Gettin' Back in the Saddle Again!

in

First coffee, first bike ride, first sunrise in twenty-four days. Woo-hoo! :)

The challenge of holding your camera still for a twenty second exposure while the pier is undulating....challenge! (Yes, I didn't feel like lugging my tripod on my bicycle today.) :)

And fifteen minutes later, the sky goes to orange and the birds come out for breakfast. :)

They're doing a little clean-up on the marina. Odd to see the empty boat slips. :)

Hi :)

MUST. CATCH. UP. ON. WEBSITE. !!!
Although I stayed connected to Facebook and Instagram, I badly neglected my website the past couple of weeks....I hope to upload this coming week. Argh! Shame on me. 
The following photo is my excuse...Kidney stone surgery is kind of awful. And no, this is symbolic, not actual size. ;)

New Year's Day

in

Visiting relatives on Clearwater Beach. 
Para sailing...looks fun and terrifying. :)

Another attempt at a little long exposure. I wanted to get the birds with their ghosts. :)
If I'm looking a little fuzzy it's because I'm playing with the longer shutter speeds, night photography, and trying to get comfortable with the tripod. 

The Elf Queen relaxing on this beautiful night.

The Limpkin

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Neat! This guy allowed me to take a few pictures before he moved on to search for some more escargot. :)

From the Audubon website......
"Limpkin had been hunted almost to extinction in Florida by beginning of 20th century; with legal protection, has made a fair comeback. Probably declining in parts of tropical range.Fresh swamps, marshes. In Florida, found in open fresh-water marshes, along the shores of ponds and lakes, and in wooded swamps along rivers and near springs; locally in river swamps in Georgia. Throughout most of its tropical range, its habitat and distribution are dictated by the presence of apple snails (Pomacea).

Looking like something between a crane and a rail, this odd wading bird has no close relatives. It is widespread in the American tropics, but enters our area only in Florida and southern Georgia -- only where it can satisfy its dietary requirement for a certain fresh-water snail. Mostly solitary, Limpkins may be overlooked as they stalk about in marshes and swamps; they draw attention with their piercing banshee wails, often heard at dawn or at night."