Not Your Average BIF (Bird in Flight) - Flyboys Rule

Wasn't much nature going on today.  As a matter of fact most of it probably hit the road when these guys took to the sky, and with good reason.  This is airshow weekend in Punta Gorda and the sky was abuzz with all manner of birds in flight, but there were no feathers flying.  Only sheet metal and carbonfiber.

2012 Florida International Air Show at the Punta Gorda / Charlotte County Airport – featuring the Blue Angels !

I didn't have much forewarning of this event and it was not on my schedule at all, but not having been to a show in some 20 years, I decided it was a must, especially since these guys had been buzzing the house all week.  I was primed and I was lucky enough to have some local friends accompany me, but I'd have gone by myself anyway.  It was a hot, sunny day, but fortunately the wind was blowing a bit and that kept the comfort level in the tolerable zone.  I, personally, didn't notice the weather too much, except to note the condition of my nose as the sun beat down.  I probably over did it a bit, but didn't care.

So, I'll not ramble any more, but share a few photos from the days event.  Hope you like.

U.S. Navy Bearcat (circa 1947) was the first Blue Angle.

F4U Corsair

A great day followed by some cold beers and a dip in the pool.  It doesn't get much better.  There are a few more from today and many other aircraft images on my personal site.  Hope you enjoy.

Bunche Beach

I had never heard of Bunche Beach, but my friend Nancy, and I, met a mutual friend, Liz, one early morning last week and she suggested we meet there.
Upon exiting the vehicle, the noseeum skeeters were all over us, but as we got away from the mangroves and headed toward the beach, they eased up.  It was really a pleasant morning on the beach.

As the tide receded, there became a vast area of wet sandy beach where we were able to walk out toward the feeding birds.  There were all kinds of shore birds, some in flocks and some loners, scavenging the beach for breakfast.  Liz walked out and took aim on a lone pelican and a group.  I still haven't seen her shots, but here's one of her at work.

I scooted in behind her but didn't manage to capture anything I liked but did catch a pelican in flight.

Later, came a bald eagle trying to steal an osprey's breakfast, which I missed.  The eagle was long gone as the osprey wheeled overhead, by the time I was aware.  I managed this shot of the osprey as he was leaving, and eventually saw the eagle in a tree, way too far away to photograph.

I also managed to capture this great blue heron in flight, and while not a great photograph, it made me glad that I was on the beach with the birds and not on a crowded shuttle to Key West to buy touristy things.

Venice Rookery

I had a bad day with my big lens.  It seems to have an issue with focusing to infinity and there abouts in auto mode.  I didn't even realize it until the next day and will have to use it manually the rest of my trip, and then it goes in for repair.
Venice was it's usual active self and I was pleased to see so many varieties and quantities of bird there.  There were a lot of anhinga and heron and egret, but there were also some cowbird, osprey, the ever present vultures, and a whole flock of school children.  Good that they learn early.

So here are some images from my morning at Venice.  I think we'll be visiting back there in a week or so.  Maybe then I can post some photos of the young ones we saw on the nests.

Burrowing Owls of Punta Gorda

I was told, by a friend who lives in the neighborhood, that the owls had moved on.  Another friend confirmed that they hadn't seen the owls in quite sometime.  I was perplexed and expected to find some information about what happened to them but, nothing.  I've been here, in the neighborhood, for about two weeks and have visited the nest/burrow at least half dozen times and seen nothing.

However, last evening, just before sunset, I drove by and to my surprise and elation, there were several owls poking out of the burrow.  I'm not schooled enough to know if these are male and female or adult or juvenile, but I suspect they are adult male and female.  I visited again this morning and the same two were evident.  I did not take any photos this morning, however, as the light was really bad.  I'm settling for what I got last night and thankful.

Hope you enjoy these.

 

Gotta love the eyes.

Passing Through Ding Darling

Last time I went through Ding Darling, I spent a lot of time there and was privileged to view a wide variety of birds.  I felt especially privileged to see and photograph a large contingent of Roseate Spoonbills, who seemed to be just waiting for us to arrive and in no hurry to leave.  Not so lucky this trip.  However, I was lucky enough to witness several other species which I had not seen before, and was especially happy to capture this osprey keeping watch while his mate fed their young.

 

I also saw some cormerant, anhinga, white and brown pelican, gopher turtle, great blue heron, small blue heron, hooded merganzer, red breasted merganzer, egret, ibis, red bellied woodpeckers, tourists, and the ever present noseeum's (nasty critters).

 

Reports going in were not looking good, and the place was a bit slow, as are most of the bird breeding habitats right now.  At least, the ones I've been to.  I'm guessing water level has something to do with it.  Water is kind of low right now, even though it is raining as I speak.  I'll bet this guy is happy about that.

In spite of all that, it was a rewarding short drive through the habitat and glad we made the trip.

I'll probably be back here before I leave south Florida.

Pinkney Island

Pinkney Island NWR is a salt marsh located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, just outside of Hilton Head. My friend, Kelly, told me about this place. She heard I was going to Savannah, Ga and this was on the way and one of her favorite places, so I told here I'd stop and check it out. It's a beautiful place and well kept, but, unfortunately, there weren't many birds about, which is what I expected to see.

One of the destinations on the island is the Ibis Pond, (above image) which is the site of a major heronry. All manner of heron and egret breed here in late spring, and though I did see one Great Egret, hiding in amongst the growth, it was not photographable. I did see a lot of small birds flying about, none of which I can identify, save a sparrow, and there were lots of black and turkey vultures in the sky. I also saw a number of Moorhen floating about and was surprised to note their near proximity to the alligator.

Other fascinating creatures in the Ibis Pond include the American Alligator, several of which were sunning themselves on the banks, and though they were not immediately obvious as I strolled about, their presence became a source for my continuous attention, once identified.  They look so docile and harmless, just lying about so motionless.  I know better.
I'll look forward to another visit to Pinkney Island, hopefully on my return north and then it will be filled with birds.