How many deer can you find in this picture?
This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day in North Carolina. Everyone had a good time watching the deer eat their Thanksgiving dinner of dried corn.
28 November, 2009
14 November, 2009
American Purple Gallinule
Look at the feet on that bird? They look like chicken feet.
These Purple Gallinule were very curious and friendly. The crickets that Capt Fred had didn't hurt either. They love to eat crickets.
These Purple Gallinule were very curious and friendly. The crickets that Capt Fred had didn't hurt either. They love to eat crickets.
13 November, 2009
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) )
Our airboat driver Capt Fred was kind enough to turn around so that we could get a shot of the Green Heron. The picture is a little grainy because I had my camera set to "sports" mode because the boat was moving.
Anyway - it was a real treat to see this bird. The last time we saw one was in Costa Rica.
Here's one that we saw in Costa RIca: www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfowler/2336612688/in/set-721...
The green heron is sometimes called the green-backed heron. It is a small heron that is about the size of a large crow. It is a foot and a half to two feet in length. The green heron has a dark head with a small black crest. Its back and wings are dark gray-green to dark gray-blue. Its neck is rust colored. It has a dark bill and its legs are orange or yellow.
Green herons are shy birds so are rarely observed, although they may be quite common. They are active during the day. They have a characteristic slow, deliberate walk and in flight they have slow and steady wingbeats.
The green heron breeds in most of the eastern United States from the Canadian border south to the Gulf of Mexico
Anyway - it was a real treat to see this bird. The last time we saw one was in Costa Rica.
Here's one that we saw in Costa RIca: www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfowler/2336612688/in/set-721...
The green heron is sometimes called the green-backed heron. It is a small heron that is about the size of a large crow. It is a foot and a half to two feet in length. The green heron has a dark head with a small black crest. Its back and wings are dark gray-green to dark gray-blue. Its neck is rust colored. It has a dark bill and its legs are orange or yellow.
Green herons are shy birds so are rarely observed, although they may be quite common. They are active during the day. They have a characteristic slow, deliberate walk and in flight they have slow and steady wingbeats.
The green heron breeds in most of the eastern United States from the Canadian border south to the Gulf of Mexico
12 November, 2009
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Another bird photo from our trip on the airboat. This one was hunting in the shallow waters along the shore. He didn't seem to mind that we were watching him.
The Great Egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with cold winters. It breeds in colonies in trees close to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest.
The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small birds and reptiles, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.
The Great Egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with cold winters. It breeds in colonies in trees close to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest.
The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small birds and reptiles, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.
10 November, 2009
Spanish Moss
I've always been intrigued by Spanish Moss. They say it's a flower? Not sure I'd want all of my trees filled with it - but it is curious to inspect up close. Wikipedia says it grows in Maryland - but I've never seen it - but will now be looking for it.
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) closely resembles its namesake but in fact it is not biologically related to either mosses or lichens. Instead, it is an angiosperm in the family Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. It ranges from the southeastern United States (southern Virginia and eastern Maryland) to Argentina, growing wherever the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity.
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) closely resembles its namesake but in fact it is not biologically related to either mosses or lichens. Instead, it is an angiosperm in the family Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. It ranges from the southeastern United States (southern Virginia and eastern Maryland) to Argentina, growing wherever the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity.
09 November, 2009
Bougainvillea
Such a beautiful plant. We found plenty of it growing in Central Florida.
Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina. The plant was discovered in Brazil in 1768, by Philibert Commerçon, French Botanist accompanying French Navy admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville during his voyage of circumnavigation.
Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina. The plant was discovered in Brazil in 1768, by Philibert Commerçon, French Botanist accompanying French Navy admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville during his voyage of circumnavigation.
08 November, 2009
Sandhill Crane
Welcome to the neighborhood!
On our recent trip to Florida - we were greeted by these wonderful Sandhill Cranes. They've become quite accustom to their human neighbors which afforded me the opportunity for some great upclose shots.
The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American midwest.
The Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any extant bird. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is "just" 2.5 million years old, over one and a half times older than the earliest remains of most living species of birds, which are primarily found from after the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago.
On our recent trip to Florida - we were greeted by these wonderful Sandhill Cranes. They've become quite accustom to their human neighbors which afforded me the opportunity for some great upclose shots.
The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American midwest.
The Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any extant bird. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is "just" 2.5 million years old, over one and a half times older than the earliest remains of most living species of birds, which are primarily found from after the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago.
07 November, 2009
American Purple Gallinule
We took our fan boat ride with Captain Fred. captfreds.com/ and we were fortunate enough to see some American Purple Gallinule.
From Wikipedia:
This medium-sized rail is unmistakable, with its huge yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail. Resident in southern Florida and the tropics, but most American birds are migratory, wintering south to Argentina.
From Wikipedia:
This medium-sized rail is unmistakable, with its huge yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail. Resident in southern Florida and the tropics, but most American birds are migratory, wintering south to Argentina.
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