This morning (for the first time this nesting season) I heard the Bald Eagles from the Rose Bay nest yapping at each other.

One of the things I will miss about this place after I move . . .

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ask and ye shall receive.

Finally had a few migrants show up in the neighborhood today - at least 10 Palm Warblers and the "bird of the day" which was a Blue-headed Vireo. Only got a fleeting glance - which makes me hesitant to make a positive ID - but that bright yellow little-bitty bird was probably a male Prairie Warbler.

A Cooper's Hawk was over in the neighbor's pine; almost certainly the same one that has been hanging around the last few weeks.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know they are on the move because neotropical migrants are being seen elsewhere but for some odd reason my yard has been strangely devoid of warblers and other migrants this fall. Yesterday I saw a lone female American Redstart and this morning I heard a couple of Gray Catbirds yapping at each other. Haven't seen a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in a couple of weeks. Very depressing.

On the positive side it is the time of year I begin seeing Bald Eagles almost every day. The two nests I've checked are occupied as we head into the heart of nesting season.

Then there was the Peregrine Falcon zooming around the parking area at work the other day; always a great bird to see.

Maybe tomorrow morning I'll just have to head out and do some birding instead of busting my ass around the house.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday morning I was out with Roxy (my dog) so she could do "her business" and I was standing at the end of the driveway when I heard a sound behind me. The Sun was rising with a light fog hanging in the air and there was just enough light for me to make out the Wood Stork that was about to pass overhead at less than 50 feet. The sound I heard in that morning calm was the sound of the air rushing past the stork's feathers with each beat of its wings.

Maybe I'm weird, but I think it kicks ass.

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 07:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So here it is.

After much hair pulling while struggling to acquire a little basic knowledge about Cascading Style Sheets - which are used in many web design applications and a necessary evil for virtually all blogging software – I finally have this thing almost to my liking. Hair pulling isn’t exactly a good thing to be doing when one is getting as thin on top as I am, either.

I don’t recall a time in the last 15 years (at least) that I have gone this long – about 3 months now – without making photographs on a regular basis. It has left me a little frustrated but I believe that it will, when all is said and done, be for a good reason. For those who don’t know me (or if you do and just haven’t heard) I have been working myself to near exhaustion for these last few months renovating bathrooms, laying tile, painting, landscaping, and a host of other mundane tasks preparing my home for market. Though I have not fully completed everything I plan around here, I’m satisfied with where I am and have posted a “For Sale by Owner” sign. If I don’t get some action soon, I will be listing the place with an agent. When it finally sells I’ll be buying a motorhome and heading out on the road for about 18 months to make photographs and write. Hopeful that the time has finally come to make a living doing those things that bring the most joy to my life – experiencing the beauty and grandeur of Nature and, with luck and persistence, capturing those rare and incredible moments She sometimes shares with those who choose to connect with Her.

When I haven’t been toiling away at tasks around the house I’ve been planning the first several legs of my adventure: researching locations, establishing budgets, creating contact lists, as well as learning all that I can about RV’s.

And, ultimately, that is what this weblog will be about - sharing my daily experiences (when I have internet access, anyway) with anyone who cares to know.

I’ll use it for other stuff, too. Maybe I’ll comment about something I’ve read, share an occasional thought or idea about photography/digital imaging, or, when somebody does something that gets me fired up, I just might go on a “rant” when there’s a need to blow off a little steam . . .

Posted by Kevin, F.C.D. at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)