buit a rather small kingdom.
Not Yet /
I keep trying for better photos at the Wright Brothers Memorial at the OBX. Each time I’m there the weather is rather bland or rainy.. Still keep trying and one of these days I’ll get a photo I really like. The benefit of this is opportunity to visit a really neat place.
Up Close /
Once you land at the Dry Tortuga’s you cross the tiny strip of sand where the plane is moored and approach the entrance to Fort Jefferson. The fort covers over 90% of the island and is constructed of 18 million bricks. There is a small adjacent isle that is connected at low tide. There is a third one that extends a bit further toward the mainland that is a roosting place for Magnificent Frigatebirds. This is the most northerly locale for these amazing birds.
Approach /
Our seaplane banks over the Dry Tortuga and Fort Jefferson.
Bonus Bird /
Or if you are a strict literalist - the last of the bird week VIII (and you know who you are!) This is an interesting shot of a Little Green Heron from over head as he sat motionless waiting for an unsuspecting guest for his dinner party. This angle provides a neat perspective on the color and pattern of this bird.
Terrible Twos /
This mom is shepherding her pair of two-year olds on a salmon hunt. Lots of fun to watch. They were interrupted by a wolf and after chasing him away are returning to the stream from the ocean side of the dunes. Katmai National Park, Alaska. We are about 25 yards away.
Worthy /
This monument to Clara Barton is on the site of the notorious Andersonville prison.
Clara Barto,n who founded the International Red Cross, also organized an office dedicated to finding missing soldiers after the Civil War. Barton personally spent the summer of 1865 helping find, identify, and properly bury 13,000 individuals who died in the Andersonville prison camp, a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp in Georgia. She and the man, a prisoner who wrote down the name, date of death and unit of each of the more than 13,000 who died here, worked just after the camp was closed. So today there are rows of tombstones with names on them rather than the usual for a Civil War cemetery of “Unknown Soldier.”
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.
Bird Week VIII: Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners - Patience /
I watched this Trip-colored Heron make the same move, miss and return to his perch at the water’s edge for 15 or 20 minutes. After many attempts he emerged with this small tidbit.
Bird Week VIII: Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners - Rare /
I have tried often and rarely been able to photograph the frenetic Belted Kingfisher. It flits and darts and dives and rarely rests. This one had just scooped up a frog and was sitting in a tree, partially hidden, to eat his lunch. That I was able to get a semi-decent photo pleased me as much as the frog legs (and more) must have pleased him.
If you are going out tonight to celebrate Valentines Day at a fancy French restaurant with frog legs on the menu, my apology. But Happy Valentines Day anyway.
Bird Week VIII: Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners - Speared (two photos) /
This bird, an Anhinga, is an accoplished swimmer and spears its prey. This fish was rather large and it was fascinating to watch the bird loose the fish from its beak without losing it back into the water. Then it swallows the fish whole, head first, while pointing its beak straight up. We watched the whole process that took at least 10 minutes.
Bird Week VIII: Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners - Silt Sifter /
The Rosette Spoonbill is a gorgeous, bright-hued bird with a comical bill. The tip is round and perfect for its feeding technique of sliding the bill side to side in the silt while wading near the shores of lakes and streams. It is a breeding bird of coastal Florida and occasionally north to South Carolina. Another morning specimen found at Everglades National Park where he must have just arrived from a long overnight flight:)
Bird Week VIII: Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners - Morsel /
This stunning American White Pelican summers in the north and central US along lakes and rivers, it winters along the Gulf, the Baja and Central America. It has a wing span of between 8 and 10 feet and eats about four pounds of food per day. Not sure what this one has snagged but clearly it is only a small portion of the days meal. But it did not disappear into the maw unnoticed like most of the food gathered. This pelican was photographed in the Everglades National Park near Flamingo.
Bird Week VIII: Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners - Pride /
We start with a very proud immature Black-crowned Night Heron. He popped up with this black fish and stood on the log making sure all his friends saw the catch, like the fishermen’s photos at the docks. He preened a bit and then flew off to have it filleted and grilled with a lemon caper sauce.
Pathway /
A path at the National Park Service site in Georgia, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This is an ancient site with occupation going back 10,000 years. There are a few traits around the property, this one was along a lake for a bit. Nice walk and interesting place.
“The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 NLT
A Little Bird Said.... /
…you don’t want to miss Bird Week VIII starting on Monday. It is the long awaited Divers, Dive-Ins and Diners edition. Sure to be nominated for many prestigious internet awards.
On the fabulous contest we began on Thursday, the correct answer is: “Things Go Better We Coke” slogan was introduced in 1963. And we have a winner, Pam got it right. Yay. Pam, your fabulous prize will be delivered this month. And the excitement mounts. The other potential tell - spotted by Dennis after hours of research (probably asked Kathy) - the mini blinds although invented in 1946 they were not perfected or popular until the 70’s.
Finally, oops. I have had a very big project due for my actual job and it has taken lots of time and energy so my photo editing and sorting have fallen way behind. That coupled with my own mistake - I know, who would think I make mistakes (shush, Rusty) have limited my work on Two Lane Touriing. What I did was connect my back up hard drive instead of my main photo drive. The difference is that the main drive has the catalog needed to run my program. It took me a week and occasional forays into the program to figure out what I had done. Finally back to normal or at least what passes for normal and just two weeks until the project is delivered. So, maybe, back to full posting. Soon.
A shy and elusive Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
Whirligig /
There is a unique park in Wilson, NC filled with the whimsical art of Vollis Simpson. Whirligig Park in the heart of town is full of these fantastic creations that turn and spin and dip full of color and life. I was there on a day dodging rain drops and shot a couple of photos but I really want to go back on a nice day and see the colors shine. Here is a site with lots of information, interviews and photos. - https://www.wilsonwhirligigpark.org
The Year Is? /
This is a 1948/49 Cadillac parked on the street in Elizabeth City, NC. What detail is incongruent with the year 1950 for this photograph? Stayed tuned Saturday for the exciting conclusion to our quiz and the awarding of fabulous prizes. EDIT it is actually a 40/41 Cadillac. Got a brain freeze thinking this scene looked like 1950. Sorry and thanks to Dennis for pointing out the error.
Another Lion /
This was my favorite of the afternoon.
A Long Way /
to just about anywhere. This sign is near the airport in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Sited on the edge of the Arctic Ocean it is the 3rd most northernly city in the world.
The View of the World /
This was Jimmy Carter’s view of the world growing up. He would board the train that stopped across the street and it would lead him to the White House.
