Summer brings intolerable heat but it also brings amazing clouds. Caught these swallow-tailed kites over the house before a thunderstorm.





This old fellow wandered through while we watched the kites



Early morning and late evening are the best times to be out to avoid the heat. Dusk and cloud cast an interesting light for photography.

Evening red-shouldered hawk. We walked right underneath him before realizing that he was there.





Hairy woodpecker



Morning fawn



Headed down to the everglades this weekend for a mini-vacation.

Obligatory red-shouldered hawk. I think he might be eating a glass lizard, a snake-like type of lizard that is legless because it burrows through the sand.



Eco pond was a hellish glare of brine and cracked mud. Water levels extremely low due to lack of rain. I have never seen the pink color before. Perhaps an anaerobic bacteria?







Young spoonbill arrived for a paint job.



Young barred owl watching the sunset with us





A chuck-will's widow emerged as darkness fell.



After I took this picture, it flew right at us before veering off and settling nearby. Like other nightjars, chuckies have enormous mouths that they use to gulp insects on the wing. Was a scary sight to see that coming straight at my face!

Visited Maine for work a couple of weeks ago. It was a busy trip but it was so good to get some fresh cool air for a change! Florida has been oppressive lately. It seems like we went from April straight into August!

Eider family


Phoebe and fledgling


Lots of ospreys








So green





I also went on an evening cruise to see puffins! The weather was perfect.







The tour went out to Egg Island, which is an Audubon seabird sanctuary. The researchers were out there counting nests while we circled the island from a safe distance.



Lots of guillemots and eiders







Puffins were diving for fish and then heading back to the island to feed their chicks.









In this picture you can see two puffin decoys and a real puffin coming in for a landing!



Our last puffin view before heading back



On my way home, I snapped a few pics of NYC. I normally don't connect through there, so it was interesting to see.





Still catching up on some pics I took around FL. Until next time!