Florida Part I

[Jody Melanson]

Hi folks! I just got back from a week spent in Florida with my family. We drove down, taking 2 days to do it.
Some pretty beautiful sights along the way. As soon as we crossed the border into the States, we started seeing
Turkey Vultures everywhere. (they haven't arrived up here yet.)

It was nice to feel warm weather again on my bones. :D We stayed at a time share resort we had rented from some friends.
We arrived at 1:30pm and found out our checkin time was 4pm. (18 hours total diving time) While driving around the
place, I spotted some Sandhill Cranes walking around! (a first time for me)

1
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481558.dQDirB9H.JODY2600.jpg

2
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481574.QDNT9t16.JODY2629.jpg

Also saw some White Ibis' (also a first for me)

3
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481569.URejM5si.JODY2620.jpg


4pm rolled around and we got our stuff up into our rooms. While driving around I found out there was a Spring fed Lake
on the property, so I checked it out early the first morning after our arrival.

I was amazed how close you can get to the Birds. I had a Red Shouldered Hawk fly right over me, but there wasn't enough light.
These photos were taken in a 2 hour period. I also saw many other species, but either couldn't get close enough or not enough light.

Green Heron

4
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481578.5H6nRRU5.JODY2686.jpg

5
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481581.5bPr3YYd.JODY2721.jpg

6
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481584.h0is00H7.JODY2727.jpg

Snowy Egret

7
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481597.kMWxyQUI.JODY2734.jpg

8
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481599.Pf7NAcen.JODY2738.jpg

9
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481609.QfawhBFK.JODY2743.jpg

Belted Kingfisher

10
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481618.TNSvToMe.JODY2756.jpg

11
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481620.6ApFhzPn.JODY2758.jpg

White Ibis

12
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481624.2bXIvAe2.JODY2770.jpg

Great Egret

13
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481625.D02zPcq7.JODY2784.jpg

Green Heron

14
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481656.F7G1r0sH.JODY2795.jpg

Gray Catbird

15
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481697.NuQDzV7E.JODY2835.jpg

Great Egret

16
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481701.68Gus89N.JODY2847.jpg

That was the best from the first morning, later that same day, we were heading
to the car to go somewhere and I heard a Red Shouldered Hawk. Looked up and there
were a pair of them flying around and landing on the roof of the building we were
staying in!

Red Shouldered Hawk

17
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481707.wT6ZHCOj.JODY2900.jpg

18
http://i.pbase.com/o6/40/510540/1/76481719.04CxtWqD.JODY2909.jpg

The next part of the series will be from Merritt Island.

[Albert Dickson]

It would seem you had a nice trip. #7 is spectacular. The composition is sublime.:clap :clap :clap

[Harryb]

Marvelous set :clap I'm glad you had a chance to meet some of our locals. :D

[raptorcaptor]

Not all of the photos would load for me! :cry The ones that did were excellent! :clap

[Maestro]

Hey, Jody, where do you host your photos? I never get to see your whole set of pics. They just never load in their entirety. Everyone else's does. :dunno The ones I saw were great. I love that egret photo with what looks like some sort of fish in the is that one photochopped in any way? If not, what an incredible capture. Your sandhill crane pics are beautiful, wonderful exposure.

[ShepsMom]

I agree with Maestro, pictures don't load for me either, not all of them anyway.
Whatever i can see is a beautiful work! I hope you enjoyed the FL, i hate living here LOL.

[Albert Dickson]

:ivar

[Maestro]

They have now all loaded for me as well. Beautiful! That RS hawk is very handsome, sharp, great BIF. :thumb

[kdog]

I can see #1 and #12. That's it, and about par for the course when I open your posts. They're good shots, so I wouldn't mind seeing the rest.

Let's face it. Pbase blows. How about you get yourself a nice dgrin account so we can enjoy your work? :deal

Cheers,
-joel