Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Fish Tale
4:53 PM | 
Posted by
Gabby Faye |
Later in the day the vultures found the fish, but just didn't have what it took to jump into the inches deep water to feed. It was funny, though, to see them pacing back and forth wanting SO badly to feed. When all is said and done, the dozens of turtles and the other fish will probably finish the remains of the Gar Pike within the next few days.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
My Kind of Morning
While I was still climbing into my sweats in the bedroom I could hear the "laugh" of the Pileated Woodpecker out the window. This is the longest one has stuck around. For the last couple of days I have heard him here and there but haven't seen him again. I hope he is still around when I get my DSLR camera back (maybe Monday).
Then I opened a can of sardines for the gorgeous big white Egret in his mating plumage. I can see why they were almost extinct for those long tail feathers (for m'lady's hat, I read). Someone asked me if the Egret and Stork will eat out of my hand. I have no idea! I am more afraid of those long sharp beaks than they are of me. I am perfectly happy to set the sardines on a paper plate on the seawall and just watch from a safe distance...about 10 feet.
As I sat down on the patio with my bowl of Cheerios, I noticed a pair of grey squirrels playing about. They certainly are not unusual. In fact they can become quite the pest like they are in the city park. Several companies advertise that they wil rid you of these "pests". However, they are new in this neighborhood and I like them so I put out a bowl of cherrios for them. They are smaller than the FOx squirrels up North. Their fur looks softer, grey with a white belly and throat and white around the eyes. Makes them look SO sweet, but I know better.
Then I had to dip an enormous spider out of the pool and "encourage" her to take up residence elsewhere.
Well, the wildlife can't be ALL cute!
Then I opened a can of sardines for the gorgeous big white Egret in his mating plumage. I can see why they were almost extinct for those long tail feathers (for m'lady's hat, I read). Someone asked me if the Egret and Stork will eat out of my hand. I have no idea! I am more afraid of those long sharp beaks than they are of me. I am perfectly happy to set the sardines on a paper plate on the seawall and just watch from a safe distance...about 10 feet.
As I sat down on the patio with my bowl of Cheerios, I noticed a pair of grey squirrels playing about. They certainly are not unusual. In fact they can become quite the pest like they are in the city park. Several companies advertise that they wil rid you of these "pests". However, they are new in this neighborhood and I like them so I put out a bowl of cherrios for them. They are smaller than the FOx squirrels up North. Their fur looks softer, grey with a white belly and throat and white around the eyes. Makes them look SO sweet, but I know better.
Then I had to dip an enormous spider out of the pool and "encourage" her to take up residence elsewhere.
Well, the wildlife can't be ALL cute!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Woody Woodpecker?
All you have to do is listen to this bird to know where the inspiration for the cheeky cartoon character originated. We saw our first Pileated Woodpecker the first year we came to Florida, 2002. It was on a palm between the lake and the house.
We have only seen this bird a handful of times. Yesterday evening, while sitting by the lake and chatting with a neighbor, we heard the distinctive "laugh". In no time we spotted him on a dead orange tree two houses away. A convenient clump of palm hid me while I snapped a couple of pictures. How I wished for my Digital SLR (still in the shop being cleaned of sand and water) and my 300mm lens (gone forever). But, for a little purse Canon I didn't think the ELPH Powershot did a bad job.
According to "All About Birds" (Cornell University):
We have only seen this bird a handful of times. Yesterday evening, while sitting by the lake and chatting with a neighbor, we heard the distinctive "laugh". In no time we spotted him on a dead orange tree two houses away. A convenient clump of palm hid me while I snapped a couple of pictures. How I wished for my Digital SLR (still in the shop being cleaned of sand and water) and my 300mm lens (gone forever). But, for a little purse Canon I didn't think the ELPH Powershot did a bad job.
According to "All About Birds" (Cornell University):
Nearly as large as a crow, the Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in most of North America. Its loud ringing calls and huge, rectangular excavations in dead trees announce its presence in forests across the continent.
Cool Facts- The Pileated Woodpecker digs characteristically rectangular holes in trees to find ants. These excavations can be so broad and deep that they can cause small trees to break in half.
- A Pileated Woodpecker pair stays together on its territory all year round. It will defend the territory in all seasons, but will tolerate floaters during the winter.
- The feeding excavations of a Pileated Woodpecker are so extensive that they often attract other birds. Other woodpeckers, as well as House Wrens, may come and feed there.
- The Pileated Woodpecker prefers large trees for nesting. In young forests, it will use any large trees remaining from before the forest was cut. Because these trees are larger than the rest of the forest, they present a lightning hazard to the nesting birds.
Description
- Size: 40-49 cm (16-19 in)
- Wingspan: 66-75 cm (26-30 in)
- Weight: 250-350 g (8.83-12.36 ounces)
- Large woodpecker.
- Red crest on head.
- Black body.
- White in wings, at base of primaries, and underwing linings.
- White conspicuous in flight; at rest shows only as small white spot at front of wing.
- Black and white stripes on face.
- White stripe extending from base of bill down neck.
- White stripe above eye and below crown.
- Throat white.
- Bill thick and silvery gray.
- Yellowish feathers over nostrils.
- Legs and feet grayish black.
- Eyes yellow.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Learning to use a Purse Camera
Here are a few shots I have taken in the last couple of days.
Camera update:
I received a phone call from Sigma, the manufacturer of my 27mm-300mm lens. It would cost more in parts and labor to repair it than to buy a new one.
The camera shop in Melbourne (Southern Camera) has not heard from Canon yet but should by tomorrow. It has been more than 10 days since they sent it in to the factory.
We went bumming around yesterday, including a visit to a pawn / gun shop. I asked to see the lenses in the showcase (3) and discovered one was a Canon. It was the basic lens that usually comes on the DSL but, the cheapest I could find was $89 on sale. They wanted $20 for this one and I couldn't find a mark on it. ...and I got them to throw in the Canon battery sitting there. The battery appears to be fully charged and functional.
Now, at least I will be able to use the camera IF I get it back repaired. There are 3 more lenses back in Michigan with my daughter's camera. We both have Canon Rebel film SLRs, but they will probably never be used again. So...I will have lenses although not like the one that took a swim. Meanwhile, I will be saving up for a similar lens to the drowned one...WITH the stabilization technology.
The camera shop in Melbourne (Southern Camera) has not heard from Canon yet but should by tomorrow. It has been more than 10 days since they sent it in to the factory.
We went bumming around yesterday, including a visit to a pawn / gun shop. I asked to see the lenses in the showcase (3) and discovered one was a Canon. It was the basic lens that usually comes on the DSL but, the cheapest I could find was $89 on sale. They wanted $20 for this one and I couldn't find a mark on it. ...and I got them to throw in the Canon battery sitting there. The battery appears to be fully charged and functional.
Now, at least I will be able to use the camera IF I get it back repaired. There are 3 more lenses back in Michigan with my daughter's camera. We both have Canon Rebel film SLRs, but they will probably never be used again. So...I will have lenses although not like the one that took a swim. Meanwhile, I will be saving up for a similar lens to the drowned one...WITH the stabilization technology.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Florida's Little Inconveniences
Yesterday late morning I strolled out onto the patio to check the greenery, the weather, and the lake. There, on the North side of the pool was a curvy streak of BLACK. A SNAKE.
When I was teaching I tried to be the FIRST to bring a snake into the classroom each spring. That usually stopped the jokesters from trying to scare me. If I am in control, snakes don't bother me, but I don't like being surprised. I would never show shock or fear in front of the children so I overcame a natural aversion to snakes.
I came in and told the Old Dear, hoping he would be the hero. I also grabbed the Audubon book on Florida. One black snake was all black and the "better" one has white or cream under the chin. WHAT? I am going to look???
Ok...I grabbed the binoculars just in time to see the snake slither through a crack and into the curbing around the pool. I know there are a couple of Anoles that hide there...or were.
Bu the time the Old Dear appeared with a 5-gallon covered (empty) bucket and the Delux Gopher Pick-up and Reacher tool the snake's head was coming out from the crack. AHA! Cream under the chin. A Racer (coluber constrictor) CONSTRICTOR???
Once the snake was completely out the OD stepped between it and the pool. As he worked to pick it up with the "Gopher" that snake got MAD! He was vibrating his tail like a rattler (but no rattles).
Finally the snake was IN the bucket and the lid firmly on. My OD took it WAYYYY down the road and let it go into the brush.
I am not crazy about snakes, especially on the patio or in the house (like that first week we were here this year) but I wil not allow them to be killed.
When I was teaching I tried to be the FIRST to bring a snake into the classroom each spring. That usually stopped the jokesters from trying to scare me. If I am in control, snakes don't bother me, but I don't like being surprised. I would never show shock or fear in front of the children so I overcame a natural aversion to snakes.
I came in and told the Old Dear, hoping he would be the hero. I also grabbed the Audubon book on Florida. One black snake was all black and the "better" one has white or cream under the chin. WHAT? I am going to look???
Bu the time the Old Dear appeared with a 5-gallon covered (empty) bucket and the Delux Gopher Pick-up and Reacher tool the snake's head was coming out from the crack. AHA! Cream under the chin. A Racer (coluber constrictor) CONSTRICTOR???
Once the snake was completely out the OD stepped between it and the pool. As he worked to pick it up with the "Gopher" that snake got MAD! He was vibrating his tail like a rattler (but no rattles).
Finally the snake was IN the bucket and the lid firmly on. My OD took it WAYYYY down the road and let it go into the brush.
I am not crazy about snakes, especially on the patio or in the house (like that first week we were here this year) but I wil not allow them to be killed.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Maybe no photos for a while
My poor Canon Digital Rebel XTi with the 27m-300mm macro lens took a little swim in the lake last evening. Between the water and the sand it MAY never be the same. Monday, bright and early we will be at the camera shop to see if the camera and lens can be saved. I also will contact my insurance company. I have hope something will work so that I can have a good camera in my hand again soon.
Meanwhile, here is a story. Around the bend in the lake there is a family with several children. Last night I counted 6 but some were probably friends. They have lived most of their young lives on this lake and you should have seen the older boy throw the seine net. Now that is tricky skill even for adults.
As we watched the kids we noticed a large white egret stalking fish in the water by the seawall. When the children came out the bird hopped up on the lawn by the seawall. But he moved TOWARD the kids. Soon there was little more than a few feet and a chain-link fence between them. Then we realized the boys were throwing the fish they were seining out of the lake to the egret. This was obviously not the first time. The kids and the egret had a wonderful time.
Yes, there are photos, but they are on the CF card that was in the wet camera. I pulled the card right away but have no way at this time of reading the card out of the camera. I hope to remedy that tomorrow, but I don't know if the CF card survived.
Meanwhile, here is a story. Around the bend in the lake there is a family with several children. Last night I counted 6 but some were probably friends. They have lived most of their young lives on this lake and you should have seen the older boy throw the seine net. Now that is tricky skill even for adults.
As we watched the kids we noticed a large white egret stalking fish in the water by the seawall. When the children came out the bird hopped up on the lawn by the seawall. But he moved TOWARD the kids. Soon there was little more than a few feet and a chain-link fence between them. Then we realized the boys were throwing the fish they were seining out of the lake to the egret. This was obviously not the first time. The kids and the egret had a wonderful time.
Yes, there are photos, but they are on the CF card that was in the wet camera. I pulled the card right away but have no way at this time of reading the card out of the camera. I hope to remedy that tomorrow, but I don't know if the CF card survived.
Friday, February 13, 2009
My Florida Mood
(click on either the picture or the title to go to the full resolution version with materials credits and to read the journaling)
(click on either the picture or the title to go to the full resolution version with materials credits and to read the journaling)
There is a challenge at the Digital Scrapbook Place called "Everyday Me". This week's specific challenge was "My Everyday Moods". I made this layout to explain my mood change between Michigan and Florida. A true Snowbird!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Phenomenon in the Sunset
I have no idea if this has a name or what it is. The sun is to the right of the photo and a very bright spot nearer the left. The bright spot has the red of the rainbow and the other colors to a lesser extent. It was very much brighter in real life . A few minutes later there was another area to the RIGHT of the setting sun as if the other end of a rainbow. It was too late to get a good photo, though. If anyone knows of a name for this I would like to know. I saw this once before, last year.
More of The Walk
Here is a potted Bromilliad blooming happily in a pot hidden under some overgrown bushes. So pretty!
Here is another Bromilliad planted in the ground and blooming brightly.
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