Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
~ L.R. Knost
Day’s End, Walsingham Park, Largo, Florida May 2020
This video was posted a couple weeks ago by one of the local water tour companies. Here’s how they described it: “Fish kicking is one of the most common hunting techniques used by dolphins in the Tampa / St Pete, Florida area. It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s almost always easier to catch a meal by stunning or injuring a fish with a precisely timed flick of the tail than it is to just chase one down… like a cave dolphin 🙂 Not all dolphins learn the technique, and some are better at it than others, but the ones that learn it have an advantage.”
Though I watch dolphins most every evening at John’s Pass I have yet to witness this for myself. I plan on taking a kayak tour (when safe to do so) and hope to see this incredible behavior!
Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Walsingham Park, Largo Florida May 2020
I met this juvenile Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) thanks to some boisterously loud Blue Jays. The three of them were so raucous that they alerted the entire woodland to the owl’s presence. After ten minutes of incessant squawking the annoyed owl finally left its perch and flew to the top of a nearby pine tree.
Unfortunately, the owl’s situation did not improve after relocating. The jays received help in their mission to drive away the apex predator from a persistent and fearless crow. The master aerialist pestered the owl with multiple strafing runs. I felt fortunate to catch some of the action.
Sadly, I lowered my camera when the crow pulled up and flew away. As I soon discovered, the crow was making way for larger reinforcements, in the form of a pair of noisy and determined Red-tailed Hawks. Unlike the crow, the raptors were going for full contact. Rather like the difference between flag football and regular football.
After the second dive bomb, the owl awkwardly crashed into the shelter of the thick branches below. Message delivered, the hawks circled one more time while screeching before wheeling away into the sky.
I think the owl and I both learned something that day. I doubt it will be perching out in the open again any time soon and I will be more patient with my camera.
Last week I found this Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) wandering around my favorite nearby oasis, Walsingham Park. The yellow bill and feathery head indicate that it was a juvenile (the bill will turn black and the feathers will disappear from the neck up as it matures).
I followed as it foraged in the shallows, watching it get muddier by the minute. It didn’t seem to have much success with its foot stirring method of hunting, but perhaps that is a skill refined with age?
Standing at 3-4′ tall it is in the same size range as the Great Egret and Blue Heron though nowhere near as lissome in appearance. With its scaly head and neck, to me, it bears a strong resemblance to a vulture. It can even ride thermals like a vulture.
The descriptions are no less kind as it is referred to as hefty with a massive bill. I will say that the black flight and tail feathers flashed with a colorful iridescence. I only wish I’d captured a photo of that!
Graffiti, Largo, Florida March 2020
Not entirely sure what the creator meant by this. But isn’t that the true intention of art, to allow the viewer to create their own meaning?
For the past four weeks I’ve been volunteering at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic’s drive through food bank. Since I’m out of work right now as a result of the pandemic I figured I might as help out. Plus, as you all know, I don’t sit still well so having a productive outlet for my energy is important.
A huge perk of this gig is working alongside some wonderful people. And we do quite a bit of work: last Thursday we handed out 45,000 pounds of food! No, that’s not a typo, we actually distributed 22.5 tons of comestibles.
The fun and enthusiastic demeanors of the staff and volunteers makes the time fly by. Occasionally, there’s even a bit of dancing…
I took these images of the drawbridge over John’s Pass back in January, when the bars and restaurants were still open. My favorite spot for happy hour was right on the water, which not only afforded me good views of the bridge action but of frolicking dolphins and the sunset as well. Plus, I could walk there on the beach from my place. It was an ideal spot!
For those of you, like myself, who are fascinated by the engineering, a couple short videos. First, a sailboat cruising through the opening:
The bridge closing (in real time):
Wood Ducks, Walsingham Park, Largo, Florida April 2020
This handsome but skittish Wood Duck pair (Aix sponsa) allowed me one photograph before flying off. I am relatively pleased with my single shot. I have taken better pictures of a male before but this is my first one with a female included.
Though he obviously steals the show with his vivid rainbow array of colors, she sports some nice iridescence. Maybe someday I’ll be permitted a photo session with a female. A girl can hope…
A few weeks ago I spent a lovely, sunny afternoon strolling around John S. Taylor Park in nearby Largo. It wasn’t very birdy out but I still found creatures to interest me, namely several alligators.
I was pleasantly surprised to come across three young ones. While I can’t promise that the first photo is of mom, there were too many gators to keep track of, she was definitely that size. The opposite of a helicopter parent, mom was floating out near the center of the pond. That aloof demeanor, however, belied her fierce protective nature.
Which became apparent as soon as another gator mistakenly swam too close. A slow speed chase ensued, with the intruder wisely opting for the other side of the pond.
No wonder they have all those no swimming signs posted!
The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a really unusual bird. Though it is the only living member of its genus, it shares habits, and even resembles, a large rail but structurally it is built more like a crane. I’ve shared photos of limpkins recently, if you’d like more information about them.
While those oddities are enough to make this bird standout, its loud, piteous call is what earns it the nickname, wailing bird. The limpkin making all this noise is standing in the pickerelweed where the shade ends, though I dare say, it will be hard to find.
And here’s a challenge to my fellow birders, what bird is calling in the distance?
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