Thanksgiving 2015

Had an awesome Thanksgiving at Lake Seminole State Park in GA. Here are some of the highlights.

 David led a birdwatching hike. Before we even started, a red-headed woodpecker came out and said hi to us.

Everyone getting great looks at the woodpecker. And me,
of course, without my long lens. Du-oh!

This was my first life bird of the trip, a Brown-headed Nuthatch.
The other lifer was an American Woodcock on our way home.

Amy, chilling in a rocker after as our hike was winding down.

Uncle Duncan taking a picture of Dan.

Amy, Uncle Duncan, and Aunt Nancy (M).

Mom and Nancy.

Amy and Beth.

The menfolk goofing off while the womenfolk slaved away in the kitchen after lunch.

Last year, Amy started a tradition where we draw on a big canvas table cloth every year. These are mine and mom's contributions this year.

This is the whole tablecloth (well, the parts that are drawn on.)

 David, looking grumpy because I was taking a picture of him with cupcake frosting in his beard. But he is still adorable.

Scott, looking dapper.

Amy, looking adorable.

Uncle Sherm, and his toothpick.

Aunt Nancy (C) on the porch.

The entire group. Back row:  Beth, David, Amy, Nancy (M), Duncan, Nancy (C), Sherm, Non-evil Santa. Front row: Me, Dad, Scott, Barbara, Mom, Kathy, and Tom.

The cousins with non-evil Santa: Amy, David, Beth, Scott, moi.

Mom, Kathy, and Nancy. One of the highlights of the weekend was when they performed a concert for us. I have it on video for posterity.

Dad, mom, Tom, Kathy, Duncan, and Nancy. I love the look on Nancy's face here, so adorable.

The womenfolk: Barbara, Mom, Beth, Kathy, Nancy (C), Nancy (M), Beth, and me.

 The menfolk: Tom, Duncan, Dad, Sherm, David, Scott.

The older experienced generation: Barbara, Duncan, Mom, Kathy, Dad, Nancy (M), Tom, Nancy (C), and Sherm.

The menfolk having an in-depth conversation regarding the construction of the reindeer.

The entire group (sans moi, I was taking the picture) in Candyland.

Me, David, Scott, Amy and Beth in Candyland.

Nancy by the Candyland sign.

Amy and Beth going for a cupcake in Candyland.

This is a pretty magnificent park. The greens are really green
and the blues are really blue.  

Heathers video

Birding with Pelican Island Audubon

David and I let some classes yesterday, then did a field trip with Pelican Island Audubon this weekend. Met a lot of great people, saw some awesome birds. Thanks so much to PIAS and the Drs. Baker for inviting us to come out and play with them. Here are some of the awesome birds we saw. Click to enlarge photos.

This Red-bellied Woodpecker posed  nicely for me at Captain Forrester's Hammock.

This is an awful picture, but it's a Norther Harrier. Cool bird, also at Captain Forrester's Hammock.

Yeah, I know Blue Jays are common as dirt and generally recognized as the bullies of the bird feeder, but they sure are a pretty bird.

Another Red-bellied Woodpecker posed nice.

I got some cool shots of an Osprey flying over. For those who took the class, tell me which parts of the wings are we looking at here?

Another view of the Osprey.

This one made me laugh cause you can see his eyes, and I swear he almost looks afraid, like he just realized he is 30 feet in the air and doesn't know what's keeping him aloft.

After a yummy lunch at Penny Hill, we went up to Sebastian Inlet to see what was hanging out there. We were greeted by this Snowy Egret. I love how in this picture you can see the yellow seams in his stocking.

This was really disturbing. This poor little Ruddy Turnstone's leg is falling off because some moron fisherman didn't properly dispose of their fishing waste. It looks like it hurts.

Another Ruddy Turnstone, this one posing nice.

This is where is gets weird - another Ruddy Turnstone, this one missing one entire foot, and a toe on the other.

 What the heck?? Another Turnstone, also missing an entire foot.

Ruddy Turnstone nomming.

 Same Ruddy Turnstone, really getting into nominee.

I am not sure what is on this one's leg-- it looks a little thick to be monofilament, but he's already lost one toe to what ever it is.

Another view.

OMG Seriously? I actually lost count, but I think there were 4-5 Ruddy Turnstones with either missing or deformed feet. Other than the one where it was clearly monofiliment, I have no idea what would cause this. I googled it, but there wasn't anything definitive, other than the fact that other photographers have noticed this phenomenon as well.

First year Laughing Gull.

Not a great shot, but Black Skimmers are one of my favorite birds, and this is an ok shot of some in flight.

A photogenic Willet.

 I just thought this picture was pretty. Just a Willet getting his noms.

Another view.

This was a different Willet. I titled this picture, "Hey Idiot Fisherman, Way To Clean Up After Your Sorry Self." Feel free to share this picture, but make sure you keep the title.

I titled this one, "No Seriously, You Jerk, It's Great That You Just Leave Your Hooks and Junk Anywhere Instead Of Walking 3 Feet To The Monofilament Recycling Bin"  Feel free to share this picture, but make sure you keep the title.

A headless Ruddy Turnstone.

Another one with deformed/missing feet.

If anyone knows what's going on with these Turnstones, please drop me an email. I mean, given how popular of a fishing spot Sebastian Inlet is, I guess it's possible that these are all monofilament injuries, but if that is the case, we have a serious problem. But if it's some kind of birth defect or parasite, that's a pretty big issue too.

Reddish Egret, posing.

Terrible color, but I liked his pose in this shot.

And, to finish on a high note, this is a Northern Shrike. Incredibly cute for a murderous little critter, also known as "The Butcher Bird"

Thanks so much to everyone who came out for our classes and trips this weekend!