Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Birds of Manasota Key

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)

Least Tern (Sterna antillarum)



Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)



Royal Terns (Sterna maxima)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)


White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Manasota Key is a long, narrow barrier island in Charlotte County, Florida.  The north end has many large and expensive shorefront vacation homes (including Stephen King's).  Mid-island is Englewood's public beach, and at the south end is pristine Stump Pass Beach State Park. 





Sunday, August 21, 2011

Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)





The Red Shouldered Hawk is a year-round resident here in Florida.  He still hunts from low perches, and as seen here has a taste for snakes.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Pocket Park in Boca Grande

Boca Grande is a small tourist/fishing village located on Gasparilla Island.  The Gulf Coast, Florida barrier island is but eight miles long and less than a half mile wide and the town has a one-block downtown.  But, worth visiting is Sam Murphy Park....a tropical pocket park on a downtown property just about one tenth of an acre.  Restfull, serene and a compliment to the thoughtfull citizens of Boca Grande.















Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tucker's Grade: Landscapes in Florida's Wet Prairie

Tucker's Grade is the remnant of a road used by early settlers in Southwest Florida.  The first part traverses through the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area.  A "Grade" to early Floridians was simply a dirt road with drainages ditches on both sides, and Tucker's Grade is just that.....straight as an arrow through wet prairie which would otherwise by inaccessable during our wet summers.

The Wet Prairies of Florida provide some of the state's most beautiful landscapes....and a glimpse of what the land looked like in the 19th century.

Wet Prairies are fresh water marshes with a large amount of diverse flora and fauna.











The beauty of the natural world continually amazes me.  Can't wait for my next photo adventure.