Photos of our environs on land and by the water. Click on any image to see a larger version and a slide show. Paula is our primary photographer.
A Pean Hen on our lot.
Puerto Rican crested anole on a buttonbush.
Female Anhinga (and reflection) on Lake Sonata in Lakeland Florida.
Tom saw this guy along his running path around one of the lakes at dad’s house in Lakeland, Florida
A Cuban tree frog, almost 4 inches long. This frog will happily eat anything it can stuff in its mouth and mates all year long. Maybe that’s why it appears to be faintly smiling.
Lucky shot of this guy soaring over our marina with his prize.
A long time ago, in the Chesapeake Bay. Missing friends both feathered and unfeathered!
The Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) This one was perched on a flowering shrub next to the Vilano Beach causeway. Field guide says it is likely a male, cruising for a mate. Once he’s found her, a courtship flight ensues.
A tri-color heron perched on our dock line.
Finally got this guy with his awesome maroon eye open! A beautifully-feathered Black-crowned Night Heron.
There are minor perils involved in a butterfly photo shoot: cactus spines, burrs, wasps, and the occasional dozing snake, but sometimes the rewards are very sweet. This is a Gulf Fritillary.
This red mimosa fills the air with its sweet scent on Marine Street, attracting butterflies and bees.
The day before the St. Augustine Half-Marathon, children participate in a 500m race. All get T-shirts, lots of praise, and a chance to be congratulated by pirates. Then they can eat treats and play in the bouncy house.
A crow displays a scrap of shrimp purloined from a fishing boat.
Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly. The powder blue hue with white cerci at tail tip indicates a mature male. He is a speedy robust flight predator, catching his meals live on the wing. After he mates with a female, he will hover and guard her while she lays her eggs.
I’ve missed experiencing any trace of our invigorating and beautiful Chesapeake autumn during this, our first October in St. Augustine. Until yesterday. This glimpse of a jay with acorns brought back a keen memory of crisp air scented with fallen leaves and bonfires, and the feel of my favorite frayed down vest.
This loggerhead sea turtle visits often to eat vegetation growing on the pier. Meet “Mr. Nibbles”.
This Tri-Colored Heron looks about to curtsy. They are solitary when wading to catch fish, but breed in large social colonies. The oldest known banded bird was at least 17 yrs 8 months, according to Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This beauty was seen this morning at Freedom Park.
Sunny mimosa is a flowering groundcover with numerous blossoms as big as your thumb and leaves like the mimosa tree. The flowerheads almost glow. Running through them in the morning I half expect to see tiny fairies pop up from among the stems.
An American crow seen through light fog.
Egret landing in the park, with her aerodynamic frame on display.
This fenced-yard escapee appears both jubilant and triumphant after noisily rousting hunting spoonbills, egrets, and herons from the mudflats of the San Sebastian river.
While we’re on cats, this is ‘Cruiser, short for Mercruiser, a brand of marine engine. ‘Cruiser has ridden out two hurricanes in the boat shop in the last 11 months and is still sassy. I am proud to be one of his part-time employees. My job description includes ear-scratching and treat supplying.
These little fellas were hiding under the pier. Where’s Momma??
Grasshopper in marshy shoreline. About the size of a quarter. Very strange eyes!