Black Eyed Susan and Fly

I took this closeup photograph of what is commonly called a Black-eyed Susan Flower at the Marshal Hampton park in Polk County, Florida. This flower is a member of the Sunflower Family and is common throughout the eastern part of the United States.

Anhinga 103

The Anhings is a large, primarily aquatic bird that is a very common sight on, in and near the waters of Central Florida. It's diet is reportedly made up almost exclusively of the fish it spears using it's beak. It is also known as a "Snake Bird, Snail Darter or some much less complementary names by the local fishermen. 

Whitetail Deer Button Buck 033

I captured this shy young Whitetail Deer buck in the woods of Central Florida during September of 2014. A very short time after I took this picture all I could see was a white flag bounding through the woods. I guess that I moved a little too much and spooked it.

An American Alligator wildlife picture.

I captured this image of an American Alligator at the Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland, Florida. The American Alligator has made a great comeback in the State of Florida since it's low point in the early 1970's. The Federal Endangered Species Act had a lot to do with the increase in numbers by legally protecting them and providing states that had a population guidance in managing them and their habitats. 

Black Crowned Night Heron

I took this picture of a Black Crowned Night Heron at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida on March 27, 2015. I don't see very many of these Herons because they are reportedly most commonly active in the late afternoon to early morning. They are a medium large to large bird that preys mostly on small fish and frogs. 

Banana Spider on her web.

I took this picture of what might commonly be called a Banana Spider in some parts of the U.S. It is actually a part of the Orb Weaver spider family that is very common along the eastern seaboard of the United States of America. This particular spider is also commonly known as an Golden Orb Weaver. It is probably one of the Largest Orb Weavers. The females are frequently two to three inches from foot pad to foot pad. The males are typically much smaller and seldom seem to exceed one inch in diameter in my experience. 

I am so sorry, but I am having a technical problem with my computer and will not be posting for a while until I can repair the problem. I hope to be back in operation shortly. 

Snaggle toothed swimming Alligator

This American Alligator was swimming in the water off of the wading bird way trail at the Circle B Bar Reserve on March 14, 2015 when I took this wildlife photograph. The taxonomic name is Alligator mississippiensis, but it is commonly referred to as a gator or common alligator.  This was a medium sized American Alligator that was about five and a half foot long when it turned and started swimming in my direction. The telephoto function on my GE X2600 camera worked just fine for this photo and a short time later my legs did just fine at moving back away from the water. I was not in the mood to entice this gator with an appetizer named Chris Mercer.

Tenoroc Creed Reflections

I shot this photograph of the reflections on the water of a small creek in the Tenoroc state park. Though the day was hot it was cool and shady on that small bridge that spanned the creek. I do not know about you, but often it is important to get out of your rut and spend some time just enjoying nature. I ask you, what better way is there to do that than with a camera? I really do hope you are enjoying my vision that created the images in this blog. 

Black Swallowtail butterfly

This Wildlife picture is of what I believe is a Black Swallowtail Butterfly. The Swallowtail butterfly family is composed of large and colorful members on every continent except Antarctica. The pictured butterfly is commonly also called a "Parsnip Swallowtail" or "American Swallowtail". They are reported to be one of the easiest to raise in captivity butterfly's.

The Heron Hideout Trail

I took this picture of the Heron Hideout trail in February of 2015 on a rainy gray day in central Florida. Though they are rare, Florida DOES have rainy, gray days occasionally. The Heron Hideout Trail is at the Circle B Bar Reserve in central Florida. In my opinion it is probably one of the greatest places to practice wildlife photography in Florida. The reason I took this picture is that the water was reflecting a number trees along the path. Due to the weather that morning, I was somewhat disappointed in the wildlife photography opportunities that day. 

Here kitty, kitty, kitty

I was at the central park of Winter Haven, Florida when I took this picture of an apparently stray cat. At the time of this picture the cat was laying underneath a vehicle parked in the street not far from the library. I remember that it was a hot summer day and the cat was looking for a cool shady place to rest. 

Anole on a fence post

This close up picture of what I believe is a Brown Anole was taken on March 30, 2015. At the time it was preparing to engage in a courtship ritual by bouncing up and down before expanding the dewlap at the base of it's throat. The pouch is very colorful and probably attractive to females. Unfortunately, it is also attractive to predators also. The predator list is some what short, including snakes, several types of heron, hawks, crows, cats, dogs.......

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

I took this Insect picture of a yellow Tiger Swallowtail butterfly that was feeding on some red flowers somewhere in central Florida, but I can not remember where I was at the time. The EXIF data on the insect picture tells me it was on July 9, 2015. The scientific name of this butterfly is the Papilio glaucas. It is one of the larger types of butterfly and is very common on the north American continent.

Studebaker hood emblem

I took this picture of a Studebaker Hood Ornament at the Monthly Cruisin' Winter Haven Car Show in Winter Haven, Florida on August 2, 2014. It was on a 1964 Studebaker Hawk GT that appeared to me to be in very good shape for it's age. The best thing about these cars was that you did not need a college education to keep them running. Most people could, with the help of a Chilton's or Haynes automobile repair manual that was for that type of vehicle and some basic tools, fix most of the minor problems and many of the major problems. Nowadays you need a college education and several thousands of dollars worth of electronic diagnostic tools just to find out what is wrong before you need your hand tools. God, I miss the good old days.

Proudly perching Osprey

I was at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk county, Florida when I took this wildlife picture of a perched Osprey in early February of  2015. The Osprey's Latin name is Pandion Haliaetus, though it is frequently called a Sea Hawk, Fish Hawk, or Fish Eagle to name a few nicknames. This large predatory bird is specially adapted for catching fish, unlike the Bald Eagle, which fishes sometimes but has a much more varied diet. The talons on the Osprey Bird have adapted in to a circular shape that makes it much easier to hold onto wriggling fish. Another name for predatory birds is Raptor.

Sandhill Crane Colts at the Circle B Bar Reserve

My wildlife photograph (above) of two baby Sandhill Cranes was was taken at my favorite place to take a wildlife photograph; the Circle B Bar Reserve. These little Sandhill Cranes were not much over six inches tall at the time I got this picture. Over the last few years I have watched several sets of Sandhill Crane Colts grow up there. They are by far the cutest as relatively newly hatched chicks with their yellow fuzz and long legs. That is why I call them colts, because they remind me of newly born horse colts as they first learn to walk and run. In due time they will grow into a majestic bird that can be nearly four foot tall and have a wingspan of about seven feet, just like their parents.

Whitetail buck deer in velvet

Cooter Turtle closeup

I took this closeup picture of what I have tentatively identified as a Cooter Turtle that was in the driveway of the Circle B Bar Reserve on December 4 of 2014. I laid down in the roadway and placed my camera on the ground for a very steady picture. Of course I first made sure that no cars were coming. It was a cool day and I believe that the turtle had crawled out there to take advantage of both the sun and the sun warmed asphult roadway. When I was done taking this wildlife picture I very carefully picked up the turtle and removed it from the roadway by several feet to help keep it hopefully safe. 

Taxiing seaplane

I photographed this Piper Cub seaplane taxiing on Lake Jessie at JackBrown's Seaplane base in Winter Haven, Florida during August of 2014.The Piper Cub is an icon of American aviation similar to Ford's ModelT car, though less airplanes are built and flown than automobiles aredriven. Brown's seaplane base is a seaplane flight instruction 

facility that has been in operation since 1963.