Corkscrew Creatures

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Since I posted a green heron from our 2014 excursion in Corkscrew Swamp last week, I thought it would be timely to post some of the critters we saw this year. In 2015. We didn't see one green heron this year though!

 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is the most peaceful of Florida boardwalks. But you won't have it to your self. (Unfortunately there's other tourists) You'll share it with all kinds of critters big and small. Seen and unseen. Heard and unheard. Look up and you'll see a pileated headed wood peckers doing some damage in the tree tops.

And spider webs reflecting the morning light.

Ibis will be high up above. And below.

An old wood stork might look down from above.

Delicate swamp petals will delight.

Fringed and feathered white egrets will patrol the swamp.

Alligators will bellow from below. This one really did!

Great blue herons will sneak up on a snack.

A wood stork might do the old bait and switch.

Is this an anhinga? I barely recognize him when he isn't drying his wings. You'll see him.

A handsome yellow crowned night heron could possibly, sluggishly troll through the muck.

A little blue heron might pick and peck around.

Another white egret might pose for your camera. 

And a second blue heron will wait beautifully in a tree.

And there's black snakes. For Heaven's sakes alive!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wednesday Around the World

Reflection

The light was warm and wonderful as we strolled at Richfield Lake last Spring.

I love this photo.  The  back light made the old fluffy cat tails glow.  Meanwhile, the muted green of last year's new growth peeks through the cracks.

Reflections of an egret looking for an evening bite before bed.

And here are 5 random new reflections and nature observations for Spring 2015...

1) It was a record breaking 84 degrees in Minneapolis on April 1st this Spring. No fooling. We had our first outdoor picnic.  Even though the winds were fast and furious  We brought a margarita and picked up Chipotle and ate it by Minnehaha creek.  Everything tastes better outdoors.

2)  My husband inline skated around Lake Harriet on two occasions before ice out. 

3)  We have a surplus of chipmunks in our back yard this Spring.  Hmmm.  I wonder if it is because we give them so much corn in the Fall.

4)  We finally kept the bunnies out of our raspberries over the Winter.  We'll have a record bounty this year!

5)  I remember that Random 5 Friday ended around Easter last year. I created a Random 5 post about the beautiful resort town of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for Easter.  San Juan del Sur has the 2nd largest Christ statue in the world.  Christ of the Mercy.  To see the statue with breath taking views click here!

Happy Easter Everyone! 

Saturday's Critters 

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Lover's Key

Lover's Key State Park has been my favorite beach since childhood.  I remember fondly the cool mornings when we would sneak in before dawn.  We were on a mission to find sea shells.  You never knew what mysterious gifts the tide would unfurl.  First, you would cross the wooden tidal bridges that connect the key to the mainland.  The sun just a blush on the horizon.  Then, with flash lights in hand you would search the shore for precious jewels.  At least they were to me! 

By the time you reached the end of the key the sun was high enough to warm your back on the return.  I usually had a bag of conchs, tulips and cat's eyes. And the rest of the day to picnic, sun tan and watch for raccoons.  They would steal your lunch if you weren't careful. And the sea gulls would get the rest.

Nature's sculpture

Now days I'm happy to simply photograph someone else's shells. And stroll... 

But Lover's Key holds more than shells and sunshine.  Birds like this osprey love it too.

They were hard at work feeding their young. 

I love the pop up head!

I also love how their head feathers blow around in the breeze.  Majestic.

A white egret standing tough.

Lover's Key has changed over the years.  You probably can't sneak in anymore.  And the old wooden tidal walkways are now wide and strong enough for long trams. It's not quite so rustic and wild.  But still better than a beach lined with condos and restaurants.  The good old and new days.

And I'm giving a shout out to my friend Danielle who was at the beach with us on this day.  Hi Danielle!  We will have to do this again this year! See you soon. Siesta Key this time.

P.S.  I thought I'd share two new links. http://www.365daysofbirds.com/ A Minnesota bird blog.  The blog title says it all. And...

The Birds of Pandemonium

I recently read this book and I highly recommend it for bird lovers. Michele Raffin tells a humorous, heart felt and engaging tale of her life among the exotic and endangered!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Random 5 Friday

Bonus Random 5 Friday tidbits

1) I missed Random 5 Friday!  I love that I can do some creative writing.  Or post what ever trips my trigger.

2)  My birthday is March 1st.  My age?  None of your business. 

3) My father in law Jim and my Dad Sidney both have a birthday on March 10.  Go figure.  Happy Birthday Jim.  See you soon!

4) I have a date with Harry Potter in March.  Do you know where?

He wrote it in sea shells!  

5) My husband proposed to me on the beach at Lover's Key State Park.  We were shelling early in the morning.  I was on a mission to find shells.  Oblivious. Meanwhile, he dropped behind.  Then, on the way back he popped the question.  And look what he did!  He wrote it with sea shells.  He knew Lover's Key would be the perfect place.  It was.

Plus, if you missed last week's Scarlet Macaw photos, don't forget to scroll down!

Ometepe Island

Ometepe.  What can I say.  It is a very special place.  They even filmed a season of the T.V. show Survivor here.  Here is the low down on this exotic island off the coast of Nicaragua. 

 Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain), meaning two mountains. It is the largest island in Lake Nicaraguaas well as the largest volcanic island inside a fresh water lake in the world.

The two volcanoes of Concepción and Maderas are joined by a low isthmus to form one island in the shape of an hourglass. Ometepe has an area of 276 km². It is 31 km long and 5 to 10 km wide.^[1] The island has an economy based on livestock,agriculture, and tourism. Plantains are the major crop.

We stayed on the beach in Santa Domingo. And the walk we took on this day spoiled us for all other beach walks. Why?  Because of the view.  The top photo was taken while heading down the beach towards Maderas Volcano.  

Something old.

Local cowboys heading down the beach with a couple calves.  Not your normal beach sighting!  Ometepe is not your normal island.

Two local horses were out on their own.  Frolicking and rolling in the waves.  It was a wonderful sight.

Birds were hard at work though.  Catching a meal.

An egret.

A creepy vulture cleaning up the beach.  Everyone has a job to do.  Except us!  We were just on a photo safari.

Wow!  When you head back you get a double treat.  An excellent view of Concepcion Volcano.  Yup.  Just spoiled for life I say.  I'll spout off more Volcano information before I go...

Volcán Concepción, once named menstruation volcano; before the Spanish conquest; is the northwest half of the island. Concepción is a symmetrical cone, and is an active volcano (Baker, 2006). Concepción volcano rose in the early HoloceneEpoch and, through continual eruptions, now reaches an altitude of 1 610 m making Ometepe the world's highest lake island. Concepción is considered the most perfectly formed volcano cone in Central America. Although it went through a long quiet period, on December 8, 1880, Concepción came back to life. This eruption was extensive, and the volcano remained active for a year. More eruptions followed in 1883, 1889, 1902, 1907, and 1924. In 2005, an earthquake measuring 6.2 on theRichter scale occurred as a result of increasing pressure within the volcano. Cracks appeared on roads throughout the island and an advisory to leave the island was issued. This was the first minor eruption since 1999. The most recent eruption was in 2010 and though extremely violent, few of the inhabitants heeded the order from the government in Managua to evacuate the island.

The southeast half of the island consists of Volcán Maderas which has a crater lake and supports a diverse rainforest environment. Maderas also arose in the Holocene Epoch, and rises 1 394 m above sea level. It is considered extinct or dormant. A large lagoon formed in its crater was discovered on April 15, 1930, by the farmer Casimiro Murillo. It is mainly covered with coffee and tobacco plantations while the remainder is rain forest. Maderas Volcano is a perfect destination for theecotourist with a notable hike originating from Finca Magdalena.^[4] Much of this part of the island is now a nature reserve.

The volcanic ash has made the soil of this island extremely fertile, allowing continuous planting without fallowing. The volcanoes are visible from everywhere on the island, and life on Ometepe revolves closely around them. They also play an important part in the myths and legends of the island, which once served as an Indian burial ground

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday  For one more photo of Ometepe beat feet over to Toemail!

 Plus, I've updated my website.  I changed the template and for better or worse my art is bigger and badder than ever.  Visit Sharon's Studio and let me know what you think.  And to see my newest illustrated recipe click Pick Pecans For Breakfast  Nate and Salli are having a fun new contest.  You'll be Glad you did!

Bird Logic

Sometimes these are the only letters that apply.  My illustrator friend Anne Adix Fabie has had a streak of bad luck thanks to Mother Nature.  Her latest gift from MN (not Minnesota) was the destruction of her backyard and garage. And she was just about to park in it!  Our earth here in MN (Minnesota this time) is saturated and the trees just can't take it any more. We had some pretty bad winds and rain Friday night. And I should know I was out in it dodging falling trees and road rivers like a storm chaser.  But at this point it might only take a puff of air to blow a tree over. So because Mother Nature is giving my friend the bird, I'm giving her a bird with a message.  Take that Mother Nature!

And of course I'm hooking up with Wild Bird Wednesday