Feb 2011
Blog 39: Foggy Mornings and Gorgeous Days
Monday, February 28, 2011
Absolutely gorgeous weather all week. Each day would start with fog at sunrise then burn off to sunny blue skies and light warm winds.
Birds
Here are some bird shots that I took on the Island. The Great Egret in full breeding plumage landed in our backyard and posed for me for several minutes.
Jan Great Egret Table
Here is a pic of a table that Jan painted to be auctioned off at the upcoming Duck Race next Saturday, a major fundraiser for the Calusa Land Trust. Monies from her table and other donations will go to buy and preserve environmentally sensitive land on and around Pine Island.
Pups Across America
Here as some shots of the Kids, including Misty Mitzy and Foggy Jerry.
Come back next week for some more pics from the Island.
Birds
Here are some bird shots that I took on the Island. The Great Egret in full breeding plumage landed in our backyard and posed for me for several minutes.
Jan Great Egret Table
Here is a pic of a table that Jan painted to be auctioned off at the upcoming Duck Race next Saturday, a major fundraiser for the Calusa Land Trust. Monies from her table and other donations will go to buy and preserve environmentally sensitive land on and around Pine Island.
Pups Across America
Here as some shots of the Kids, including Misty Mitzy and Foggy Jerry.
Come back next week for some more pics from the Island.
Comments
Blog 38: More Birds and Pup Gone Wild!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Over the course of the week I had the chance to take a few pics around the area. The weather kept getting better and better every day.
Tuesday: Eagles
We took our good friends, Friz, Kim, and Phil out for a sunset cruise, and as we were leaving the canal we had some eagles flying overhead--special treat.
Wednesday: Old Friend
I drove down to Naples to have lunch with my good friend and business colleague, Carla, whom I hadn’t seen in 15 years. Great to catch up.
Friday: More Birds
I was at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge at dawn and spent a few hours shooting birds.
Pups Across America: Pups Gone Wild
When you say “Florida” to a lot of people they think of beaches, spring break, and “girls gone wild.” We Alexander’s have our own version--”Pups Gone Wild.” This 12-second video depicts what I put up with/tolerate/enjoy/laugh at whenever I turn the corner in our car to take the Kids out walking on St. Jude’s Trail. Click here to check it out!
Come back next week for some more pics from the Island.
Tuesday: Eagles
We took our good friends, Friz, Kim, and Phil out for a sunset cruise, and as we were leaving the canal we had some eagles flying overhead--special treat.
Wednesday: Old Friend
I drove down to Naples to have lunch with my good friend and business colleague, Carla, whom I hadn’t seen in 15 years. Great to catch up.
Friday: More Birds
I was at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge at dawn and spent a few hours shooting birds.
Pups Across America: Pups Gone Wild
When you say “Florida” to a lot of people they think of beaches, spring break, and “girls gone wild.” We Alexander’s have our own version--”Pups Gone Wild.” This 12-second video depicts what I put up with/tolerate/enjoy/laugh at whenever I turn the corner in our car to take the Kids out walking on St. Jude’s Trail. Click here to check it out!
Come back next week for some more pics from the Island.
Blog 37: Cats, Birds and Tail
Sunday, February 13, 2011
’Twas a quiet week on the island. However, I had a chance to take a few pics between work.
Birds of the Week
Here is a Little Blue Heron taken up at Bookelia and a Night Heron shot in mangroves on a canal taken on a neighborhood walk.
Neighborhood Cats
Here are a couple of cats taken on Date Street.
Neighbors
Here are pics of our good friends Milt and Linda and a black-and-white shot of neighbor Susan.
Pups Across America
My only contribution this week is a shot of Winston’s tail!
Painterly Pups
Here is a shot, taken by Jan and painted by me, of me and the Kids taking a walk on the California coast.
Come back next week for some more pup pics and Pine Island action.
Birds of the Week
Here is a Little Blue Heron taken up at Bookelia and a Night Heron shot in mangroves on a canal taken on a neighborhood walk.
Neighborhood Cats
Here are a couple of cats taken on Date Street.
Neighbors
Here are pics of our good friends Milt and Linda and a black-and-white shot of neighbor Susan.
Pups Across America
My only contribution this week is a shot of Winston’s tail!
Painterly Pups
Here is a shot, taken by Jan and painted by me, of me and the Kids taking a walk on the California coast.
Come back next week for some more pup pics and Pine Island action.
Blog 36: Birthday Girl and Big Blue Birds
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Birthday Girl
Janny celebrated her birthday on January 25, and we tried to find a time to enjoy this special occasion. The highlight, though, was a surprise party hosted by Neighbor Bill and his wife, Patty. Here are a few shots of our neighborhood friends. Note that Mitzy was not invited--she escaped from home three times so we finally relented and let her in.
Big Blue Birds
The following Saturday morning at 5:05, Janny and I headed our Element north off the Island. Ahead of my projections, we arrived into Venice at 6:20--just enough time for another cup of coffee at MacDonald’s. By 6:40, though, we were parked at the Venice Rookery unloading photography gear. What a gorgeous morning! By 6:50 I was trying my luck at making flash blurs of all the birds that had hung out for the night--great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, green egrets, tri-colored herons, ibis, glossy ibis, and probably some others in the mix. At about 7:00 a big blue (probably a male) tried to land on another big blue (probably a female) and the noise she erupted with sent several hundred roosting birds into flight! We spent until 9:30 enjoying the antics of the hatched-not-long-ago chicks and the rituals of the adults. Here are a few of the pics.
Ding Darling
Tuesday morning was a gorgeous day with low tide just around dawn and a gentle wind out of the east--perfect for bird photography! So Jan and I along with the Kids left early by car and made the trek to Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, one of the most famous national wildlife refuges on the planet. We drove the four-mile, one-way road, stopping repeatedly to get out and photograph. We saw all types of birds: herons, egrets, ducks, spoonbills, eagles, brown pelicans, white pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, wood storks, and ospreys. Shortly after driving through the refuge gate, a cattle egret adopted us landing on the car and following us along our journey. Here are a few of my favorite pics.
One of Those Weeks
Ever had a time when everything broke? We just had two appliances repaired, a flat on Jan’s bike, the golf cart quit running, there is an electrical problem in the motor home, tire and break issues with our car, one boat engine isn’t cooling properly, and now our AV system receiver broke! Well, no one is hurt so it isn’t all that important, but it sure makes you think!
Pups Across America
No much this week! Here is a shot of a just-bathed Mitzy under her towel with her morning chicken strip snack and an action photo of the two Kids behind the post office.
Painterly Pups
Here is the painted version of Mitzy with a naked baby background.
Come back next week for some more pup pics and Pine Island action.
Janny celebrated her birthday on January 25, and we tried to find a time to enjoy this special occasion. The highlight, though, was a surprise party hosted by Neighbor Bill and his wife, Patty. Here are a few shots of our neighborhood friends. Note that Mitzy was not invited--she escaped from home three times so we finally relented and let her in.
Big Blue Birds
The following Saturday morning at 5:05, Janny and I headed our Element north off the Island. Ahead of my projections, we arrived into Venice at 6:20--just enough time for another cup of coffee at MacDonald’s. By 6:40, though, we were parked at the Venice Rookery unloading photography gear. What a gorgeous morning! By 6:50 I was trying my luck at making flash blurs of all the birds that had hung out for the night--great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, green egrets, tri-colored herons, ibis, glossy ibis, and probably some others in the mix. At about 7:00 a big blue (probably a male) tried to land on another big blue (probably a female) and the noise she erupted with sent several hundred roosting birds into flight! We spent until 9:30 enjoying the antics of the hatched-not-long-ago chicks and the rituals of the adults. Here are a few of the pics.
Ding Darling
Tuesday morning was a gorgeous day with low tide just around dawn and a gentle wind out of the east--perfect for bird photography! So Jan and I along with the Kids left early by car and made the trek to Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, one of the most famous national wildlife refuges on the planet. We drove the four-mile, one-way road, stopping repeatedly to get out and photograph. We saw all types of birds: herons, egrets, ducks, spoonbills, eagles, brown pelicans, white pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, wood storks, and ospreys. Shortly after driving through the refuge gate, a cattle egret adopted us landing on the car and following us along our journey. Here are a few of my favorite pics.
One of Those Weeks
Ever had a time when everything broke? We just had two appliances repaired, a flat on Jan’s bike, the golf cart quit running, there is an electrical problem in the motor home, tire and break issues with our car, one boat engine isn’t cooling properly, and now our AV system receiver broke! Well, no one is hurt so it isn’t all that important, but it sure makes you think!
Pups Across America
No much this week! Here is a shot of a just-bathed Mitzy under her towel with her morning chicken strip snack and an action photo of the two Kids behind the post office.
Painterly Pups
Here is the painted version of Mitzy with a naked baby background.
Come back next week for some more pup pics and Pine Island action.