Clear. Cloudless. Blue.

Camera Critters 001 - Red-Tail Hawk

Taken at the Aviary in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Preserve's Aviary houses birds of prey that have taken permanent injuries that prevent them from living safely in the wild. I took this picture through an opening in the cage, which houses two red-tail hawks.

One of the largest and most common of hawks, [the red-tail hawk] is often seen soaring or perched in a tree searching for prey. Red-tailed hawks vary considerably in color, but most adults are brown with a read tail. A band of dark streak forms a belt across the white belly. Rodents and rabbits are its main diet, along with birds, snakes, and lizards.

Other birds in the small aviary include a bald eagle, turkey vulture, barred owl, and two very cute little Eastern screech owls.

Welcome to my first Camera Critters post!

This photo concludes my Boyd Hill photo series, at least, for this week. :)



“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
and paints his own nature into his pictures.”
~Henry Ward Beecher

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CAMERA CRITTERS

PhotoHunt Saturday 003 - Sir Armadillo

Oct 17 Challenge: FREE WEEK
A steel sculpture of an armadillo by Paul Eppling, a local artist in St. Petersburg. Doesn't it look like a dinosaur in shining armor? :mrgreen: What makes this massive steely creation extra cool in my book is it's made up of recycled materials! The "welded steel [armadillo was] painstakingly constructed with "found objects" from old cars and construction machinery (and some donations)." I absolutely love it.

According to 1980 article in the Evening Independent, this knight of an armadillo had a twin. The twin stood next to what was a library, now the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve office. I didn't see the sculpture when I last visited, but I may just have missed it. I'll look for it next time I go there.

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
and paints his own nature into his pictures.”
~Henry Ward Beecher

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PHOTHUNT SATURDAY

SkyWatch Friday 004 - A Great Egret or a Great White Heron?

I don't know how to tell them apart, and I didn't get a good look to give you clues. If I'm going to guess, I think it's a great egret based solely on the information plaques scattered around this spot of paradise. There are plaques for the great egret and the great blue heron, but not for a great white heron. Perhaps you can tell?

Taken on a cool, cloudless day in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



“May the wind under your wings bear you
where the sun sails and the moon walks”
~Gandalf, The Hobbit

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SKYWATCH FRIDAY

Thursday Challenge 004 - Delightfully Yellow

This week's challenge: "BEAUTY" (Sunset, Nature, People, Houses, Eyes...)
This little delicate wildflower had a certain je ne sais quoi that compelled me to capture it in pictures, wouldn't you?

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



“A photograph is usually looked at—seldom looked into”
~Ansel Adams

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THURSDAY CHALLENGE

ABC Wednesday 001 - M for Majestic

The great bird of Florida takes flight. This is either a Great Egret or a Great White Heron. I didn't get a good look, guys. Sorry. :( Perhaps bird enthusiasts can tell from this photo?  I found a journal entry on herons and egrets that might interest you. The entry, Herons vs. Egrets--How to Tell Them Apart, includes several photos and can be found at An Amateur Birder's Journal.

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Welcome to my first ABC Wednesday post!



"Ever charming, ever new,
when will the landscape tire the view?
~John Dyer

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ABC WEDNESDAY

Outdoor Wednesday 002 - Which Way? Which Way?

The road on the right looks like it goes straight to Rivendell. I pick that one. :mrgreen:

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.


"Ever charming, ever new,
when will the landscape tire the view?
~John Dyer

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OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

Watery Wednesday 003 - A Waterlily Aglow

The waterlily glows under the bright sun. I liken it to a glowing, white light against the backdrop of heavy darkness—indeed, an enchanting vision of hope. This beautiful piece of nature is called the American White Waterlily.

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



Nothing in the world is more
flexible and yielding than water
~Lao Tzu

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WATERY WEDNESDAY

Lens Day 002 - Spot the Alligator

I was hoping the gator would swim closer to the bridge, where I was standing, but it shied away instead. Too many people, perhaps? I was with seven other "gawkers" :D who were making too much noise with their oohs and aahs. lol Okay, I was, too. :P

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.


“A photograph is memory in the raw.”
~Carrie Latet

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LENS DAY

My World Tuesday 003 - Bed of Green

I thought the little flowers looked pretty comfortable (and lucky!) in their green, lush spread. This is a common sight along the trail, especially close to the water.

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
~Henry Miller

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MY WORLD TUESDAY

Ruby Tuesday 002 - Forever with You

According to Philippine legend, the heart of the banana was a spirit's gift to his human wife as a symbol of his eternal devotion to her and their offspring. Once planted, it grew into a banana tree, which provided the bare necessities for mother and child.

Yes, Raya, it is my heart. I have reappeared to show you that I will never forsake you and our child. Take care of this plant, and it will take care of you in return. It's trunk and leaves will give you shelter and clothing. The heart and fruits will be your food. And when you sleep at night, I will stand and watch by your window. I will stay by your side forever! ¹

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.

¹ WikiPilipinas



“A photograph is memory in the raw.”
~Carrie Latet

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RUBY TUESDAY

Wordless Wednesday #3 - My Domain, My Spotlight

A Picture of many colors
proclaims images of many Thoughts.
~Donna A. Favors

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WORDPLESS WEDNESDAY

Macro Monday #2 - Mint, Anyone?

Known commonly as spotted beebalm, spotted horsemint, or simply horsmint¹, this wild plant is not so pretty to look at from a distance. It grows in ho-hum places like the side of the road, where it's easily mistaken for an uninteresting flowery weed. Close up, it proves to be an intriguing vision of shapes, color, and texture—and it's a medicinal herb to boot.

Native Americans made a tea from the leaves of spotted horsemint to treat flu, colds and fever. It increases sweating. Essential oils from horsemint are high in thymol, which is an effective fungicide and bactericide and also used to expel hookworms. Today thymol is manufactured synthetically.²

I don't know why it's called horsemint, though. :?:

Taken in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Sources:

• ¹ Wildflower Center
• ² Floridata

“A photograph is memory in the raw.”
~Carrie Latet

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MACRO MONDAY

Mellow Yellow Monday 002 - A New Life in a World of Yellow

I saw this pretty sight on the side of the trail and immediately fell in-love with it. It's a small sapling, only about a foot high. I don't know what plant this is. I'm interested to see what it has metamorphosed into. It's been ten days since this shot. I'll try to look for it when I get back from my trip next week.

Taken at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



"There is no blue without yellow and without orange."
~Vincent Van Gogh

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MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY

Blue Monday 002 - Great Blue Heron

A metal sculpture of the great blue heron by the equally great Paul Eppling, a local artist in St. Petersburg, FL. Two more of his metal sculptures can be found in the preserve.

Taken at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.


“A photograph is memory in the raw.”
~Carrie Latet

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BLUE MONDAY

SOOC Sunday #2 - Three's Not a Crowd

Taken at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



"A photograph is memory in the raw."
~Carrie Latet

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SOOC: Straight Out of the Camera

Color Carnival #1 - Cornus Florida

...also known as flowering dogwood.

I love the vibrant colors on this scrumptious-looking fruits. I would've eaten 'em like candy if I were a child. :D Apparently, the fruits and the tree are better consumed in other ways:

This species has in the past been used in the production of inks, scarlet dyes, and as a quinine substitute. The hard, dense wood has been used for products such as golf club heads, mallets, wooden rake teeth, tool handles, jeweler’s boxes and butcher’s blocks.

Still, they remind me of Jelly Beans. :D

Taken at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Welcome to my first Color Carnival post!



“Ever charming, ever new, when will the landscape tire the view?
~John Dyer

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COLOR CARNIVAL

Shadow Shot Sunday #2 - Shadowy Surprise

I often regret spending too much time taking pictures when I should be taking in the raw sights and sounds of my new surroundings BUT not always. Using the camera to take in the sights sometimes produce unexpected but pleasant captures such as this photo. A whole new experience is always waiting behind the lens, for sure.

Taken at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida.



"Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

SkyWatch Friday #3 - Castle in the Air

Taken on a cool, cloudless day at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida. I believe the nest atop the tree is an osprey roost, but don't quote me on that. :D I was too busy taking pictures to listen to the tour guide.



“May the wind under your wings bear you
where the sun sails and the moon walks”
~Gandalf, The Hobbit

Pick your next heavenly destination at
SKYWATCH FRIDAY