Latest Trip Pics

 

Best viewed on a PC.

For subject and location information, PAUSE your cursor over each image.

 

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – FLORIDA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[February 2026]

Wood stork preening - Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida --- Norman’s Note: These less common, 40-inch tall birds are the only storks that breed in North America. Their black-fringed, 5-foot-wide wings make them strikingly beautiful to see in flight. (On the ground, not so much.)


&spspspsp;Swan - Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida&spspspsps;Anhinga (female) in breeding plumage drying her wings - Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida

&spspspsp;Turtle - Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida&spspspsps;White ibis bathing - Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida

Great blue heron stretching its left wing - Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida


&spspspsp;American alligator - Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida --- Norman’s Note: This area of Florida is experiencing extreme drought. Notice the small amount of water the alligator is in.&spspspsps;Black-bellied whistling duck - Alligator Alley Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida

&spspspspspspspsps;Osprey eating a fish - Shady Oak Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida&pspspspsps;Snowy egret - Sarasota Bay, Sarasota, Florida

&spspspsp;Eastern diamondback rattlesnake - Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida --- Norman’s Note: This diamondback rattlesnake – approximately 2 feet long – is the only one I’ve seen in the wild.&spspspsps;Little blue heron searching for food - Mirror Lake, Lakeland, Florida

Nanday parakeet - Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, Sarasota, County, Florida

 
 

Nanday parakeets - Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, Sarasota, County, Florida

 
 
 
 
 
 

Atala butterfly - Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, Sarasota, County, Florida --- Norman’s Note: This species of butterfly only exists in southern Florida and the Bahamas. In the mid-twentieth century, it was thought to have disappeared from the U.S. (mainly due to loss of habitat) until a few small colonies were found in the early 1960s.


&spspspsp;Glossy ibis - Palmer Boardwalk, The Celery Fields, Sarasota County, Florida&spspspsps;Boat-tailed grackle - Palmer Boardwalk, The Celery Fields, Sarasota County, Florida

Surf line, gulls flying, rain clouds over the Gulf - Lido Beach, Sarasota, Florida


&spspspsp;Shells - Lido Beach, Sarasota, Florida&spspspsps;

Backlit sea grape leaf - Turtle Beach, Sarasota County, Florida


&spspspsp;Great egret (female) in breeding plumage - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida --- Norman’s Note: For most species of wading birds, the standard is for the male to gather sticks and the female to build the nest. However, a behavior I’ve occasionally noticed in great egrets is for an unattached female – notice the gorgeous white breeding plumage – to retrieve sticks on her own and work on nest building.&spspspsps;Two great egrets in flight - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida --- Norman’s Note: The egret on the left has just taken off after finding a stick he is transporting back to the nest. The egret on the right is preparing to land to begin his search for the “right” stick to take back to his mate.

Tricolored heron taking off - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida


&spspspsp;Abstract reflection of lakeside vegetation - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida&spspspsps;Great blue heron (female) with chicks - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida --- Norman’s Note: These two large chicks are approximately 8 weeks old. From watching their feeding over the course of several days, the chick in the back was the more dominant of the two, getting most of the food the mom brought back to the nest.

&spspspsp;American alligator - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida&spspspsps;Palm fronds with shadows - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida

Juvenile Roseate spoonbill - Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka River State Park, Florida --- Norman’s Note: It is always a special experience to see one of these uncommon birds in the wild. As this bird matures to an adult, the pale pink wings will become bright, deep pink.


&spspspsp;'Going . . .' Anhinga (male) devouring a fish - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida&spspspsps;' . . . Gone!' Anhinga (male) after swallowing a fish - Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida

Spider web - South Brohard Park, Sarasota County, Florida


&spspspsp;Blue-winged teals (female-left, male-right) - Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka River State Park, Florida&spspspsps;Limpkin with a bivalve - Upper Myakka Lake, Myakka River State Park, Florida

Sunset - Turtle Beach, Sarasota County, Florida

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – NORTH CAROLINA and SOUTH CAROLINA – – – – – – – – – – – –

[Fall – Winter 2025]

Fall color, Middle Saluda River - Middle Saluda Passage of the Palmetto Trail, Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Cascade, Middle Saluda River - Middle Saluda Passage of the Palmetto Trail, Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina&spspspsps;Cascades, Middle Saluda River - Middle Saluda Passage of the Palmetto Trail, Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina

&spspspspspspspsps;Reflections, cascade, Middle Saluda River - Middle Saluda Passage of the Palmetto Trail, Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina&pspspspsps;Fall color reflections in trout pond - Middle Saluda Passage of the Palmetto Trail, Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina

&spspspsp;Cascades on Looking Glass Creek - Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina&spspspsps;Cascades on Looking Glass Creek - Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ARIZONA and UTAH – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[September – October 2025]

Juniper snag, West Mitten Butte - Scenic Drive, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona


&spspspsp;View from North Window - Scenic Drive, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona&spspspsps;West Mitten Butte (right), other buttes, mesas, spires - Scenic Drive, Monument Valley, Arizona


&spspspsp;The Sitting Hen (middle), clouds - Monument Valley, Utah&spspspsps;View from the Beehives Trail - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona

Lizard - The Beehives Trail, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona


&spspspsp;Sandstone cliffs, clouds - Navajo Canyon, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona --- Norman’s Note: The boundary between the red and white sandstone shows the Full Pool level of Lake Powell, which was last reached in 1999. At the time of our cruise, the water level was down 154 feet from Full Pool.&spspspsps;The Tapestry (desert varnish on a sandstone cliff) - Navajo Canyon, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona


&spspspsp;Rainstorm, interplay of clouds and light - The Chains, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona --- Norman’s Note: “The Chains” is an area adjacent to the section of Lake Powell that is closest to the Glen Canyon Dam. The name comes from a chain of buoys that prevent watercraft from getting too close to the dam.&spspspsps;Tower Butte, approaching rainstorm - Antelope Point Marina, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona

Tower Butte, rainbow - Antelope Point Marina, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend (of the Colorado River) - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona


&spspspsp;Lake Powell - Lakeshore Drive, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona &spspspsps;Lake Powell - Lakeshore Drive, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona

Late-day light on Lake Powell - Lakeshore Drive, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona

Toadstool - Toadstools Trail, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah


&spspspsp;Bighorn sheep ewe - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah --- Norman’s Note: This ewe, pausing from noshing on vegetation, was one of a group of a half-dozen or so females. They were in a different location from the two rams.&spspspsps;Bighorn sheep ram - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah --- Norman’s Note: This was one of two rams we saw descending a rocky slope. They both appeared very healthy, perhaps preparing for the rut. Jean and I have spent a good deal of time in Zion over the course of several visits. This is the first time we’ve ever seen bighorn sheep there.

Sandstone formations - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah


&spspspsp;Canyon walls - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah&spspspsps;West Temple - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah --- Norman’s Note: West Temple at 7,810 feet is the highest point in Zion National Park.


&spspspspspspspsps;Checkerboard Mesa - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah&pspspspsps;Vegetation-pocked sandstone wall - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah


&spspspsp;Rabbitbrush, walls of Zion Canyon - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah&spspspsps;Silhouetted conifers, white cliffs - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah


&spspspsp;Sacred datura - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah&spspspsps;Sandstone ridge - Zion - Mount Carmel Highway, Zion National Park, Utah


&spspspsp;Colorado River - Navajo Bridge, Coconino County, Arizona --- Norman’s Note: This view of the Colorado River at 467 feet below was taken from the original steel span completed in 1929. It is now a pedestrian-only bridge.&spspspsps;California Condor #V3 in flight above the Colorado River - Navajo Bridge, Coconino County, Arizona --- Norman’s Note: Back from near extinction, it was a privilege to see these seven-foot-wingspan birds. Still very much protected, each member of the species is assigned an identifying letter and number, along with a radio transmitter for tracking.

California Condor #P8 - Navajo Bridge, Coconino County, Arizona --- Norman’s Note: This condor was taking a break from preening while on the support structure for the original bridge. I normally exclude man-made objects from my photographs. But I made an exception to get this image of such a rare bird in the wild. (At the end of 2024, there were only 369 wild, free-flying condors in existence.)

Bell Rock - Bell Rock Vista Trailhead, Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, Arizona

 

“The Light Show”

During our time in Zion National Park, Jean and I witnessed a remarkable light show,
quite unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Below are several images from this special experience.
 
If you would like to read about this inspiring “event” and view more photographs,
go to the INSIGHTS section and choose “131. The Light Fantastic.”

Late-day light on sandstone cliffs, storm clouds - from the Museum of Human History, Zion National Park, Utah


&spspspsp;Late-day light on sandstone cliffs, storm clouds - from the Museum of Human History, Zion National Park, Utah&spspspsps;Late-day light on sandstone cliffs, storm clouds - from the Museum of Human History, Zion National Park, Utah

Late-day light on sandstone cliffs, storm clouds - from the Museum of Human History, Zion National Park, Utah

 

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – NORTH CAROLINA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[Summer 2025]

Ermine moth, dahlia - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Coreopsis - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina&spspspsps;Coreopsis - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina

Dahlia - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Monarch butterfly on pentas plants - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina&spspspsps;Dahlia - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Water lily pads - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Bumblebee on a coneflower - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina&spspspsps;Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (male) on pentas plants - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina

Hydrangea - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina


&spspspspspspspsps;Partially-opened water lily bud - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina&pspspspsps;Pennisetum - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina

Water lily - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina


&spspspspspspspsps;Backlit elephant's ear leaf - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina&pspspspsps;Zinnia - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Buckeye butterfly - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Sunflower bud - North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina&spspspsps;Dahlia - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – SOUTH CAROLINA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[Summer 2025]

Butterfly weed - Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Tiger lily - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Blue-eyed grass - Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina

&spspspsp;Spiderwort - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Blanket flower - Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspspspspspsps;Black-eyed Susans    (Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer') - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina&pspspspsps;Daylilies - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Rose - Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Roses - Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina

Chrysanthemum (Ajania pacifica 'Gold and Silver') - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Daylily - Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun') - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – FLORIDA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[April – May 2025]

Wind-formed sand patterns - Anastasia State Park, Florida --- Norman’s Note: Late day light accentuated these striking lines in the sand.


&spspspsp;Great egret landing with nesting material - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida --- Norman’s Note: Gathering nesting material is a task that almost always falls to the male among wading bird species.&spspspsps;Great egret chicks - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida

Roseate spoonbill (juvenile) testing its wings - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida --- Norman’s Note: I know this is a juvenile because of the black wing tips, which are gone by the end of their first year. This bird worked its wings for more than a minute.


&spspspsp;Tricolored heron with eggs in nest - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida&spspspsps;Tricolored heron with breeding plumage - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida

American alligator - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida

Snowy egret with breeding plumage - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida


&spspspsp;White ibis - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida&spspspsps;Wood stork - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida

&spspspspspsp;Close-up of scarlet macaw feathers - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida&spspspsP;Scarlet macaw - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida

Great egrets - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida

American alligator - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida


&spspspsp;Hibiscus - Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida&spspspsps;Iris - Historic Area, St. Augustine, Florida

Shore, surf, and sky - Matanzas Inlet Beach, St. John's County, Florida

Seashells - Matanzas Inlet Beach, St. John's County, Florida


&spspspsp;Least tern with breeding plumage - Matanzas Inlet Beach, St. John's County, Florida --- Norman’s Note: In this species, breeding plumage is the bill (normally black) turning orange.&spspspsps;Blanket flowers - Frank Butler Beachfront Park East, St. John's County, Florida

&spspspsp;Prickly pear cactus - Anastasia State Park, Florida&spspspsps;Gopher tortoise - Anastasia State Park, Florida --- Norman’s Note: Jean and I always regard it as a special treat to see a member of this Threatened species.

Sand dunes and clouds - Anastasia State Park, Florida


&spspspsp;Queen butterfly - Anastasia State Park, Florida&spspspsps;Marsh rabbit noshing on some vegetation - Peters Point Beachfront Park, Fernandina Beach, Florida

Piping plover: 'Ready for Take-off' - Anastasia State Park, Florida --- Norman’s Note: Spotting any kind of a plover is uncommon, including this species whose world-wide population is less than 10,000.


&spspspsp;Wind-formed sand patterns and dune - Anastasia State Park, Florida&spspspsps;Crashing Atlantic Ocean wave - Anastasia State Park, Florida

Rocks, surf, and cloud - River to Sea Preserve, Flagler County, Florida

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – NORTH CAROLINA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[April 2025]

White-colored wake robin trillium, sun star - Melrose Falls Preserve, Polk County, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Canadian white violets - Melrose Falls Preserve, Polk County, North Carolina&spspspsps;Phacelia - Melrose Falls Preserve, Polk County, North Carolina

Toadshade trillium - Melrose Falls Preserve, Polk County, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Sweet white trillium - Melrose Falls Preserve, Polk County, North Carolina&spspspsps;Sweet white trilliums - Melrose Falls Preserve, Polk County, North Carolina

&spspspsp;Wild geranium - Picnic Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina&spspspsps;Jack-in-the-pulpit - Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina

&spspspsp;Star chickweed - Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina&spspspsps;Vasey’s trillium - Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – SOUTH CAROLINA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[April 2025]


&spspspspspspspsps;Raindrops on common blue violet - Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve, Greenville County, South Carolina&pspspspsps;Tulip - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina

Fringed iris - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Tulip - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Hosta leaves - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina

Blue flag iris - Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Native azalea blooms - Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg, South Carolina&spspspsps;Japanese maple leaf - Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg, South Carolina

&spspspsp;Blue flag iris - Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg, South Carolina &spspspsps;Star of Bethlehem - Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg, South Carolina