An open house was taking place today in Venice - Clyde Butcher's Studio. We were given a tour of the dark room where the negatives are developed - one of Clyde's assistant explained the whole process to us. Afterwards we enjoyed admiring his work throughout the gallery.
I'm sharing one of his statements because I can identify with it.....
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| as I find too that "wilderness is a spiritual necessity". So, on the way back home - I made a stop at Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park - a place that I've driven by several times, yet never taking the time to stop and check it out. My time was limited today however it was a fantastic 30 minutes of my time. |
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| The Scrub Pines were plentiful and abuzz with life.....the White Ibis welcomed me. |
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| Pine Warblers were everywhere too - understandable especially since it is their habitat. In addition, I noticed many Yellow-rumped Warblers flitting about almost as if a whole flock had arrived, they were my first of the season. |
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| I admired several Downy Woodpeckers as I was also wondering if this one might have been a young one from the look of his 'downy' belly feathers - I welcome any and all comments. |
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| I spoke with a gal and she shared that the loop is 1.5mile long with several meandering side trails. |
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| This one had an incline - a rare treat in flat Florida. |
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| The view from another 'higher' point. |
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| I saw a lonely Pied-billed Grebe here and wondered how many other ducks will come to this spot. |
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| It is in places such as these that my soul feels most at home. |
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| Another Pine Warbler - it was hard to make a positive I.D. - the light was changing and many twigs kept getting in the way - but I believe I got enough clues leading me to this conclusion. |
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| ....such as the ring around the eye, a faint bar going across the eye, the yellow throat and chest, the bill color and the two wing bars. |
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| As I was leaving a Woodstork landed next to a Great Egret. |
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| The head and bill indicates a younger stork, as it ages it will become blackish gray and the brownish feathers on the neck will be replaced with white ones. |
This location is now on my 'go back to' list, there is much to explore and see. If you've been there, please share your experience. My E-Bird List
