Flying at last

Of the 4 eagle nests the I've been watching, 2 have flying fledglings and 2 do not. One non-flying fledgling has been working hard at strengthening their wings, under Mom's watchful eye, as these pictures show.

While the other fledgling requires a little inspiration from Mom.

What is it ?

Today was one of those days that make you wonder why you get up early even when you don't have to.......dark, fogy and chilly (this damn global warming is about to kill me!). Anyway I went over to check on the fledgling eagle, which with the weather as it was, was staying low in the nest.

I went to the Pig (Piggly Wiggly grocery store for the non-Apalachaites)and decided to swing by the Mill Pond and Scipio Creek to see if any critters were out and about. As I neared Scipio, I saw a good sized, white bird with it's head in the water. Neat...a white ibis

.......until his bill came out of the water. White Ibis have red bills, this was fresh on my mind because of the ibis I had photographed yesterday and this one was black. A wood stork, certainly not a common bird around Apalachicola. Actually they have been on the endangered list since 1984,although they are prospering in South America.

They have two modes of feeding;one consists of holding their open bill in the water and snapping it shut, trapping it's prey.

The other method is used where vegetation is more prevalent; consists of holding their bill open and using a shaking foot to chase food out of the weeds, as these pictures illustrate.

This stork appears to be a juvenile bird and was still later on in the day. Maybe It'll still be around tomorrow.

Slow day!

I made a couple of trips by the Apalach nest, but the fledgling was hanging in the back of the nest. That area is very difficult to get a good picture due to the limbs and twigs.

I decided to head to another area that I'd seen mature birds cruising about. I went less than a mile into the woods before i saw the nest.

I circled around and a "large" chick stuck his head up.

After a loop through the woods to get a different angle, "Mom" showed up. This nest is not situated so that I can get in as close, but it gives me another opportunity for pictures.

Stay tuned ..................

Finally some sunshine

The fledgling eagle(s) has been staying low in the nest, with this week's rain and cool weather. I've see a wing or two flopping around inside the nest, but nothing to photograph. When I arrived today one of the adults was in the nest with the little guy, but left after a little while. Ten minuets later the fledgling's head popped up, but he was still on the wrong side of the nest.

One of the adults returned to the nest, but it appeared that it was not in the mood for company.

After a little verbal abuse, she gave me the "eye" and I left.

They grow up fast

I've been watching and photographing the nest for several weeks. Today was the first time I've seen the chicks active. When I first arrived both eagles were watching the neat, and it wasn't long before I saw a wing come out of the nest. In the above photo the female is watching as the chick looks out of the nest...maybe for the first time.

After I looked at him and he looked at me, Mama started chirping so I knew it was time to go. He'll start testing his wings in the next few days and that will make for some good shots.

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!

Parhelion

Walked out the door and saw these Sundogs.

Keep your eye out when you have cirrus clouds streaming across and the sun low on the horizon.

(A sun dog or sundog (scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, from Greek parēlion, (παρήλιον), παρά(beside) + ήλιος(sun), "beside the sun"; also called a mock sun) is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.[1]

Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright. Sundogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low.)

Merry Christmas to all my friends...thanks for stopping by!

I hope all of you and your families have a great Christmas and that next year is your best yet!

Green Trout

A friend of mine called me and said he wanted come down to Apalachicola and catch a mess of "green trout". Now for those of you not fortunate enough to be from the southeast, a green trout is also called a black bass or large mouth bass, in other parts of the world. Now people bass fish all over the country, but "green trout" fishing entails a different technique. First you have to have the proper equipment. No fancy, high dollar rod & reel...nope you have to have a 11 or 12' bream buster pole...no reel, just your modern day cane pole. This coupled with a bucket of frisky shrimp and you'll be prepared for a day of "trout" fishing.

I picked up 8 dozen shrimp and met Mike at about 1100, just as the tide started to come back in to the bays and creeks. We rode the tide up the creek dabbling shrimp in likely looking holes as we went. Somehow it very therapeutic to watch your cork shimming around, just before it disappears.

Four hours later we were out of shrimp and had boated 50-60 "green trout"and kept a half dozen for supper. We had laughed, solved some of the world's problem, watched eagles coming and going from their nest and now it was time to enjoy on last treat that Apalachicola offers...oysters! We put the boat on the trailer and headed to Papa Joe's at Scipio Creek for an ice cold beer and equally cold oysters shucked while we watched. A fitting end to a most enjoyable day.

Wonder why they are called red fish?

A keeper red that took a SK Redfish Magic this afternoon.