Photo-a-Day Challenge
Biscuits and Limpkins
A week of variety
The week started with promises of rain that didn’t appear until Thursday when it rained on and off all day. We needed it. And, as is common this time of year, the front ushered in colder temperatures.
Sunday, I found the toadstool cluster above basking in a noonday ray of sun. Don’t they look like biscuits warm from the oven?
Through the summer, we had so much rain that the lake water covered most of the shore and all the fallen branches and logs where turtles once congregated. The drier weather of autumn has decreased the lake volume and turtles again have places to gather and bathe in the sun. This throng of terrapins was across from our townhome.
Another resident in our townhome community feeds squirrels as we do. Syau always wants to walk by his building, hoping to find his squirrels munching on treats. This one was just hanging around eating a nut.
My friend Gina and I took a local photography road trip on Wednesday, visiting La Chua Trail and Sweetwater Wetlands Park, where we saw plenty of wading birds, ducks, sandhill cranes, and gators. Definitely, a day that requires more than one photo!
Above is a Cormorant who was grooming himself on the boardwalk. We were surprised when a Little Blue Heron landed next to him. The Cormorant paid no attention to the Heron or to us when we walked right past him. The Heron, however, flew away.
We heard lots of Limpkins in both parks but they were always in the distance, too far away for my camera. Limpkins are very shy and very territorial with a loud stork-like wail:
As we were leaving one park, we found a Limpkin near the boardwalk who was so intent on fishing that he paid us no mind, allowing me to gleefully photograph him for several minutes. By the way, Limpkins are only found in Florida and South Georgia.
We saw several baby gators but the one above was the only adult of the day.
Tri-colored herons (above) are common in Florida but I rarely see one. In fact, this is the first photo I ever took of one. About the same size as a Great Blue, these Herons have a spectacular blend of blue, lavender, and white with orange along the neck and beak.
It was fortunate that Gina and I planned our photography road trip for Wednesday because we had stormy rain most of Thursday. The Whistlers in the background didn’t mind, though, and neither did the twelve Quacklings when they appeared for an early and very wet breakfast!
Syau and I got caught in a rain shower on Friday and took refuge under a tree. The rain was soft and silvery. I took a photo with my cell phone, figuring it wouldn't come out, and was amazed at the magical result. Sometimes those what-the-heck photos are extraordinary.
Sébastien’s crossed eyes give him an eternal look of bewilderment that is so endearing. How can you not fall in love with him?
© Dennett 2021
In July 2020, I started the Photo-a-Day Challenge to help combat the virus blues. I take photos every day and choose one (maybe, two) to represent the day. Then, add a one-or-two-word descriptor and maybe, some narrative. A simple way to observe and preserve.
Want to join the fun? It’s all about noticing and appreciating your environment and sharing it with us, as these photographers and story-tellers have:
Erika Burkhalter / Eileen Vorbach Collins / Anne Bonfert / Sasha Meyer / Tracy Aston/ Lisa Bolin / Juan O. Aguilera / David Wade Chambers / June Nguyen / Mia Verita / Susan Alison / LensAfield / Barbara Radisavljevic / Diana Lotti / Barbara Dalton / Kim Zuch / K. Barrett / Sandra Barrett / Shruthi Sundaram / Gustavo Mendez / Olive Wilson
(If you participated in the Photo-A-Day Challenge and your name isn’t listed above, please let me know.)
Please follow the Snapshot rules:
Lead with a photo/title and subtitle follow No more than 10 photos per post No more than 750 words per post Yes, we know that the photos are yours but you still have to state that they’re your work
And, have fun!
