October in Apalachicola

We've already had nights in the high 40-low 50 degree range. These changes trigger the movements of birds and fish, such as the increase in the number of wood storks in the last couple of weeks. I see very few during the summer, but now we are seeing them daily.

 

Our local herons and egrets are also more active, due to all the pogies and shrimp that are moving with the cooling waters.

The tarpon are also following the schools of pogies . It's not uncommon to see large schools of tarpon crashing into the migrating pogies.

The cooler weather also brings the southbound butterflies. The gulf fritillaries are coming through by the 1,000's and will soon be joined by large flights monarchs.

 If you've never visited the Panhandle in the fall, you're missing a wonderful experience. Fishing, photography or just sight seeing, now is the time.

Carnivores in the bogs, savannas and trees.

The upland savannas and bogs are very colorful with the emerging pitcher plants.

These plants reside in damp soils too poor to support most plant life. They supplement their nutrient intake by absorbing insects that they trap in their "pitchers".While the pitcher plants are probably the most prevalent carnivores across Franklin and Liberty counties, the sharp eyed travelers may also spot butterworts (Pinguicula spp.), sundews (Drosera spp.), bladderworts (Utricularia spp.), and Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) - this last species is native to the Carolinas and has become naturalized in north Florida in limited locations.

The great horned owl nest has generated a great deal of interest, but now they have become "branchlings"-actual word-they are more difficult to photograph because they tend get up into branches with more needles. There is also a significant difference in size, possibly indicating an age difference of several days. 

The smaller bird spends more time in and around the nest, while the larger sibling is all over the tree.

 

The ospreys have gotten very active on their nests and probably have eggs by now.

The herons have started to stand in their nests more, so we should be seeing some nestlings very soon.

It looks like the herons have eggs in their nest

After seeing the heron in the nest a couple of weeks ago, they went AWOL until this weekend. This morning, they were preening away when I arrived.

Then the male was sent off for additional building materials to complete the nest upgrade from last year.

Of course what he selected and what she had in mind required considerable discussion and viewing from many diffent angles.

Finally she agreed that it would work.

I'll keep you posted on the herons along with the osprey and great horned owl nests which are all within a couple hundred yards of each other.

Spring is here and the herons are getting active

The great blue herons are beginning to sport their breeding plumage on their breasts and get their nests ready.

The black crowned night herons are starting to show their breeding "pig tail"

While the juvenile night herons are mixed in with the colony.

It won't be long until the river banks will be covered with heron and egret colonies...stay tuned.

Spare Time

People always ask what I do when I'm not fishing or showing real estate...well I'm probably wandering around outside with my camera. I'm fortunate to live in one the most beautiful areas of the country and since I haven't fished much this year, here are a few of my photo subjects.

OK, now you know what I've been up to for the past couple of weeks. but we still have a few fish around as this lady from yesterday shows!

Great Blue Heron

Beautiful birds, but they always look strange in a tree. This guy was was watching us, as we came back from an aborted off shore trip.