Weekend Look Back

 

Big, blazing sunset on the Caloosahatchee River this past Saturday.

How was your weekend? 

Hope everyone is doing well in the Blogosphere!

Ready for Takeoff

Ready for takeoff! 

Almost every time I go to the airport in Ft. Myers (RSW), I see deer in the adjacent fields.  Doesn't matter what time of year or time of day.  (The SDP Junior Editor spotted this one last Sunday afternoon as we headed to Departures and it was still there patiently waiting for me when I was leaving.) One has to think there's fencing around the perimeter to prevent them from wandering onto the tarmacs, right?

Misty Manatee Park

This is…..a manatee snout!  With the cooler overnight temperatures, this is the time of year to see manatees (or catch a glimpse of their nostrils as they come up for air).  Affectionately known as "sea cows", these large, hefty mammals float around shallow waters (fresh, salt and brackish) grazing on vegetation.  In the winter, they gravitate to power plants that discharge warm water. There's such a plant in Ft. Myers, so I headed out to a nearby park (Manatee park) early in the morning when the temperature was in the mid-40s.  Dozens of manatees were huddled around.  For as large as they are, they sure are quick!  They poke their nostrils out of the water, inhale, and go right back under.  For a wildlife photographer, it makes for extremely challenging shooting.

I shot dozens and dozens of frames and this was the best I could get…which I was disappointed with until, upon closer inspection, discovered this most likely is a shot of a mama manatee with a calf. (In that case, then…kudos to me!)  Zoom in under the nostril...and that blob looks like a baby manatee.

It was beautiful morning with kayakers pushing their way through the mist….no doubt looking for manatees.  Although manatees spend most of their time hidden underwater, there's an easy way to spot their  presence:   a small swirl on the water.  So, looking at the foreground of this photo, I would say several manatees were underwater right in front of me.

The "Idle No Wake" boating sign is in place specifically to protect the manatees, which can get seriously injured or killed by motorboats.  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced last month that it's considering downlisting the manatee from an endangered to threatened species (which has caused a bit of a dust up with wildlife conservationists here in Florida).

Although I like the kayakers in color…I tinkered around and converted it to black and white.  Moody!  Which do you prefer?

Theme Day: Scene from a Coffee House

I really wanted to check out a new cafe in Ft. Myers for today's City Daily Photo theme:  'Scene at a Coffee House'.  Unfortunately, time did not permit.  But, as I dashed out of Starbucks yesterday with a latte in hand to fuel me for the drive back to Sarasota, I thought, 'Well, I can get a quick shot here for theme day…'  And, voila!  It's not exactly what I had in mind…but, I'm happy to be able to participate in Theme Day!

As these folks enjoyed a quiet respite outside Starbucks in downtown Ft. Myers reading their electronic devices, man's best friend in the foreground stole the show.  Her name is Pipi.  While she has an intense stare in this shot, I can assure you she's a sweetheart!  She was content at the outdoor cafe, greeting strangers politely as they passed by, while keeping a friendly eye on a neighboring cocker spaniel.  I'm told Pipi was rescued as a puppy four years ago after being abandoned alongside a road in Alabama.  She seems very good natured and gentle.  And, she must have good sea legs, too….because her owner mentioned they arrived in Ft. Myers via sailboat.  How about that?!  It's common to see dogs at outdoor coffee houses nowadays, and I always enjoy hearing their stories.  To see other interpretations of today's Theme Day -- Scene at a Coffee House -- from other City Daily Photo bloggers click here.

Merry Christmas!

This neon green sign is iconic in Ft. Myers.  It's been in the front yard of a private residence along McGregor Boulevard, a busy road through the city, since 1943 when George H. Gruesbeck, a devout 7th Day Adventist, put it there.  A couple of years ago, though, the sign went dark.  Apparently, the property was in foreclosure and the owner at the time couldn't pay the electric bill.  Knowing how popular the sign is in the Ft. Myers community, the John E. & Aliese Price Foundation Inc. of Ft. Myers stepped up and made the necessary arrangements for a separate electric meter to be installed just for the sign -- and agreed to pay the electric bill in perpetuity.  At the time, the story made national news.  You can read about it in this USA Today article.  

Before the sign was re-lit, it was refurbished and an extra bit of text honoring the man behind it was added.  (When the sign was temporarily removed for refurbishing, I noticed its absence almost immediately and started asking around, "What happened to the God is Love sign?")  I've wanted to photograph this sign for quite awhile.  And, it was quite a challenge!  Neon is difficult, isn't it?!  Hope everyone in the blogosphere is enjoying a wonderful Christmas.  Merry Christmas!

Lil' Pumpkin

 

This adorable little 2-year-old is Cecilia.  She was having a great time at the pumpkin patch at United Method Church in downtown Ft. Myers along with her mom and big brother, Gabriel.  Flitting from one pumpkin to the next…then the next...Cecilia was like a little butterfly landing just long enough to inspect a pumpkin before taking off again.  Some of the pumpkins were small enough for her to hold --- and dash off to the next potential perfect pumpkin for comparison, consideration and contemplation.  What a bundle of energy!  I'm not sure which pumpkin Cecilia ended up taking home.  But, she and her family looked like they were having a fun time.  Ah…to be so carefree and only concerned about selecting the perfect pumpkin!  Happy Halloween!  

Solitude

Nothing like a peaceful burst of sun along the Gulf of Mexico late in the day.  It's been a sultry summer in Florida. But, it was tolerable when I headed out to Lover's Key State Park near Ft. Myers late yesterday afternoon.  Even with a pleasant sea breeze keeping the air somewhat pleasant, I didn't encounter any wildlife and very few people -- just a few fisherman, including the one in this shot who was packing up his equipment.  I guess everyone is staying tucked in as much as possible.  

This was the first time I've been out and about shooting since I last left you (rather abruptly) three months ago.  Gosh, it felt good to be back at it!  I've been swamped producing a couple of personal video projects.  One video is done and the other is nearing completion.  When those are in the rearview mirror, hopefully, I'll be able to round up the entire SDP staff once again and spend more time with the blog.  **fingers crossed**  

In my last post back in May, I showed a photo of a beautiful field of wildflowers and promised more information. (Note:  I didn't say how long it would took for the SDP staff to provide the info.) The  field was located at Myakka State Park in Sarasota and the flowers were coreopsises, which happen to the State of Florida flower.  Hope everyone in the blogosphere is doing well!

Gaggle of Photogs

Bieber sighting?  Waiting for the latest scandal induced apology from a politician?   Nope -- all these still photographers (and then some) were camped out yesterday at Ozzie and Harriet's nest in Ft. Myers waiting for the bald eagles' one surviving baby to fly for the first time.  I've visited the nest only a handful of times this year and was surprised to see so many photogs.  What I didn't know when I arrived is that baby E4 is preparing to branch (that is, hop and/or fly from the nest to a branch) -- and everyone wanted to document the momentous occasion.  I was there for only 10-15 minutes and ended up seeing more activity with roaming still photographers than eagles.  Nevertheless, it's nice to see there's still lots of interest with the eagles.  This has been my longest absence from SDP -- nearly three months.  I can't believe it's been that long!  Between work, play and health, though, it's been unavoidable.  I don't expect regular posts just yet…but, I wanted to check in and let everyone know the entire SDP staff is alive and well.  Hope all's well with you in the blogosphere!

Sunset Surprise

Rounding the bend at Lovers Key State Park in Ft. Myers is like stepping into a different world.  It's a desolate beach covered with seashells, and seabirds pecking for dinner.  The last thing you'd expect  is for a park ranger to pull up in a four-wheeler and tell you the park is closed…please go away.  ((sigh))  At least I nabbed this sunset shot before my plans were washed up.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

I believe these shoreline birds are sandpipers.  They were scooting up and down the beach last night diligently pecking at the washed up seashells hunting for food.  The bird in the middle of the pack nabbed what looked like a live crab.  But, the crustacean must have put up too much of a fight because after shaking it a few times, the bird dropped it and all three sandpipers quickly stepped away.  I suppose it's just a lot easier to open your refrigerator and select from an array of leftovers.  Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

Dinner For One

At Lovers Key State Park, near Ft. Myers Beach, a hiking trail runs parallel to Estero Bay. I was walking along that trail over the weekend when the SDP Junior Editor simultaneously gasped, pointed and motioned for me to look up. An osprey was atop a tree devouring dinner!  Serendipitously, the trail forked at that spot.  Quietly, I was able to maneuver around the corner (with the osprey pausing to keep an eye on me) in order to get an incredible close up view of him enjoying his dinner.  Based on his methodical pecking (with the occasional ripping), and the size of the fish, that meal probably went late into the evening.  What a catch!

Memorial Day

Freedom isn't free. On this Memorial Day, I'm remembering all our men and women who sacrificed their lives.  The more I see of the world, the more grateful I am.  I took this photo last night at the Vietnam Memorial in Ft. Myers.  I was really struggling with the intense glare of the backlights.  But, I like how the final product turned out when I used the sepia effect. (Oddly enough, shortly after I took this, one of the lights illuminating the memorial suddenly went out -- which pretty much left me in the dark for my photo opp.) Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Victory Lap

Talk about being caught with your mouth wide open!  I spotted this osprey last night slowly flying into the wind with this substantial catch at the Gulf of Mexico. I don't know what kind of fish it is; but, it seems to have an of air of surprise frozen on its lips, doesn't it?  I captured this shot with my new 18-270mm lens.  It's really cropped, and I'm rather pleased with the clarity.  I haven't had a chance to use the lens very much yet, but so far, so good!  Hope everyone is having a pleasant weekend.

Play Ball!

Welcome to JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers, the winter home of the Boston Red Sox. The ballpark opened last year and this was the first chance I had to attend a game here. We sat on the outfield berm for a chilly night game but, I must say, compared to other stadiums in the Grapefruit League, this place seems to lack ambiance.  (Gosh, Red Sox fans...please don't think less of SDP for this review.)  It was quiet, with few vendors...overall, it just didn't seem to have much character. Perhaps you have to be a diehard Sox fan to fully appreciate it.  Nevertheless, we had a great time. Well, the good thing about being so busy recently is that I have lots of photos from the past few weeks stockpiled:  owls, eagles, beaches...oh my!  I prefer to post pics shortly after I take them (it's the old news hound in me constantly considering timeliness), but, with the SDP Editor-in-Chief's blessing, some of them will be rolled out over the next several weeks.  TGIF...and I'm linking to Skywatch Friday.

Big. Really Big!

These are the biggest candy canes I've ever seen!   Hanging from a banyan tree in Ft. Myers, these actually are metal duct fixtures with red tape wrapped around them.  Not only clever, but quite festive!  Christmas is right around the corner.  Are you ready?

Christmas Cheer

You know it's Christmas in Florida when you start seeing ornaments hanging from trees in front yards. Rather festive, don't you think?  I spotted this cheery scene in Ft. Myers.

Beautiful Bougainvillea

One of the many reasons why I love this time of year in Florida:  the bougainvillea trees are  blooming...and they're stunning, especially against the clear blue sky.

Up a Tree

More fun Halloween decorations.

Spooky Delivery

Some folks are starting to get into the Halloween spirit.  (Yes, that's an occupied open casket lining the landscape in the background.)   I wonder what the mailman thinks...

Caloosahatchee Sunset

This is the sun going down Friday night over the Caloosahatchee River in Ft. Myers, about 80 minutes south of Sarasota.  Believe it or not, just seconds before I snapped this pic (when I was racing with my camera bag to the river bank), the sun was a large flaming reddish-orange sphere just above the bridge.  Amazing how quickly it dropped!  That bridge, by the way, is the Midpoint Memorial Bridge.  It connects Ft. Myers to Cape Coral and supposedly is midway between two other bridges on the river.  I ran a 5K over this bridge one Memorial Day.  At the time,  I questioned my sanity as I struggled to survive the heat and the bridge's incline.   The view from the top was great, though, and ultimately the run turned into a nice memory of an accomplishment.  Happy Sunday!