H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 901 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Back from Florida

We have just returned from our short vacation to Florida. Lucy, Tyler and I are very happy with the wonderful time we have enjoyed together.

First thing we did was to visit my cousin who was at home after having serious surgery just a few days ago. We were happy to see that he was looking well and recuperating normally. After our short visit we went to what I had planned to do.

My list was as follows:

Bradenton Beach
Sarasota Bay
Longboat Key
Celery Fields
Fort Myers Beach – Estero
Barefoot Beach
Hickory Park

In some places I didn’t have much luck for bird photography in other I was thrilled by the opportunity to see and photograph a few “lifers” and some great shots of other birds. My grandson Tyler had a ball at the beach. He was such a great kid and endured the long trip by car, very gracefully and well behaved Lucy and I enjoyed him a lot during this vacation. He loves the beach and the sea water.

Here are some samples of my pictures shot in Florida:

This is Tyler having fun at the beach 🙂

Sailboats at the bay

Sarasota Bay after sunset

Romantic sunset at the bay

Sunset at Fort Myers Beach

All photographs are © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101

Tags: birding, birds, Florida West Coast, photography

Craig Shaw – Guest

I’m proud to have my friend Craig Shaw from the UK on my Guest Spot. Mr. Shaw is a Land Management Constructor for profession. He’s an avid photographer with his main interest in Birding and Wildlife.

He describes his profile as:

“I am a birder and part time Twitcher who follows my hobby around work and family”

Edinburgh Trip

“Well, it was supposedly Rachel’s birthday weekend, so the plan was to have a couple of days shopping in Edinburgh boo ;). So we both got Friday off but plans changed just a little.(Selfish ba*tard) 😉 We headed for Edinburgh right enough, via Holy Island though.

First stop was for some geese just off the A69, but no sign of any, but we did see an Otter in the river. So then we stopped at Dunstan just south of Holy Island where we finally found some geese. 100 plus European Whitefront and 2 Bean Geese with a load of pinks and few Barnacles, the two ross’ geese were missing though. A couple of distant record shots and it was time to get to Holy Island, time was pushing on.

We arrived onto Holy Island and I was quickly heading up the beach along St.Cuthberts way. I managed to find the Eastern Black Redstart that had been present for a couple of days, what a stunner. Now it’s not a full species yet but I’m sure it will become one it’s so striking. Latin name P.o. phoenicuroides.

After my fill of this stunning bird it was getting dark or at least the light has gone so it was time to head for our room in Edinburgh. I was unable to do any more birding.

We made good time on the way home and was back for half eleven when I had a message from Keith telling me about a Green-winged Teal he and Phil had found, so I head straight for here.

When I arrived I walked down to the edge and immediately picked up the Teal and then a Bittern flew over. Keith and Phil joined me later and they had missed the Bittern but no matter aver the next couple of hours at least 3 were seen well in flight and on the edge of the pond. Two Wooper Swans, a few Water Rails and 2 Med Gulls were also present. I managed a couple of color ringed reading of Mute Swans White ATK and White AYH.”

I sincerely thank Craig for his gracious cooperation. All text and photographs are © Craig Shaw – Visit his Blog: Craigs UK Bird Photos

Barnacle Geese

Whooper Swans

Black Redstart

Bittern

Green Wing Teal

Tundra Bean Geese

European Whitefront Geese

Tags: birding, birds, photography

Ovenbird – Video

Tags: birds, Ovenbird, Video

Today: Flowers

Early in the morning I’ll be driving down south in direction toward the west coast of Florida. I’ll be traveling in company of my wife Lucy and Tyler, our grandson.

I will do my best to continue posting my blog, if course I’ll take my laptop with me to keep up with my email contacts and to upload the new photos I’ll be shooting.

There’s a possibility that I might skip a couple of days of posting, please keep checking my blog. Thank you!

My itinerary is kind of complicated and would be too hard to explain it to my readers. Anyhow, I’m hoping to find good locations for bird photography and also have Lucy and Tyler happy at the beach. I just pray for warm weather and no rain.

I’m posting some photos today other that birds. It’s a request from an a friend. Today subjects: Flowers. No names for them. Thanks for your patience!