Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Animal Wednesday - Southern Animals of course


When we're in Florida we go bike riding in a State Park called Myakka - which is a wonderful jungle-y typical florida landscape, with miles of Florida prairie and wildlife galor. We often see deer, turkeys, and wild pigs running around.

There's a great boardwalk which goes out into a swampy area and it's a great place to see all kinds of birds - this guy was just hanging out waiting for a meal. He let me get very close before flying away, so I got a few good pictures.




It was an overcast day, and the swampy area was teeming with life! Nothing I could photograph but you could just feel that layers of life in that swamp. Bugs, fish, birds...and the grunt of alligators. I was glad I was safe and sound on the boardwalk.


At one point the sky was getting darker and darker and suddenly all these birds started flying together overhead. Of course, it was more dramatic in real life but hopefully you can see by this short video how many birds had congregated. In this group are seagulls, crows and vultures - maybe others but those were the main groups.




Back at home - one night I looked up and saw this image on our screened in porch - ran and got my camera before he jumped off. Isn't the first image funny? It looks like a frog sonogram!





Happy Animal Wednesday!



11 comments:

marianne said...

wow mim wonderful area and you came so close to that white heron. I love those. we have a lot of blue ones here but very little white. I think they are so elgant and master in patience, something I have to learn in life.
aND that froggy! Can't view the video now so I have to try later.

Italy was great! I know part of your heart is there......
Meanwhile I am back in Paramaribo, can't keep up myself.............hahaha.
Beautifu; day ahead of me.

HAW!!!!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Great photos. It is amazing all the life that lives in a swamp. It is too bad that people always want to drain them to build on. They always say nothing goes on in a swamp. Obviously there is a whole world in a swamp. That frog on the door reminds me of the tree frogs that used to stick to our back door to catch bugs drawn to the light. Fun to see those little suction cup toes. HAW.

sukipoet said...

what a fun place to be. i love boardwalks. the bird, it was a heron? is beautiful.

Marion said...

I love the birds, especially the elegant white one. But oh! how special to see the frog on your door! It's been a long while since I've seen a frog, we have a toad who lives here, but no frogs.

I love boardwalks, too! xx

ArtistUnplugged said...

What wonderful photos, sounds like alot of fun! The frog x-ray, priceless! Hope all is well with you!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

I love those Egrets. Beautiful pix and I loved that frog sonogram.. Priceless is right. :)

Robin said...

I love your photos - and the video is truly amazing! WOW! The birds, the darkening sky.....it's thrilling!

Mr. Frog....it does look a sonogram!!! A-ha-ha! He's wonderful.... it's a sight one never would see in SF.....(sigh)...

HAW!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Lynn Cohen said...

That frog is down right creepy cool. Nice egret shots too. And Hitchcok birds!!! Wow what an Animal Wednesday you captured this week!

Lori ann said...

wow that great egret is huge! what a cool place, i would love to wander around there too.

yes! the frog does look just like an ultrasound! a frog baby! hee hee

Teri said...

I love that egret!!! And the frog sonogram is amazing and fun.

HAW

studio lolo said...

This post is teeming with wildlife!! Great shots and ultrasound Mim!

xo
Lo♥