Flight

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I will admit right up front that this photograph has imperfections... but I was so tickled with the way it came out, just the same, that I wanted to share it. These birds are in flight over Lake Paloma, in Dunedin, Florida. Please feel free to leave a comment, constructive criticism is always welcome.

The all white birds with black legs and yellow bills are Great Egrets. The birds with somewhat curving pink bills, pink legs, and black wing tips are White Ibis. The brownish birds that look similar to the White Ibis are also White Ibis... but immature. Beautiful, aren't they?

Hey, tomorrow is New Years eve! Are you going to a party, or are you going to celebrate at home? Either way, Happy New Year!!!

More Lake Paloma photography at Dunedin Daily Photo. Slow cars and fast food on Clearwater Daily Photo, and beautiful sailboats and beach scenes on Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Thanks for coming today!

Mr. Squirrel Said "I'm Ready For My Close-Up!"

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So, hating to disappoint my furry little friend, I present to you: Mr. Squirrel's Close-Up.

If you would like to see more photos of the Dunedin, Clearwater, and Clearwater Beach area, check out Dunedin Daily Photo, Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Thanks for coming today!

My New Best Friend, The Squirrel

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Meet my new best friend, the Squirrel. At least, as long as I keep the feeder full, and the corn cobs fresh! :D The weather has just recently started to cool a little here in Dunedin, Florida, so I figure it is time to keep the feeders full to some degree. I think the food resources for squirrels and birds here seldom really diminishes all that much in the winter time, but I don't like to take that chance.

HEY! Monday is New Year's Eve! What are you doing? Will you be partying at some wild and crazy New Year's Eve celebration? Or will you have a quiet countdown party at home? Either way, crazy or quiet, let's make it a good one, and welcome a New Year to make things happen! :D

And yes, I do have more squirrel photography to share with you, so please stop by every day. If you would like to see more photos of the Dunedin, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach area, check out Dunedin Daily Photo, Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Thanks for coming today!

This Osprey Has Something To Say

I caught up with this beautiful Osprey at Hammock Park, in Dunedin, Florida yesterday morning. I have never gotten such a good shot of an Osprey before. As I understand it, they are sometimes referred to as Fish Hawk, also.

Please click on the photograph to see the larger version, which shows the detail so much better. This picture was taken with my Nikon D80, with a 70-300 lens, at 300mm, f10, 1/250 sec. This is, by the way, a camera I would highly recommend.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Dunedin Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Thanks for coming today!

Bug's Bounty

Okay, honestly, I have no idea who or what might eat these berries, but I gotta believe they will end up being someone's dinner! There are various trees around Lake Paloma (in Dunedin, Florida), where I took this picture. I just don't know for sure what kind it is that shed these.

I do know that I have always wondered what it is like to live at this altitude, in a world that I normally see from so much higher up! You have to admit, there seems to be lots and lots to explore down here.

If you would like to see more of the area around Lake Paloma, check out Dunedin Daily Photo, Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. Thanks for coming today!

OH! I Hate It When They Watch Me Dive!!

Even now I feel bad when I look at this photo. I know it's silly, but I really think I totally broke his concentration. I was out on Pier 60, on Clearwater Beach, and he and some other pelicans had been swooping and diving and having a nice lunch. Then I came closer and closer to the rail with my camera.

Having watched the rhythm of their feeding dives for a little while, I was able to have my camera in the right place at the right time. Just as I was ready to snap the shot... he looked straight at me. I think it really put him off to have the camera pointed at him like that. He choked, as it were, hit the water way off target, and came up empty-billed.

I admit though, I do like the photograph, just the same. And hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea!

Check out my other blogs to see more of Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, and Dunedin.

Make Sure You Get My Good Side, Eh?

Enjoying the fine December sunshine, at 82F, on Clearwater Beach recently. I took a walk out on the fishing pier, Pier 60, and met this fine specimen of a bird. He was pretty accepting of my 'advances'. But then he made me promise him veto rights before I posted this shot. Luckily, he liked it very much.

It was a beautiful day to be on the beach. There were lots of people enjoying the sea and sand and pier. Oh, and that is the Gulf Of Mexico in the background. Check out my other blogs to see more of Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, and Dunedin.

Tag... You're It!

I am not sure why I find this picture so compelling. Perhaps the tags get me. Perhaps the realization that this was once a living tree. Or is it just the textures. Perhaps it is the old versus new dichotomy presented by the different tags.

At the moment, I just don't know. If you know what it says to you, let me know. And if I figure out what it is for me, I'll let you know. Meantime, I hope you enjoy the look. And if you are wondering... this is my take on the tags, starting from the top:

FPC stands for Florida Power Corporation. A57119 is an asset tag. That is for their accounting system. The small tag below that looks like it says 91 on it. I am going to guess this is the year this pole was put into service. Osmose 2007 I believe refers to a branded test or treatment, and 2007 would be the year it was last performed on this pole. Wood-fume, I believe is the treatment or test name, specifically, that was performed on this pole.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Getting Down To The Subject At Hand

There is an office park in Clearwater that looks more like a botanical garden in some ways. It is called Arbor Shoreline Office Park (or Complex). I have written about it before. Scroll down to check out "Hawk After Bath", "Swamp Lily", and "Green... Yellow... Flower Power". Click here to see one of the buildings there.

This is a small drain that runs from one of the parking lots into a small pond. In fact, the "Hawk After Bath" photo was taken just a few feet from this spot. The hawk had been bathing in this pond. Although not all things can be done with so much attention to beauty and form, it's nice that they did not completely give into function.

Now please take a moment and bookmark this page. I would love for you to come back and see more! Thanks! :D

Rust: Nature's Slow Moving Paintbrush

This old tractor has seen better days. But now it is seeing sunshine again for the first time in years. It was 'recovered' from being covered up in overgrown vines. I am sure other people look at it and think "How are we going to get rid of that thing?" I look at it and think "How can I get that thing home?"