November 2019
Blog 327: From the Kiddie Pool to the Hot Tub
The transition from the temperature highs of the mid-60s on the Oregon Coast to the mid-90s of the Florida Panhandle was like slipping out of a kiddie pool and sliding into a hot tub! Yikes, record heat! I guess we will all have to adjust to crazy changes in weather patterns.
We are volunteering for the winter at Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge, about 20 miles south of Tallahassee. This is a big refuge (really big for the Eastern part of the country) consisting of 80,000-plus acres. The refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds, and it is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Part of the North Florida Refuges Complex, it includes about 43 miles along the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida. If you are heading east on I-10 heading for Disney World or heading west making your escape, it is worth a stop. Check it out at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/st_marks/.
Here are a few thoughts and a few pics from our first few days here…
Belted Kingfisher
Usually these small, hyper birds are difficult to photograph, as they seem to never stop bouncing from point to point to point and back. However, this good-looking chap likes to hang on this particular Southern water hemp, and I have been lucky enough to shoot him a couple of times in good light with this great foreground and background. Here are four different expressions at this one location.
Flint Rock WMA
One afternoon we took Jackson for a short drive east on Highway 98 to Flint Rock Wildlife Management Area. In a few short minutes on this dirt road, we saw deer, wild turkey, and a black bear (the bear was Jack’s favorite).
Corn Snake
On Lighthouse Drive, Jan stopped for this corn snake who was catching a few rays in the center of the asphalt. He was quite perturbed as I shooed him into the side brush.
Birds
Lots of birds already, with lots more migratory birds to come. Here is a greater yellow legs, a juvenile Eastern willet, a ruddy turnstone, a semipalmated plover, and, finally, 42 snowy egrets hanging with one pied-billed grebe.
Bedroom Frog
Here is a cute tiny green frog Jan found outside her bedroom window one morning.
Butterflies
Lots of butterflies of all species and many more monarchs on their way! Here is a Gulf fritillary on lantana and a monarch on goldenrod.
Other Critters
In addition, I have also seen several eagles, oodles of wading birds, scads of shore birds, 22 night-crowned herons in flight, a bobcat, and two magnificent frigate birds. Hopefully, lots more to come.
Old Trucks
Meet Blanche
See you next time.
We are volunteering for the winter at Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge, about 20 miles south of Tallahassee. This is a big refuge (really big for the Eastern part of the country) consisting of 80,000-plus acres. The refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds, and it is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Part of the North Florida Refuges Complex, it includes about 43 miles along the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida. If you are heading east on I-10 heading for Disney World or heading west making your escape, it is worth a stop. Check it out at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/st_marks/.
Here are a few thoughts and a few pics from our first few days here…
Belted Kingfisher
Usually these small, hyper birds are difficult to photograph, as they seem to never stop bouncing from point to point to point and back. However, this good-looking chap likes to hang on this particular Southern water hemp, and I have been lucky enough to shoot him a couple of times in good light with this great foreground and background. Here are four different expressions at this one location.
Flint Rock WMA
One afternoon we took Jackson for a short drive east on Highway 98 to Flint Rock Wildlife Management Area. In a few short minutes on this dirt road, we saw deer, wild turkey, and a black bear (the bear was Jack’s favorite).
Corn Snake
On Lighthouse Drive, Jan stopped for this corn snake who was catching a few rays in the center of the asphalt. He was quite perturbed as I shooed him into the side brush.
Birds
Lots of birds already, with lots more migratory birds to come. Here is a greater yellow legs, a juvenile Eastern willet, a ruddy turnstone, a semipalmated plover, and, finally, 42 snowy egrets hanging with one pied-billed grebe.
Bedroom Frog
Here is a cute tiny green frog Jan found outside her bedroom window one morning.
Butterflies
Lots of butterflies of all species and many more monarchs on their way! Here is a Gulf fritillary on lantana and a monarch on goldenrod.
Other Critters
In addition, I have also seen several eagles, oodles of wading birds, scads of shore birds, 22 night-crowned herons in flight, a bobcat, and two magnificent frigate birds. Hopefully, lots more to come.
Old Trucks
Meet Blanche
See you next time.