Latest Trip Pics

 

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

[January 2025]

Painted bunting (male)  -  Sarasota Audubon Society Nature Center, Sarasota County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  It was a special treat to see this shy, uncommon member of the cardinal family that looks like it took a bath on an artist’s palette.


&spspspsp;Moonflower  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida &spspspsps;Green heron  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  Not only are green herons uncommon, they can also be difficult to spot because they move so little.

Great egret in breeding plumage  -  Lake Jervey, State College of Florida, Venice, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  A part of the breeding marks for great egrets is the green skin patch around the eyes.  The shade of green varies from lime to emerald.


&spspspsp;Purple gallinule  -  Lake Jervey, State College of Florida, Venice, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  This colorful bird is usually atop lily pads and is rarely still.&spspspsps;Tricolored heron  -  Lake Jervey, State College of Florida, Venice, Florida

Clouds and reflection  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  These most unusual clouds are not contrails.  I’ve never seen anything like this formation of clouds.


&spspspsp;Sandhill crane  -  The Celery Fields, Sarasota County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  Almost 4 feet tall, this crane was one of a pair that passed within 2 feet of where I was standing.  This species mates for life.&spspspsps;Crested caracaras (juvenile)  -  Sarasota County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  East of the Mississippi, these birds are only found in central Florida.  Members of the falcon family, these birds of prey are a bit unusual in that they also eat carrion.  These are the only two members of this species that I’ve ever seen in the wild.

Nanday parakeets  -  The Celery Fields, Sarasota County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  These very social and noisy birds exist in large groups in southern Florida largely as a result of escaping from captivity.


&spspspsp;Tropical milkweed  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida &spspspsps;Great blue heron (female) and nestling  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida

&spspspsp;Double-crested cormorant  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida&spspspsps;Dune sunflower  -  Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida

&spspspspspspspsps;Surf line  -  from Venice Fishing Pier, Venice Beach, Venice, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  It was quite windy and chilly on the pier.  Jean and I made it a quick visit.&pspspspsps;Sanderling and reflection  -  from Venice Fishing Pier, Venice Beach, Venice, Florida

&spspspsp;Female ring-necked duck  -  Lake Mirror, Lakeland, Florida&spspspsps;American white pelican, bathing  -  Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida

&spspspsp;Snowy egret  -  Lake Mirror, Lakeland, Florida&spspspsps;Limpkin  -  Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  There are documented 9-1-1 calls from rural southern Florida where the anguished, wild-sounding wails of these uncommon, secretive birds have been mistaken for a woman crying out in distress.

American white pelicans  -  Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida

Anhinga (female) with a speared fish  -  Lake Morton, Lakeland, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  Anhingas swim underwater and capture prey by spearing fish with their pointed bill.  Female anhingas have light brown necks and heads.


&spspspsp;White ibis  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida&spspspsps;Great blue heron stretching its wings  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note: The largest and heaviest of the herons, great blues can have a wingspan of 72 inches.

Anhinga (male) drying its wings and preening  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:   Anhingas lack waterproof feathers, which allows them to easily navigate under water.  However, before flying for any distance, they first must sun-dry their feathers.  Male anhingas have black necks and heads.


&spspspsp;Armadillo  -  Shady Oak Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  For several decades in the mid-to-late 1900s, this area was a cattle ranch.  In 2000, Polk County acquired this property, converting it back to a marsh and upland habitat for thousands of birds and other wildlife.&spspspsps;Black-bellied whistling ducks  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida

Roseate spoonbill searching for food  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note: Spotting one of these relatively uncommon birds is always a special occurrence.


&spspspsp;Juvenile little blue heron with a swamp eel  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  You may think it odd that a white bird has “blue” in its name.  After the first year-plus of its life, it gradually becomes a beautiful dark blue-gray.&spspspsps;Great blue heron with a small fish  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida

American alligator hatchling  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida


&spspspsp;Juvenile Florida cooter turtle  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida &spspspsps;American alligator  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida

American alligator  -  Marsh Rabbit Run Trail, Circle B Bar Reserve, Polk County, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  This 12-foot gator was on a path that Jean and I needed to use to get back to our vehicle.  Courteous as always, Jean said, “You go first.”  Passing within 4 feet of this size predator did raise both of our heart rates a bit.

Postman butterfly  -  Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida  ---  Norman’s Note:  If you enjoy seeing butterflies, the Butterfly Rainforest is worth a visit.  This screened enclosure is home to scores of free-flying “gems with wings” as well as tropical birds and plants.


&spspspsp;Citrus swallowtail butterfly  -  Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida &spspspsps;Starry night cracker butterfly  -  Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida

Zebra finch  -  Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida

Blue morpho butterfly  -  Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida

Golden shrimp plant  -  Butterfly Rainforest, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida

 

– – – – – – – – – – – – – PAST BLASTS from FALL, Y’ALL – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[1993 – 2022]

Gambel oaks, aspens, Cimarron Ridge   -  Forest Road 858, Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado  [2021]


&spspspspspspspsps;Raindrops on leaves  -  Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina  [1993]&pspspspsps;Frost-rimmed leaves   -  Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  [1994]

&spspspsp;Early morning fog, mountain ridges   -  Greenville County, South Carolina  [2014]&spspspsps;View from Artist Palette  -  Death Valley National Park, California  [2019]

Aspens, gambel oaks, snow-covered Sneffels Range   -  from Dallas Divide, Ouray County, Colorado  [2009]


&spspspsp;Chimney Rock   -  Capitol Reef National Park, Utah  [2019]&spspspsps;Metate Arch  -  Hole-in-the-Rock Road, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah  [2019]

&spspspspspspspsps;Rabbitbrush, cottonwoods, The Castle   -  Capitol Reef National Park, Utah  [2019]&pspspspsps;Fall color, sandstone walls  -  Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah  [2019]

&spspspsp;Sand dunes, sun star  -  Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California  [2019]&spspspsps;Snow-dusted sandstone cliffs   -  Wayne County, Utah  [2021]

Looking Glass Falls   -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina  [2022]


&spspspsp;Fall colors, Lake of the Clouds   -  Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan  [2014]&spspspsps;“Liquid Gold”   -  Tellico River, Cherohala Skyway, Tennessee  [2012]

&spspspsp;Chalk bark maple leaves  -  Bonsai Garden, North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, North Carolina  [2022]&spspspsps;Fall colors, Davidson River   -  Sycamore Flats Recreation Area, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina  [2022]

Aspens, Red Mountain No. 1   -  Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado  [2007]


&spspspsp;Backlit sugar maple leaves   -  Carrick Creek Trail, Table Rock State Park, South Carolina  [2014]&spspspsps;Cascades on the Middle Saluda River, fall colors   -  Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina  [2018]

&spspspsp;Hooker Falls   -  Dupont State Recreational Forest, North Carolina  [2022]&spspspsps;Red maple leaves   -  Bent Creek Experimental Forest, North Carolina  [2010]

&spspspspspspspsps;Cascades on the Middle Saluda River   -  Jones Gap Trail, Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina  [2022]&pspspspsps;Fall colors along Looking Glass Creek  -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina  [2022]

“Aspens Aplenty”   -  Forest Road 858, Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado  [2009]


&spspspsp;View from Inspiration Point  -  Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah  [2019]&spspspsps;Abraham Peak (far left), Isaac Peak (middle), Jacob Peak (far right)  -  Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park, Utah  [2019]

&spspspsp;Pine tree, Entrada sandstone  -  Garfield County, Utah  [2019]&spspspsps;Hayden Mountain   -  from Ouray, Colorado  [2021]

Dew on leaves   -  Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan  [2014]


&spspspsp;Fall colors south of Crystal Lake   -  San Juan Skyway, Colorado  [2021]&spspspsps;Fall colors   -  East Fork Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  [2022]

Fall colors, reflection in Pinnacle Lake   -  Table Rock State Park, South Carolina  [2010]

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – UTAH – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[July 2024]

Single-head sunflowers  -  Catherine Pass Trailhead, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah

Blue-crowned motmot  -  Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah


&spspspsp;Trumpeter swan -  Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah&spspspsps;Milky eagle owl  -  Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah

Alpine Jacob’s Ladder  -  Albion Meadow, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah


&spspspspspsp;Cosmos  -  Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah&spspspsP;Colorado columbine  -  Albion Basin, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah


&spspspspspspi;Wild iris  -  Silver Lake Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah&spspspspspspsp;Sticky geranium  -  	Silver Lake Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah

Reflection in Silver Lake; Mt. Millicent (left; 10,452 feet)  -  Silver Lake Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah


&spspspsp;Bridal Veil Falls (607 feet high)  -  Provo Canyon, Utah&spspspsps;Mt. Timpanogos massif  -  from Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah

Ground squirrel  -  Cecret (not a misspelling) Lake Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah


&spspspsp;Black-eyed Susans 'Indian Summer'  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah&spspspsps;Agave  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah


&spspspsp;Globe thistle  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah&spspspsps;Coneflowers  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah

Coneflowers with bumblebee  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah


&spspspsp;Canna lily  - Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah&spspspsps;Cabbage white butterfly on lavender  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah


&spspspsp;Cheyenne Spirit Coneflowers with Undaunted Ruby® Muhly Grass  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah&spspspsps;Daylily  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah

Allium seed head with Cheyenne Spirit Coneflowers  -  Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Salt Lake City, Utah


&spspspspspspspsps;Elephant heads  -  Albion Basin, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah&pspspspsps;Police Car moth, subalpine arnica  -  Monument Trailhead, Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway, Uinta National Forest, Utah

Silvery Lupine  -  Albion Meadow, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah


&spspspsp;Indian paintbrush  -  Catherine Pass Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah&spspspsps;Indian paintbrush  -  Albion Basin, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah

Colorado columbine  -  Albion Basin, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah


&spspspsp;Subalpine arnica, Bald Mountain  -  Bald Mountain Overlook, Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway, Uinta National Forest, Utah&spspspsps;Mt. Nebo (summit, just left of center, 11,928 feet)  -  Mt. Nebo Overlook, Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway, Uinta National Forest, Utah

Bridal Veil Falls (607 feet high)  -  Provo Canyon, Utah

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

[May-June 2024]

Iris  -  Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina


&spspspsp;Rose  -  Rose Garden, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Magnolia blossom  -  Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina

&spspspsp;Spiderwort  -  Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina&spspspsps;Daylily  -  Greenville County, South Carolina

Looking Glass Falls  -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina


&spspspspspspspsps;Mountain laurel  -  Forest Road 450, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina&pspspspsps;Daisy fleabane  -  Art Loeb Trail, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

&spspspsp;Slick Rock Falls  -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina&spspspsps;Triple Falls  -  Dupont State Recreational Forest, North Carolina

Great spangled fritillary butterflies on purple coneflower  -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Horse nettle  -  Art Loeb Trail, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina&spspspsps;Cascade on Looking Glass Creek  -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

&spspspsp;Unnamed falls on Looking Glass Creek  -  Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina&spspspsps;Flame azalea  -  Cherry Cove Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ARIZONA – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[April 2024]

Brittlebush, saguaros  -  David Yetman Trail, Tucson Mountain Park, Pima County, Arizona


&spspspsp;Great horned owl  -  Raptor Free-flight Demonstration, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsps;Caracara  -  Raptor Free-flight Demonstration, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona
 

Claret cup cactus  -  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona


&spspspsp;Harris’s hawk  -  Raptor Free-flight Demonstration, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsps;Saguaros  -  Saguaro Vista Trail, Steve Anderson Sweetwater Preserve, Pima County, Arizona
 

&spspspsp;Brittlebush, saguaros  -  Saguaro Vista Trail, Steve Anderson Sweetwater Preserve, Pima County, Arizona&spspspsps;American coot  -  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
 

Cinnamon teals (male in front, female in back)  -  Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona


&spspspsp;Brittlebush, saguaros  -  Tucson Mountain Park, Pima County, Arizona&spspspsps;Backlit saguaros  -  Saguaro Vista Trail, Steve Anderson Sweetwater Preserve, Pima County, Arizona
 

Saguaros  -  Saguaro Vista Trail, Steve Anderson Sweetwater Preserve, Pima County, Arizona


&spspspsp;Taveta golden weaver  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsps;Gold-breasted starling  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona
 

&spspspspspspspsps;Peacock  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona&pspspspsps;Bearded barbet  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona
 

One-month-old African elephant staying close to mom -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona


&spspspsp;Juvenile red-tailed hawk  -  Pima County, Arizona&spspspsps;Anna's hummingbird  -  Pima County, Arizona
 

Cape thick-knee  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona


&spspspsp;Red and yellow barbet  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsps;Scarlet-faced liocichla  -  Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona
 

California poppies, saguaros  -  Nature Trail, Catalina State Park, Arizona


&spspspspspspi;Red-spine barrel cactus  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona&spspspspspspsp;Comb hedgehog cactus  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona

&spspspspspsp;Bundle-spine hedgehog cactus  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsP;California poppies  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona
 

Horned lizard  -  Nature Trail, Catalina State Park, Arizona


&spspspsp;Rose 'FRIDA KAHLO'  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsps;Columbine  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona
 

Long-mamma cactus  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona


&spspspsp;Giant swallowtail butterfly, puddling   -  Pima County, Arizona&spspspsps;Lizard  -  Pima County, Arizona
 

Hybrid torch cactus  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona

Mourning dove and chicks in nest in teddy bear cholla  -  Pima County, Arizona


&spspspsp;Grandiflora rose 'ABOUT FACE'  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona&spspspsps;Rusty-tipped page butterfly  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona
 

Bearded iris 'JITTERBUG'  -  Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona

 

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

[March – April 2024]

Vasey's trillium (Trillium vaseyi)  -  Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina


&spspspspspspspsps;Chickweed, dwarf crested iris  -  Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina&pspspspsps;Pink lady slipper  -  Ashmore Heritage Preserve, Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, South Carolina
 

Sweet white trillium (Trillium simile)  -  Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina


&spspspsp;Catesby's trillium (Trillium catesbaei)  -  Ashmore Heritage Preserve, Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, South Carolina&spspspsps;Fringed iris  -  Kilgore-Lewis Garden, Greenville, South Carolina
 

&spspspspspspspsps;Toadshade trillium  (Trillium sessile)  -  Melrose Falls Trail, Conserving Carolina Land Trust Property, Polk County, North Carolina&pspspspsps;Wake robin trillium, Vasey's trillium (Trillium erectum var. album, Trillium vaseyi)  -  Talking Trees Trail, Holmes Educational State Forest, North Carolina