Piney Flatwoods Girl

Piney Z Lake: November 27, 2011

2011-11-28T22:45:00.003-05:00

Wacissa River November 7, 2011

2011-11-27T22:22:00.002-05:00

St. Marks Monarchs

2011-10-29T20:27:00.003-04:00

Pedrick Pond Walk 10/23/2011

2011-10-29T08:54:00.001-04:00

Otters and othuhs on The Wacissa:10/17/2011

2011-10-27T23:10:00.010-04:00

Turtle up a cypress stump

Eagle Study at Piney Z Lake in North Florida

2011-10-13T22:52:00.003-04:00

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Piney Z Lake

2011-10-13T22:47:00.001-04:00

Piney Z Lake: North Florida 10/13/2011

2011-10-13T22:00:00.003-04:00

Pedrick Pond

2011-10-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

Tate's Hell: 10/03/2011

2011-10-05T23:15:00.011-04:00

A stand of planted pines in Tate's Hell.
Common buckeye
Pond lily
A Tate's Hell creek...

Dwarf Cypress in Tate's Hell remind me of Homo Floresiensis!

The Bee

Pitcher plants by the road in Tate's Hell

Hummingbirds again

2011-09-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

Gulf Fritillary Study

2011-09-13T09:52:00.007-04:00

My Saturday on Thursday

2011-08-20T15:38:00.002-04:00

I take my kayak trips along the river during the week, so I don't disrupt the schedule my father has come to rely on to have respite from caring for mother. She also has a CNA and Hospice to help her get up in the morning now. Thursday, I lollygagged along the river, mostly swimming and enjoying the hot sun. I only took a few photos. Here are some of them.

Hummingbirds in My Yard

2011-08-07T23:49:00.002-04:00

Early August on The Wacissa 8/5/11

2011-08-05T23:39:00.001-04:00

July 29, 2011 on The Wacissa River

2011-07-29T23:44:00.002-04:00

Otters on The Wacissa River 7/21/11

2011-07-21T22:19:00.004-04:00

Over on Facebook, I was bragging to Jon Johnson about my otter tracking skills and describing my technique for spotting these animals. I decided I better try out my technique again to see if it really is a good one for finding otters. It worked very well for me, today! Jon is an excellent Florida Black bear spotter so I felt I had to measure up.

Summer on The Wacissa

2011-07-09T22:17:00.003-04:00

Wacissa River: Memorial Day Sights

2011-06-01T22:29:00.003-04:00

Lucky Friday The Thirteenth

2011-05-13T14:03:00.000-04:00

Flowers in the Yard May 2011

2011-05-12T11:24:00.000-04:00

It has been a good while since I have been off to have adventures. Life does get in the way. I expect to go out tomorrow though. In the meantime I photographed some of the flowers in my yard. Stay tuned ...

April Fool's Day River Sights

2011-04-14T10:18:00.002-04:00

Green Heron Study 4/1/2011

2011-04-03T23:18:00.005-04:00

On The River:3/10/11

2011-03-11T07:32:00.005-05:00

This is one of my favorite spots to stop and look around on the Wacissa.

This one is for Liam. I wonder if he has looked at my blog?

This is the river as spring begins to creep in. I woke up about 4:15 this morning dreaming about seeing an ivory bill woodpecker in a tree with other birds in a small town...I didn't have a camera ...then I wake up again and turn on the news. Japan has been devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. It's coming our way this morning. We can't stop it. Will this be the event that makes us realize we are not invincible against the laws of nature? My dream was so nice and reality this morning brings fear and humility.

The red tailed hawks were very active on this day. Birds are more energetic and active in the spring. Easier to photograph in the summer!
I saw a group of deer on the banks of Little River. Or is it New River? I went up there to see if anything looked different because of the Nestle scouting. The deer had about high tailed it before I could get off a good shot!
I came across a pair of eagles early yesterday morning. They were skittish also and I only got long-distance shots.

With my time on the river measured in brief weekly trips, my enthusiasm is up but my camera skills are down. I did notice I could track the flights of the raptors quite well. But getting close was challenging.

Wacissa River: 2/28/11

2011-02-28T13:23:00.001-05:00

Home and around town: 2/25/11

2011-02-25T13:32:00.001-05:00

Piney Z Lake: 2/13/11

2011-02-13T13:06:00.000-05:00

Wacissa River: January 28, 2011

2011-01-28T09:49:00.000-05:00

Over the hearth: 1-12-11

2011-01-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

No Nestle Water! Birds I saw on The Wacissa River

2011-01-08T12:05:00.003-05:00

No Nestle Water! Wacissa River Christmas eve

2010-12-24T15:05:00.004-05:00

Wacissa River: Unspoiled by Nestle......so far

2010-10-16T22:03:00.002-04:00

Piney Z birds 10/2/10

2010-10-06T21:14:00.008-04:00

No Nestle Water! Wrestlin' Alligator Turtles and other stuff

2010-09-23T15:21:00.004-04:00

Colonial Roost on Piney Z

2010-09-20T08:36:00.003-04:00

Piney Z: Shoreline Ride

2010-09-17T08:45:00.004-04:00

Jack & Julie's backyard in South Georgia

2010-09-06T09:04:00.001-04:00

Valdosta Sunset

2010-09-05T08:56:00.002-04:00

Wacissa 8/14/2010

2010-08-14T22:04:00.005-04:00

Orb weaver spider webs were all around this morning.
Here's a sexy red legged web resident.
Several hawks were messing about together in a cypress tree near Cassidy Spring . I thought one of them was a red-tailed hawk.

But which one???? I think they are easier to identify while flying.
Lots of juvenile night herons.
Turtles and alligators shared logs.

Janice took me back to a spring I had not seen a few weeks ago. She calls it Log Spring, for the giant cypress logs which criss-cross it. I went back there again this morning.

Here's an unidentifed flyer. Looks like a red-tail to me.
An osprey snagged lunch.

Hiking Grand Bay WMA and Banks Lake

2010-07-27T21:45:00.008-04:00

Banks Lake near Lakeland Georgia

Moody Air Force base is near the Grand Bay WMA. We climbed the tower and watched planes and trees and critters.

He was way down in the black gum swamp.
This is a view from the tower.
I really wanted to see the North american Pitcher plants in this swamp. It was 99 degrees but we hiked out to the tower anyway.

Sunday evening in Valdosta

2010-07-27T21:41:00.002-04:00

I'm only traveling short distances these days but every trip holds adventure. This is the view from Jack and Julie's backyard. It was the Thunder Full Moon and their yard backs up to acres and acres of trees. The birds are so entertaining. I could sit there talking with Jack for a month.

No Nestle Water! Limpkins Are Returning!

2010-07-24T12:22:00.002-04:00

No Nestle Water! Saturday Night on The Wacissa

2010-07-12T09:30:00.008-04:00

Saturday night felt like the right time to take a float trip so I launched at 6:30pm. There are lots of baby wood ducks, moorhens, and gallinules. I wanted to visit my two owl nestlings who are two years old now, in the channel running out of Blue Spring.

As I came down the channel one of the owls flew down to a perch directly above my head to have a look at me. I imagined they know me by now since I have followed them about for two years on the river. I wonder if this is so. The bigger one seems more tame. I couldn't spot the other one this night.

Lots of green herons are fishing now.

I colored up the bard owl since it was so dark in the channel. He might not like this.
Black crowned night herons skulked about in the side springs.

In Blue some boys were playing on the new rope spring.
Playing with color.

It was a lovely night. I ran into Janice and her husband and they took me for an airboat ride. It was a fine evening.

No Nestle Water! New Life on The Wacissa River

2010-07-04T23:14:00.001-04:00

Friday night bike ride

2010-07-02T12:57:00.006-04:00

I took a bike ride through the Piney Z forest to see the lake Friday night. I tweaked the photos to make them more colorful.

NO Nestle Water! Friday on The Wacissa River: Lots to see

2010-06-20T13:15:00.019-04:00

With Irwin busily fixing things around the homestead, I was able to take a float Friday on the Wacissa. What would I do without Irwin? He's fixed eight things on my list, already. His website is here.....weareallonemusic.com

These moorhen babies were so cut and very tiny!
Barred owls have red eyes in photos, under the forest cover. I tried to make them different but he just looks pop-eyed now!
This crayfish was floating at the boat launch. More crayfish means more otters. Yay!
Pileated woodpeckers poking about on Duck Island
This barred owl is with his nest mate in the channel that leads out of Blue Spring to the south. They seem to have moved just down the river from Cassidy where they were born together two years ago.
The barred owls are near this cavity in the Blue Spring channel. No one flew in or out of it so I don't know if it is in use or not.
High in the sky over the river I spied a woodstork, soaring majestically.
The swallowtails are coming out to sample the pickerell weed nectar.
Apple snail eggs means more limpkins in the future. Another yay!
I caught a glimpse of a swallowtail kite today, as well.
Nice size alligator. I'm guessing a female. This alligator was near the top of the river. His size suggests male.

Sunset over Piney Z Lake

2010-06-14T20:15:00.003-04:00

I took a brief trip to the lake last night when I saw the cloud formations because I knew the sunset would be pretty. Here are some images from the trip. All from the kayak.

No Nestle Water! Wacissa Saturday Night: Before the storm

2010-06-06T20:36:00.008-04:00

I raced out to the river to calm down last night.

Flowers in the yard: 4/10/10

2010-05-08T10:11:00.005-04:00

NO Nestle water! On the Wacissa:4/28/10

2010-05-08T10:05:00.004-04:00

Beltane Walk

2010-05-08T09:55:00.003-04:00

Wakulla Springs with mom and dad: 4/23/10

2010-05-08T09:53:00.004-04:00

Backyard Visitors

2010-04-28T10:10:00.000-04:00

No Nestle Water! Wacissa Sunday 4/11/10: Where are the birds?

2010-04-13T08:35:00.006-04:00

It was natty out today. Here's a swarm of them!

I needed a river trip Sunday afternoon late so I took off for the Wacissa and launched at 5:45pm. The river has been very high and there haven't been many birds. The limpkins are completely gone. I'm told someone decided apple snails needed to be eliminated. Eliminate the favorite food of limpkins? What for?

I'm afraid that since the Suwannee River Water Management arm of state government has taken over, bureaucracy will destroy the life on this river. but, I'll wait and see. but I tried to capture the various movement of light on the trees as the sun went down in the west.

Walking The Piney Z Trail: 4/10/10

2010-04-13T08:12:00.010-04:00

Ride with me as I bike the path from the Alford Greenway down into Piney Z.
We have to find the entrance. It's a ways down the path but well-worn from bikes.
Look down the tracks as we cross them to get to the lakes.

Look towards the sun and Lake Lafayette.
Look at Piney Z Lake.
Redwing blackbirds call their mates.

Trixie and I share the path between the lakes.
Who can resist these bright orange legs.

Marvel at the twists of live oaks along the path.
Find your way home again.

Wacissa Friday : 4/2/10

2010-04-04T14:20:00.007-04:00

The green herons are beginning to show the bright plumage and orange legs of breeding season.

There are flocks of ibis on the river. It was a good Friday.

Although the birds aren't as numerous as in past years presently, they are still companions on the deadfall along the river. I think the apple snails were killed off which makes the limpkins go elsewhere for their favorite lunch.
Lots of snakes on the river. I seem to see more now that I am aware of them. More startling than alligators, actually. and I don't know which ones to avoid, yet.
The Suwannee cooters are out enjoying the warmth. I was downright hot in my long sleeved cotton shirt and felt swoonish a couple times while I was out. It's time to get used to the heat.
I saw several swallow-tailed kites today.
I really did enjoy the heat and sunshine today. The water is very high but it was clear. I also heard baby barred owls but I could not find the nest cavity even though I search for twenty minutes in the area I heard them. Maybe next time. I expect to go out this coming week as I am going to make more time during the week to enjoy the dharma of the river.

Piney Z lake on Monday

2010-03-22T23:19:00.006-04:00

Lake Lafayette

2010-03-10T07:58:00.008-05:00

The swampy waters of Lake Lafayette receded as I explored it's waterways.

I saw an old duck blind, long gone to disuse.I roused a sunning gator.
He swam toward me with curiosity or maybe in display.

Little birds caught gnats in the cool air.

The swamp was dark at days end. Only beginning to green up....

The three thirty CSX freight approaches.

Small birds were about.

This alligator was the largest I have ever seen in the wild, up close....I only took one photo. Then I scrammed. I was about twenty five yards away. I was going up the Van Dyke cutoff in Lake Lafayette, which runs along the railroad tracks and I turned into a cove before the Cypress pond. This gator was on the opposite bank from the entrance to the cove.

Wacissa Monday

2010-03-02T20:42:00.004-05:00

I took my friend Ken out for a paddle Monday.

Piney Z: Sunday morning bike ride

2010-02-21T11:52:00.004-05:00

Hey girly...how do you like my camo?

Wacissa 2/20/10

2010-02-20T21:19:00.005-05:00

This nest may be for the red-shouldered hawks. That's what kind it looks like to me.
Not a very good photo of a barred owl way up in a tree. I think this may be one of the twins born a couple of years ago.
Egrets have breeding plumage now.
Yellow rumped warbler. Lots of warblers and knatcatchers but difficult to photograph flitting about on the water's edge.
Big daddy raccoon.

Male red shouldered hawk.

This wooden boat was a beauty. I wanted to show it to dad since he appreciates all that teak and especially the fact that he no longer has to keep up any teak of his own. Making the bed and doing the laundry is difficult enough for him at this point. But he won't let me do that for him yet. Mother got cellulitis in her leg from a scratch from Sutry when he came to visit two weeks ago. Oh dear.

Wacissa Saturday 2/6/10

2010-02-06T22:43:00.000-05:00

Raptors from St. Francis

2010-01-23T22:53:00.001-05:00

Wacissa Monday: January 18, 2010

2010-01-18T21:42:00.007-05:00

Little green herons usually don't show up around here until it gets much warmer. I love to watch them.

If this birds tail is really black it is a blue/gray knatcatcher. But maybe not. Anyone know?

Black and white warbler. I see these along the river banks this time of year. I also saw two very large moccasins and nearly ran up on both of them but the only photo I have isn't too good because I didn't want to get too close.
This is the first red-tailed hawk I have seen in Florida in the wild. This hawk was being dive-bombed by the red-shouldered hawks. This hawk is quite a bit bigger than the red-shouldered hawks and is easily mistaken for a juvenile eagle in my opinion. In fact if someone said it was a juvenile eagle or that these photos are of different birds, I wouldn't be surprised. It is a new bird for me. I saw the St. Francis Wildlife red tailed hawk "Jamaica" today and that's how I realized just what I had seen.
Can spring be far behind?

Suwannee cooters

Belted kingfisher or helicopter bird as I call them.

Happy New Year 2010: The eagle flies toward peace...

2010-01-01T00:09:00.004-05:00

Hope to my friends around the world for peace, good health, and prosperity in the coming year....

Cold Saturday on The Wacissa

2009-12-26T20:14:00.006-05:00

Winter is a good time to see holes which might be big enough for ivory bills to nest in. This hole is big enough. These holes are often near feeding sources such as the red berries that the birds like so much which ripen in December. I look for them and plant myself underneath them and take photos. The berries aren't quite ripe enough yet but the birds are checking them out. Robins seem to be the only ones that eat them slightly unripe! I saw lots of woodpeckers today but they are skittish and it was very cold and the wind was blowing on the Wacissa which make s photography challening. The Wacissa had ivory bill sightings as late as the 60's and is considered a prime spot for the possibility of a sighting. I'm still looking but with the watching over my folks need now, my trips are somewhat shorter. I may be going out again later this week but dad fell today (12/28-09) so we will see. The pileated woodpeckers like berries and they are easier to see along the river's edge where the trees hang over the water.
The ibises flock on the river in winter. Northern flicker

Piney Z at Dusk Part III

2009-12-19T22:12:00.006-05:00

I was so excited to have a clear afternoon to vist Piney Z Lake after all our rainy days.

Dusk on Piney Z Lake is a wonderous time for watching birds coming in to roost. It has been raining a great deal and the lakes are very full of water. The lake is also full of cormorants, eagles, osprey,woodstorks, ibises, great egrets and anhingas. I was in hog heaven!

I also saw five eagles including three juveniles but they fly so fast and the wind was blowing and the water was rough...I found it difficult to get a good image this afternoon.

Their were many osprew out today at dusk.

Somehow I always see an interesting plane when I am out on the water.

There is a woodstork rookery at the other end of Lake Lafayette. The woodstorks are now back to take advantage of their nesting habitat.

I am fascinated with the woodstork. I love to watch them take off and to hear the wooshing flap of their wings. It is spooky when it happens behind you. They can fly extraordinarily high and they look like sleek jets to me when they are taking off from a perch over the lake.

Piney Z Lake at Dusk:Part II

2009-11-29T15:57:00.008-05:00

I was eager to get to Piney Z lake today at dusk which means I can't have dinner with mom and dad so I begged off to go kayaking. I am beginning to figure out how to use light and to set my camera so I can get the lighting I want. But it has taken me a long time without any lessons...

I thought that egrets would be flocking on the lake on Saturday and when I arrived I was delighted to find this was the case. At dusk... egrets, woodstorks, cormorants, anhingas, and ibises fly in to roost.

A fisherman enjoys the last of the day.

I think the aerodynamics of the woodstork make for dramatic shots. they look so primitive yet modern and sleek when they take off and fly. The flapping of their wings is unique.

The foliage on PineyZ is turning now.

Goodbye to this little gem of a lake just a hop, skip, and jump from my home.

Thanksgiving day on a spring fed river

2009-11-26T19:48:00.005-05:00

I've taken this shot before but it is such a pretty part of the river right now that I took another one.

This egret snagged a delicious Thanksgiving treat. There are a great number of birds on the river now including many great egrets, cormorants, redshouldered hawks, turkeys, warblers, kingfishers, yellowlegs, and of course pileated woodpeckers. I spotted two turkeys gobbling near Blue Spring...thankful to have outfoxed the hunters...I also ran into Shug Parnell again with his pretty dog. He had been to Perry to get his turkey breast and to visit his friend and an ex-wife in facilities there. He told me that some hunters were now getting turkeys and carving the breast out and throwing away the rest of the bird: too lazy to use it all up. He agreed with his cousin Mallory Horne or "Horne" as he calls him, that if you hunt turkeys you should use the entire bird and do the plucking and dressing yourself. Shug is about eighty six years old.

One of these days I am going to figure out how to upload my photos in the order in which they are shot...I've been so busy with my obligations I have spent too little time on the river. I expect to get out again very soon.

Veteran's Day Salute to my Dad

2009-11-11T09:40:00.002-05:00

Butterflies and Bees

2009-11-08T00:57:00.005-05:00

Mark Wright b. 8/27/53, d. 10/30/2007

2009-10-30T21:13:00.000-04:00

Monday, Monday

2009-10-26T22:07:00.005-04:00

First eagles of the breeding season.

Cassidy spring

Stephanie's boat has a very quiet muffler. It is hardly detectible...

St Marks Saturday

2009-10-26T08:37:00.001-04:00

Sunday Morning Float on The Wacissa

2009-10-11T20:24:00.006-04:00

Evening on the Wacissa: Thursday

2009-10-08T23:32:00.001-04:00

Wacissa on a Tuesday Morning

2009-09-29T13:46:00.005-04:00

It's been a rough week and it's only Tuesday. I arranged my schedule to

clear my head with a float. See the tree climbing snapping turtle?

Piney Z at Dusk

2009-09-22T23:56:00.002-04:00

I' haven't had much time to kayak but I love going out on this little lake. I always see something interesting. The planes were really cool. What is going on with them?

Wacissa Saturday

2009-09-05T23:53:00.000-04:00

Alligator Farm...St Augustine

2009-08-31T10:08:00.006-04:00

This is the Marabou Stork. The stork resides at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine which we visited yesterday. this bird is indigenous to southern Africa. I am using a new Nikon Coolpix and trying to figure out how to get the best images. Bear with me and sorry for the poor quality.

Misty Wacissa Evening

2009-08-20T23:11:00.004-04:00

Piney Z Lake at dusk

2009-08-01T22:36:00.004-04:00

This photo is of the canoe trail at Lafayette Heritage Park from the boat launch area on the third fishing finger of Piney Z Lake. Itwas about six thirty when I launched. I had decided to go out at dusk last Saturday to see what was roosting on the lake.

This is how the dredge thickets look which divide the lake. There are lots of skittish little green herons in this part of the lake but they were difficult to photograph.

Here are some long views of the cypress roosting areas which I like to visit in all seasons.

This little skimmer and his mates were all around the lake. I have never seen them before and I don't yet know their names.

The great egrets are interesting to photograph from the water up into the trees which I only get to do on this lake.

This osprey had a fish and he hauled it all over the lake for about an hour before polishing it off.

Some folks were fishing along the banks. This very large alligator was hanging around hoping for an easy snack.

This flock of ibises cruised in at dusk to roost. In this light these flocks look like paintings to me.

I had a lovely Saturday night on the first day of the Fruit Moon month. Ga'loni, I think the Cherokee call it.

Wakulla River

2009-07-25T19:34:00.002-04:00

Saturday friend

2009-07-11T17:35:00.003-04:00

This is the red shouldered hawk which was born in my live oak last year, or maybe not! A handsome feathered friend, at any rate.

Brief Evening Float: Rained Out!

2009-07-10T17:29:00.001-04:00

I no sooner made it to Cassidy spring when a squall from the east reared up and drowned Trixie and I with water! It was a sweet rain, however. No thunder or lightening.

Short trip

2009-06-16T03:47:00.001-04:00

Home To Roost

2009-06-05T23:21:00.002-04:00

Last night, I had a couple of hours of daylight so I raced off to the river after having the parental units for dinner. I started yaking with Shug Parnell, who is a an interesting 80 year old with a red Pit named Buck whom I often see at the river. He rides around alot with his dog since his wife died about a year ago. After the Navy, he worked all over the world as a welder for various companies and on nuclear power plants. When I finally tore myself away from his story, only a few minutes of daylight were left on the river. but I snapped these photos of the pelican coming in to roost.

My Monday Work

2009-06-01T19:39:00.004-04:00

This morning on the Wacissa River was a treat, as usual. I was especially delighted to find this pelican doing some early morning inland fishing. The pelican was catching a good number of fish and I was able to get some close up shots. I have not seen a pelican on this river until today.

Sunday Yard Birds

2009-05-31T20:44:00.003-04:00

I usually spend Saturday and Sunday with mother. Today we sat in the driveway enjoying the shade and watching the birds around the yard. I do love these afternoons.

Saturday at Westminster Oaks Carnival

2009-05-30T20:27:00.005-04:00

These kids loved the horses going round in a circle like I used to ride at Belle Isle in Detroit. Mom and I sang "Horsey keep your tail up."

He was thrilled to take a horsey ride.

Chasing chickens is fun. I feel the joy and wonder myself through his eyes.

Trixie made some new friends.

Which one is the bunneh rabbit?

I know mother is watching the dancers and thinking, "I can do better than that!" Her competitive spirit has not faded much, although she is losing her footing in this world little by little. I do enjoy my outings with her. She is good company but she tells me when she doesn't like my music. So we sing Hoagy Carmichael and she remembers all the words to songs from long ago.

I'm still trying

2009-05-14T08:03:00.000-04:00

My friends are all birds

2009-05-11T20:16:00.010-04:00

I took off most of the day to float. It was very hot and I wore a long sleeve shirt and buttoned up the collar, along with my usual hat and long pants as well. I just don't like sunburns very much. I saw Peggy of paddletales but I don't think she saw me since she didn't say anything. We were both surprised by the kite right away and her photos are wonderful! Check them out: http://paddletales.blogspot.com/

I was hoping to see little green herons today as well as gallinules. The gallinules are just so colorful and make for good antic watching. The green herons have interesting fishing poses and they aren't easily spooked. I found these birds lower down the river: almost to the metal marker where the big mound is which has a cabbage palm on it. The most exciting thing was seeing river gar down there. Bbig ones! and I also came up on a humongous snapping turtle who nearly bit off my hand! Well, he looked surprised anyway and his head was less than a foot from my paddling hand on the port side and I backed away quickly I can tell you because I had recently read about someone who lost a large chunk of hand from a snapping turtle and I am very attached to my hands, thank you very much!

I also saw big mudfish and some big non mullett fish which looked like prime fishing catches. Bass I guess, if the river has them. I'm not sure at all about my river fish except mullett, gar, and mudfish. So maybe Janis can tell me what I saw since she is a great fisherwoman.

Irwin really likes swallowtail kites and he put some of my photos on his blog ; http://weareallonemusic.com/. Oh, and the alligator in this post was scratching himself which I haven't seen before! Lots of scratching going on today, in general with the circus herons. Not one butterfly though. I didn't get that since it was certainly sunny and hot enough for them.....Oh, and every time I ask for a sign from Mark I get something really cool, by the way!

2009-05-11T19:03:00.004-04:00

Midweek respite on The Wacissa

2009-05-06T23:20:00.003-04:00

The sun was nearly down by the time I made the river tonight. These photos reflect the fading light of dusk. The river was windy until sunset. I was then becalmed and the float was quiet except for the sounds of fish, turtles, crying birds, frogs, ducks, owls, and insects. Just me and the animals.

circus heron fishing

Night heron with crayfish

spider lily

Yard Birds

2009-04-26T21:52:00.003-04:00

St Mark's River Trip

2009-04-25T17:11:00.001-04:00

I floated the St. Mark's river from the H98 bridge at Newport, upstream for several hours. Davey and Ed biked down there and we met. At the newport campground we all went separate ways. After my float I ran into Julie Bowland and Lynn Preistley, plein air painters who were braving the knats at SMWR. They agreed it was too buggy this weekend.

The river dog liked this trip.

Mullett on the St. Mark's river feed on fresh leaves in the trees. Here is one jumping for his dinner!

Spider lilly

Woodpecker sculpture.