Variations on a Theme

This is a male Pileated Woodpecker in Florida.  Note the red "moustache" and the red crest reaching down to the bill (the female has a black "forehead".)  It's a bit easier to get them in the sunshine in Florida.

Big Guy

This guy was too big and too close to fit in the frame.  Way too close.  But there were a few people in front of me so I wasn't too worried.  Yikes.

Silk Floss Tree

Willets

For the past month I've been making paintings of this flock of Willets I photographed on Sanibel.  I needed something to work on as I transitioned from teaching to summer and this felt like the perfect project.  In the mean time an incredible amount of activity has occurred including three trips down to Virginia for my show, Range, at the Arlington Arts Center which will be open until June 29th. 

Tigertail Beach

Expressive Little Owls

While Matt was away at a meeting I drove out on my own to Marco Island, Florida.  My mission was to find a Burrowing Owl.  I found one intersection online with lots of indication that the nests were both prevalent and surrounded by caution tape.  My initial nest came up empty and I felt a bit conspicuous standing around a quiet neighborhood with my 300mm zoom lens.  So after a short wait I got back in the car planning to find a rest room and then return to scout the nest.  I turned the block and found two nests!  Both had owls hanging out.  I took many photos of both and decided to drive to Tigertail Beach.  On the way to the beach I encountered two more nests.  The above photos are of three different owls.  Each seemed to have his own character.  The last appears to be making up for his small stature with a very intense glare.  I'm pretty sure he was saying "Piss off." 

Sanibel

White Pelican

I sat down to edit my photos today and realized how very many photos from Florida I still have to go through.  It's so exciting to look back and enjoy all the graphic wonder.  These White Pelicans, for instance, I sure would like to spend more time taking their photo.

Masked Bandit

Big Birds

Sea and Sky

Birds of Barefoot

Gopher Tortoise

As the sign suggests these Gopher Tortoises really were everywhere along the dunes.  I passed at least 5 different tortoise on my walk.  They dig burrows in the sand and weren't so shy that I couldn't get a few photos.  This guy, in particular, did not seem to notice or care how many people walked by while he had his dinner.

Barefoot Beach

We really put every moment of our trip to Florida to good use.  So much so that we really came home from our holiday needing a holiday.  But as I look back through my photos I don't regret a moment.  These are from a little beach near our hotel, Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park.  We had to travel through swank housing on a private drive to get to it.  I thought I might be hunted down if I took any photos of the fancy houses along the road so I kept the camera put away until we got to the beach itself.

A Last Look at Corkscrew

Barred Owl

I was able to find a lot of the birds I hoped to find in Florida while I was planning my trip.  I had read about a Barred Owl's nest at Corkscrew before arriving so this was something I wanted to see.  We found it because of the collection of people standing below.  They were discussing the absence of the "limbing" out juveniles.  We say "branching" in these parts.  But anyway they all walked off without finding the young owl.  As soon as they walked away the  epiphytic plant on the branch above shook out it's feathers.  The owl had been sitting above our heads the whole time.  I later saw the adult which I found when it began to call, a thrilling sound, but never got a good shot of it.