Thursday, March 3, 2011

Florida Cloudscapes

Clouds are a wonder of nature.  They are always beautiful, always different, and always add dimension to a photograph.

Here are some of my favorite cloud photos taken here in Southwest Florida.





































Photographer Olivia


Son Andy and Dad

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Butterflies at "The Webb"

White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)


Pearl Crescent (female) (Phyciodes tharos)


Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)



Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)


Rattlebox Moth (Utethesia bella)


Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)


Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)


Whirlabout (Polites vibrex)

These were all photographed Sunday, 2/27/2011 around the fish ponds at the Babcock-Webb WMA in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Landscapes at "The Webb"

We went for a hike in the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Mangement Area here in Punta Gorda, looking for early nesting Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. 
We didn't see any woodpeckers, but really enjoyed both the scenery and the hike.  Here are some landscape photos of the area.

Here is a blog of a birder who DID see some woodpeckers

Another link to a blog from "The Webb," which is quite popular with birders, hikers and photogs!


Here is some info from EverythingPuntaGorda.com

And a great photo set from our Flikr friend, Fraggle Red!

Follow this link to some great Webb bird photos

A short video

Jeff Bouton's blog

Babcock-Webb WMA has some the best quail hunting anywhere

And some great fishing, with one spot having handicapped access.

The Webb management sometimes uses planned burning to maintain habitiat.  Here is a case study of this somewhat controvertial method.

Here is a group working hard to imporve Quail habitat in the Webb

Well, we found the nesting area allright, but no birds on this trip.  No problem...it was a great afternoon anyway!


The Webb is actually part of the Babcock Nature Preserve....over 73,000 beautiful acres of wilderness.

And soon the area will have the world's First Solar City!  Babcock Ranch

Although we didn't see the birds, we enjoyed some great landscapes....

and later I'll post some wonderful butterflies we saw around The Webb's fishing ponds.