If you are lucky, you will see great egrets, snowy egrets, and cattle egrets together in one big breeding colony – it is quite a sight! Sometimes wood storks and white ibis nest there too!
April 28, 2020 8 Comments
Purple Martin Nesting Gourds
Martins Collecting Pine Needles for Nest
Bird’s Eye View from Inside Gourd
Five Eggs in Nest
Newly Hatched Babies (Pinkies)
Growing Purple Martin Babies
Older Babies with Pinfeathers
Parents Bring Bugs to Growing Babies
Babies Waiting to be Fed
Hungry Baby with Mouth Wide Open
Rainbow Over Purple Martin Gourds
We have so many purple martin babies! Did a backyard count here in Florida and the grand total for our nesting colony is 201 purple martins (107 babies, 22 eggs, and 72 adults). Ages range from eggs to newborn pinkies to older babies with pinfeathers. Love this time of year! Learn more from the Purple Martin Conservation Association at: https://www.purplemartin.org/
UPDATE May 16, 2020: Lots of babies fledging this week! Constant activity at the nesting gourds – great time of year!
April 6, 2020 18 Comments
Male Painted Bunting and Cardinal
Female Painted Bunting
Male Wild Turkey with Beard Feathers
Sandhill Crane
Peahen (female peacock)
Whitetail Deer
Armadillo
Raccoon Babies at Door
We love the variety of wildlife in our backyard here in Florida. So much fun!
November 29, 2019 Leave a comment
Mount Stapafell (Home of Elves). Rocky Point on Top is called Fellskross – a Viking Sign of Holy Powers
Svodufoss Waterfall
Icelandic Sheep in Meadow
Northern Coast of Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Seagulls on Cliff Overlooking Ocean
Arnarstapi Cliff Nesting Birds
Black-Legged Kittiwake Eggshell Dropped on Land
Ondverdarnes Lighthouse at Western Tip of Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Striking Skardsvik Golden Sand Beach in Black Volcanic Landscape
Snaefellsjokull Volcano and Orange Sky at Midnight in June
Snaefellsjokull with Dramatic Clouds
Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula is an enchanting place. We find more places to go every time we visit. The birds – the sky – the coast – and the ever-present Snaefellsjokull volcano make for a magical place.
In the Sjominjasafn Maritime Museum we saw a display with a beautiful quote by Halldor Laxness, World Light:
“Where the glacier meets the sky, the land ceases to be earthly, and the earth becomes one with the heavens; no sorrows live there anymore, and therefore joy is not necessary; beauty alone reigns there, beyond all demands”.
May 12, 2019 8 Comments
Female Anna’s Hummingbird at Bridal Heath
Pink Poker Grevillea
Clusters of White Eucalyptus Flowers
Common Pagoda
Grevillea Robyn Gordon
Rose Coneflower
Bishop Tutu Protea
Allens Hummingbird on Protea Bud
The diversity of plants at the University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum is amazing! There are unusual flower shapes that you could never imagine. The hummingbirds are especially abundant too – it is a photographer’s playground. It is well worth a visit. More info is at: https://www.santacruz.org/a-stroll-through-the-arboretum/
March 2, 2019 5 Comments
Sebastian Beach Collage
We enjoy going to Sebastian Inlet State Park on Florida’s central Atlantic coast. It is a spectacular place to visit! The weather this winter has been especially beautiful. We made this collage of our favorite scenes at the inlet (click on the picture to enlarge and see details). Info and live cam links are available at: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/sebastian-inlet-state-park
May 12, 2018 10 Comments
Purple Martin Gourd Rack by Pond
Five Eggs in Nest
Ten Eggs in Nest!
Six Newly Hatched Martins Hugging Egg
Five Newly Hatched Martins
Bird’s Eye View of Babies in Nest
Babies are Hungry!
Older Hatchlings Darken as Feathers Grow In
Our purple martins are nesting now. So many birds – it is the best year ever!!! Purple martins are here in Florida from about January to July, and spend the rest of the year in Brazil. Current totals are 20 nests containing 63 babies, 50 eggs, and 42 adult birds (one pair is on the verge of laying eggs) — grand total 155! Wow! Many of the babies are in the process of hatching, and a couple of nests contain older nestlings. The tiniest babies are called pinkies, for obvious reasons. One stumper is the nest containing 10 eggs; normal is 4-6. We don’t know if it is a re-nesting attempt after the first eggs didn’t hatch, or another bird laid in there too. Love this time of year! More info is at: https://www.purplemartin.org/
March 24, 2018 15 Comments
Baby Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane Family
Look who showed up at our house this week – the sandhill crane family. The baby crane is so cute!
February 4, 2018 5 Comments
Eastern Screech Owl
Yellow Rose
Mama screech owl has been in her nest box all week – she is here to stay. Nesting season has arrived – it is spring in Florida!
December 26, 2017 21 Comments
Deer and Raccoons
Deer Eating Corn
Two Deer Together
Deer Looking at You
Turkeys Inspecting Deer Statue
Male Turkey with Wattle
Sandhill Crane Portrait
Ducks Waddling By
Bunny Snack Time
Raccoon Gathering
Smiling Raccoon Family
Mama Raccoon with Tiny Triplets
Mama Raccoon Baby Kisses
We’ve been seeing lots of wildlife in our backyard this Christmas – deer, raccoons, sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bunnies. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season full of great surprises! Best Wishes! Pam and Richard
November 25, 2017 4 Comments
Sebastian Beach Waves
View of Sebastian Beach from Pier
Seagull with Mouthful of Fish
Sanderling Running with Waves
Shell Pile-up Near Pier
Brown Pelican Flying
Inlet Side Opposite Beach
Two-Tone Water where Indian River Meets Atlantic Ocean
Gopher Tortoise Eating Grass
The weather is perfect here in Florida! Migrating birds have arrived, and it is a beautiful time for a walk at Sebastian Inlet State Park.
October 21, 2017 13 Comments
Pink Rose with Rain Drops
Fragrant Yellow Rose
Floating Flower Bowl 1
Floating Flower Bowl 2
Bat Flower
Banana Magnolia (strong fragrance – a favorite!)
Mahoe (Sea Hibiscus)
Tapioca Plant (used to make pudding)
Dwarf Buddha Belly Bamboo
Stapeliad (Starfish) Flower
Blue Dragonfly at Pond
Kingfisher at Pond
Female Quail
We are starting to get our first cool breezes of Fall here in Florida, which makes it great for walking and working in the garden. Plants love this time of year and grow like crazy! Click on pictures for more details about the flowers.
September 2, 2017 10 Comments
Historic Chapel of the Transfiguration
Interior of Log Cabin Chapel
Chapel’s Altar View
Winter Stained Glass
Close-up of Winter Stained Glass
Summer Stained Glass
Close-up of Summer Stained Glass
Solar Eclipse Church Service
Watercolor of Chapel in Winter
Grand Tetons on a Summer Day
Trumpeter Swan in Park
While we were in Jackson, Wyoming for the solar eclipse, we stopped at Grand Teton National Park and saw the Chapel of the Transfiguration (built in 1925). This historic church’s spectacular location is a popular place for weddings in summer. A special service was held there in the morning before the solar eclipse featuring a reading from Genesis (“Let there be light…..and God made two great lights – the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night and stars – and it was good”). Perfect reading for the day!
There are two beautiful stained glass windows by Jessie van Brunt inside the log cabin church featuring both winter and summer. Behind the altar is a window looking out at the Cathedral Group of the Teton Mountains. What an inspiring place to visit! More info is at: https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/index.htm
August 12, 2017 7 Comments
Summer Walk on Cocoa Beach
Morning Waves
Sanderling Running
Ghost Crab
Florida in summer is a land of ocean breezes, afternoon showers, and warm nights. A walk on Cocoa Beach in the morning is perfect!
July 1, 2017 15 Comments
Night Blooming Cactus Flower
Group of Cactus Flowers
Cactus Wrapped Around Sabal Palm
Wildlife Cam: Raccoon Trio
Wildlife Cam: Deer Peekaboo
Wildlife Cam: Tom Turkey
Wildlife Cam: Mother Turkey (right) and Chick (left)
Wildlife Cam: Mottled Duck
Wildlife Cam: Cardinals, Blue Jay, and Woodpecker
It is amazing how much nature is visible outside my home office window. Since it is summer, we are enjoying a spectacular show of cactus flowers every night. The automatic wildlife camera captured these raccoons playing beside the flowers. During the day the female white-tailed deer was caught visiting the same spot, as well as wild turkeys, mottled ducks, and many other birds. I always have handy a flashlight, binoculars, and camera to look at and capture any surprises I might see.
June 17, 2017 3 Comments
Great Crested Flycatcher in Nest Box
Raccoon Enjoying Fruit Tray
Raccoon Looking at Snake Skin
A pair of great crested flycatchers recently moved into the woodpecker/screech owl nest box in our backyard. These birds with lemon bellies have very unique calls – usually you hear them before you see them (listen at: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Crested_Flycatcher/sounds).
If flycatchers find a snakeskin, they always weave it into their nest. We got lucky and found one, so we placed it on a tray along with fresh fruit for the birds. The flycatchers ignored the goodies, but the raccoon thought it was the best treat ever!
May 29, 2017 14 Comments
Greater Palm Springs Area
Desert Oasis
Looking Up at Oasis Fan Palms
Golden Barrel Cacti
Roadrunner in Desert
Close-up of Roadrunner Face
Anna’s Hummingbird at Mexican Honeysuckle in Desert Garden
Greater Palm Springs was voted one of the top ten places to travel in the United States by Lonely Planet in 2017. We visited in early spring and loved it as usual!
May 21, 2017 7 Comments
Deer by Pond
Deer and Turkey Eating Together
Mottled Ducks in Flight at Pond
Tricolor Heron at Pond
Pink Tropical Waterlily at Pond
Newly Hatched Purple Martin Babies
Martin Babies Waiting to be Fed
Newly Fledged Purple Martin Baby
Martin Bringing Food to Babies
Purple Martin with Painted Skimmer Dragonfly for Babies
Spring is our favorite time of year here in Florida! So many baby birds, flowers blooming, and sunny warm days. Here are a few recent scenes around the yard.
May 11, 2017 11 Comments
Bird-Shaped Cloud
Australian White Ibis Flying Right
Anna’s Hummingbird Looking Left
Recently I saw a cloud here in Florida that looked like a bird. After showing it to friends, I realized it could be interpreted two different ways – either as an ibis flying right or a hummingbird flying left. Keep looking up!
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