Photos under the Sun

Southwest Florida Pet and Wildlife Photography

Monthly Archives: September 2009

Birds Having Fun

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Posted in Music, Wildlife

When I was growing up in Ireland, the Carnival would come to our small town every year or so. It was the most enchanting time for us kids. We could barely wait for it to open and spend our feverishly saved pennies for the boatswings, the chairoplanes, the bumpers, etc. That was what we called the different fun rides which would probably be laughed at by today’s standards. For us, they were a magical journey into “wonderfulland.” But the most exciting part was way before opening night: the days when all the wonderful fun rides were being built. We would inhale the greasy odor of every nut and bolt in anticipation of the thrilling days ahead. I even wrote a poem about the whole marvelous experience a few years ago.

[caption id="attachment_1219" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Summer's day on Bowditch Beach"]

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I was reminded of this when the shore was being dredged down near Bowditch Beach this summer. But instead of children, the birds were out in droves hanging around the barges, balancing on oil drums and walking the “tight rope” of the dredging pipes. These were the days when a rusty old barge became an exciting pirate ship with a secret lagoon down below:

[caption id="attachment_1220" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Lazy summer days when the Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets hang out"]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1222" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Water looks great!""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1223" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""C'mon--let's go fishin'.""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1224" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Doing the "propeller" game"]

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Days when a rusty old oil drum takes on the persona of a desert island:

[caption id="attachment_1225" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Hey, Julio the Cormorant, come on up and join the party, why doncha!!""]

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Days when the everyday shore becomes an exciting place where one can trespass:

[caption id="attachment_1226" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Haaaaaannnaaaaa, be still my beating heart...a new venture!""]

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Days when a dredging pipe becomes La Scala in Milano:

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Great Egrets doing their ballet"]

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Days when the same pipe morphs into a runway at La Guardia airport:

[caption id="attachment_1228" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Coming in for a smooth landing"]

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Days when the pipe becomes a dance barre:

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Un, deux, trois, et pliez""] "Un, deux, trois, et pliez"

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Days when it becomes a tightrope:

[caption id="attachment_1231" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Hey, O Gre(a)t Blondin, hang in there, only inches to go over this here Niagara Falls.""]

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Days when it becomes a landing dock to do a spot of fishing:

[caption id="attachment_1232" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Snowy Egrets doing a spot of fishing"] Snowy Egrets foing a spot of fishing

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Days when all can live in harmony and have fun:

[caption id="attachment_1233" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Reddish Egret with 2 jolly pelicans"]

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And what did I say about nuts and bolts:

[caption id="attachment_1234" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Oooooooohhhhhh, get a load of these nuts and bolts; heaven!""]

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I suppose I wasn’t the only one who got carried away:

[caption id="attachment_1235" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""THIS, this IS is LIFE life ON on THE the EDGE edge, hmmmnnnn.""] "THIS, this IS is LIFE life ON on THE the EDGE edge, hmmmnnnn."

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So, have fun y’all and I don’t care if you are 9 or 90, male or female: click here and kick up those heels. ;D

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When Cattle Egrets Grow Up.

Thursday, September 24, 2009 Posted in Music, Uncategorized, Wildlife

A few days ago, I posted some pictures of the life cycle of the Cattle Egret. Have you ever wondered what happens when they are all grown up? Do they stay in the rookery? Do they hang around with the parents and drive them crazy? No, they take off and lead their own lives. Some will travel to previously unknown regions like the twins here:

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""D'ya wanna go to da eeverglades or stay 'round here?" "]

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And, like everyone else, they will follow the food: in this case, insects that are the cattle’s entourage:

CEgret1-1

They’ll do “ride ‘em cowboy” with the poor unsuspecting cow or steer:

[caption id="attachment_1206" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Giddy-up there, moomoomawmaw. (Singing) "Oh, make me a hooooooome where the buffalo roam, an'...""] "Giddy-up there, moomoomeemee. (Singing) "Oh, make me a hooooooome where the buffalo roam, an'..."

"Giddy-up there, moomoomeemee. (Singing) "Oh, make me a hooooooome where the buffalo roam, an'..."

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Others will hang out in twos:

[caption id="attachment_1207" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Lottsa dragonflies out today.""]

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Or in threes:

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""I'm bored, let's go ride some cattle!""]

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They’ll play riding on the wind:

[caption id="attachment_1210" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Whee, LOOK! I'm flying an' I'm not even tryin'.""] "Whee, I'm flying."

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They’ll pretend they’re ski-ing backwards on the rocks:

[caption id="attachment_1211" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Watch, watch, watch, Ima do it fer real now.""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1212" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""BUT Ms P, THAT'S NOT A ROCK!!!!!!""]

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Well, what is it then? Oh, it’s a:

[caption id="attachment_1213" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="It's a COW, for Pete's sake!"]

[/caption]

So, now you know what a Cattle Egret LOVES to do (besides eating insects, etc.). They want to be free to roam in our beautiful Southwest Florida open pastures and Here’s a song that expresses that sentiment. Have a wonderful life, y’all.

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Ever Wonder What cattle Egrets Do…

Monday, September 21, 2009 Posted in Wildlife

…after the courtship when they flaunt their gorgeous mating feathers?

[caption id="attachment_1200" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu." "I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu.""I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu.""] "I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu." "I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu.""I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu."

"I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu." "I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu.""I luv yuuuuuuuuu." No, I luv yuuuuuuuuuuuu."

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After the arduous task of selecting nesting material?

[caption id="attachment_1193" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Hmmmmm, bit rustic this, or is it too roccoccoccococococo, whativver!!""]

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After the strenuous task of carrying furniture for the nest over land and water:

[caption id="attachment_1194" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""This is one beak-stopping branch here! Pant, pant, gulp!""]

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After the nest-setting up and the guarding of the eggs:

[caption id="attachment_1195" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Is that a Bobcat out there? Naw, it's just that annoying Ms P with her camera!""] "Is that a Bobcat out there? Naw, it's just that annoying Ms P with her camera!"

[/caption]

After the arrival of the adorable and demanding chicks:

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Daddy went to Mullet King, so he did!" "Noooo, he dinnit--Mom went an' she went to All Yu Kin Eeeet Shraimp, so she dided!""]

"Daddy went to Mullet King, so he did!" "Noooo, he dinnit--Mom went an' she went to All Yu Kin Eeeet Shraimp, so she dided!"

[/caption]

Even after the exhausting tantrums of the teenagers:

[caption id="attachment_1197" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Moooooooom, it wuuuuudint me who dinged the new nest--it wuuuud Baudelaire, the Gritte Blu.""]

"Moooooooom, it wuuuuudint me who dinged the new nest--it wuuuud Baudelaire, the Gritte Blu."

[/caption]

So, do you know? Check back in a day or two and I’ll show you ONE of their favorite things to do. ;D Y’all have fun now!

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The Selection Process

Thursday, September 17, 2009 Posted in Music, Wildlife

During nesting season (typically ranging from November through May or June), I’m intrigued by how different birds choose their nesting material. Some will select a delicate simple twig:

[caption id="attachment_1182" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Great Egret"]

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Some will make a curvy selection:

[caption id="attachment_1183" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Tricolor Heron"]

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Some will select a sturdier bough:

[caption id="attachment_1184" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Cattle Egret"]

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Some will try to select the whole bush:

[caption id="attachment_1185" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Snowy Egret"]

[/caption]

In this instance, The King of the Wading Bird World makes a surprisingly fragile selection:

[caption id="attachment_1186" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Great Blue Heron"]

[/caption]

And of course, there are those who prefer to fish while others furnish the nest.

nestmaterial4-1

In memory of Mary Travers, of Peter, Paul and Mary who made her final journey yesterday, here’s one of my favorites. Thank you for all the beautiful music, Mary!

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