Black Skimmer ready to grab some prey!

 Skimmers, Rynchops niger, are a type of shore bird that are named for their skimming the top of water with their razor-like bills to grab prey off the water’s surface. Skimmers most closely resemble Royal Terns but at a quick glance can be easily mistaken for a bird with similar colors, the American Oyster Catcher. Skimmers are unique in that they have uneven bills where the lower mandible is longer than the upper. This allows their razor-sharp bill to cut through the water’s surface ready to grab any unsuspecting fish or shrimp near the water’s surface.  Also referred to as Razor Bills and Scissor-bills.  

These two Black Skimmers were a delight to watch as they circled Sand Spit Island periodically  skimming the Gulf Coastal waters as they passed by.  These photos were take on Sand Spit Island in Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida.

Black Skimmer in flight

If you are interested in purchasing these photos or view our Gallery go to BA Bowen Photography at Fine Art America.

3. Fallen Cypress log becomes a Nursurey for ferns

Strangler Fig

The Strangler Fig, ficus aurea, is in the Mulberry Family and is given its name as it Strangles its Host Tree before becoming an independent terrestrial plant. The Strangler Fig propagates as birds eat the fruit and carry the seeds with them. The seeds drop into crevices high up in the trees and then proceed to sprout off two sets of roots, one to cling tightly to the tree and the other to loosely reach down toward the earth. Initially the Strangler Fig survives as an epiphyte gaining its nutrients from falling leaves, tree bark, and rain that gets caught in the tree crevices. As the Fig matures its roots reach down toward the ground covering the base of the host tree while the branches reach for the sky to gather sunlight. Branches reaching for the Sun-Zone compete for precious suntlight in thick forests and eventually weakens the host tree below. Slowly over time the host tree dies from lack sunlight and lack of flowing sap as the Strangler Fig wraps itself around and squeezes the host tree. As the Host hollows out from natural decay, the Strangler Fig roots establish themselves in the ground taking the place of the Host plant and becoming a terrestrial plant themselves. Photos number 2 and 3 showcase the stage of a Strangler Fig/ Host tree where the Fig now lives off the hollowed tree stump and the fallen tree top plays a new role in the circle of life by becoming a nursery log to various ferns and epiphytes.

After many years a Stragler Fig consumes a Cypress Tree

Butterfly Orchid Full

I went for a Sunday morning stroll this past weekend along the boardwalk in a little park named James E Grey Preserve. This little preserve follows the Pithlachascottee River for a couple of miles and is a priceless spit of natural Florida in the midst of a bustling Suburbia. To my surprise, I saw a patch of Butterfly Orchids blooming heartily from the underside of an Oak branch that was hanging over the ‘Cotee River. I was delighted to find Orchids blooming so near the city. I paused for several moments to photograph these blooming beauties.
The Butterfly Orchid latin name is Encyclia meaning “to encircle”. This refers to the lateral lobes encircling the column. The second half of the name, tampensis, refers to the Tampa Bay area of Florida, where this species was first seen in 1846. The Encyclia tampensis, Butterfly Orchid, is the most common epiphytic native orchid but is considered commercially exploited due to widespread collecting.

Immature Night Heron catches a crab

After an adventurous day of kayaking and hiking at the Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island State Parks with my friends, I decided to walk the Sand Spit Trail to prolong the day’s end.  The Sand Spit is a little peninsula at the  north end of Honeymoon Island and per the Forest Ranger, seems to be growing a little each year as the seas are bringing sand onto its beaches.  I took many photos and saw a large variety of shore birds.  As dusk was settling in I was walking briskly back to towards the parking lot when I noticed a bird on the land side of the trail.  I paused only to find it was an immature night heron with a white crab in his beak.  He looked at me but was more preoccupied with his scrumptious dinner he had just caught.  I was able to watch him as he gradually work the crab whole down his throat….regurgitate and swallow twice before it finally stayed down.   I couldn’t help to think “How painful to swallow a large shellfish whole?”  After all that has to hurt going down!  He paused for only a moment before he grabbed the lone crab leg that fell off during consumption and then completely devoured that.  What an amazing moment I was able to witness in nature!  It was the perfect ending to an incredible day spent out in nature.   Below I have the sequence of some the photos to share with you!

Night Heron catches a crab

3. Here it comes

4. Another Swallow

5. Back down it goes!

6. A moments rest

7. One Last Piece!

Spring Greens along the Ravine Trail

We recieved Top Honors in the “Recreation Category” in the 2010 1st Qtr Florida State Forest Photo contest for our photo from the Trailwalker Meet-up back in April. This photo is of the Ravine Trail in Lake Talquin State Forest. My hiking comrade Peter from My Florida Hikes is hiking in the Foreground. I don’t know where Janie scooted off too!  I think she was ID’ing a Muscle Tree or something.

This photo was hard-earned for all. We endured hiking several steep hills in a 3 mile loop, not to mention we all pulled a few ticks off ourselves later that night at camp from this trail. But the blooming wildflowers made the trek, the drive, and the ticks worthwhile.

Along this trail we were fortunate to encounter blooms of the rare Flame Azalea and Chapman’s Rhododendron.  Azaleas, Mountain Laurels, and Iris were also in bloom.  You are guaranteed natural beauty along this trail in the Springtime.  We highly recommend this hike if you are in the Panhandle area!

….and special Thanks to Janie and Peter for having the patience to allow me the time to take photos.

You can view this photo and other winners from the Contest at:

http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/photo_contest_wins.html

Osprey Portrait

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) can be known as a nuisance the city for nesting in Power Poles or in tall Cellular towers. This beautiful bird of prey is in the raptor family and is highly adaptable to habitats that have a nearby body of water with fish. Also known as the Sea Hawk or the fish Eagle, this large raptor can reach up to 24 inches in length with an impressive six foot wingspan. This extra wingspan is essential for carrying their prey back to the nest.  Unlike other raptors, the Osprey has four equal toes with the outside one being “reversible” to allow the Osprey to seize his prey with two toes opposable both front and back! 

Here comes my ride!

Opsrey Earns an Oscar (fish!)

When an Osprey is hunting for food, it hovers 30 or more feet above the marsh, lake, or sea until it spots its prey with its keene eye-sight. Then it pulls its wings in to a partial span, allowing him to drop with great speed.  He has his talons out as he plunges into the water submerging himself and hopefully coming up with a fish.  The  Osprey feathers are firm and dense thus sealing off the water allowing it to roll off.   He is able to fly immediately without being heavy with wet plumage.   Despite being adept in the water, Osprey cannot swim and have been known to drown if they had set their sights on a fish that was too large for 

Osprey Nest

them.  

Osprey tend to nest in tall trees preferable dead trees that are out in the open.  The nest is usually near a body of water that can provide ample food such as lakes, large marshes, or along the sea coats.  Osprey can survive on either fresh or salt water fish. 

References:  http://www.pandionhaliaetus.com/ 

If you would like to purchase these photos or view our gallery visit B A Bowen Photography at Fine Art America.

Lone Alligator Liliy

This Alligator Lily is a fragrant lily that is endemic to the swamplands and marshes of middle and southern Florida. The latin name Hymenocallus palmeri is a tribute to Edward Palmer (1831- 1911) who was a well-known explorer of the wilds of Florida during his time. The Alligator Lily can easily be confused with the Spider Lily. One defining feature that is the single bloom per stalk of the Alligator Lily while the Spider lily has two or more. This photo was taken while hiking along the Lois Duncan Trail in the Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge, just outside of the town of Immokolee, Florida. 

String Lily

These String Lilies or more commonly known as Swamp Lilies with the latin name Crinum americanum: translated to mean “Lily of America.” The leaves and bulbs are poisonous to humans but are a favorite food for the colorful Lubber Grasshopper. These blo0ms can be found in swamps and wetlands from Texas to Georgia and down throughout Florida.  This photo was taken in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County, Florida 

Spider Lilies

The Spider Lily is endemic in the river floodplains, swamps and marshes of central and southern Florida.  The latin name is Hymenocallis and is Greek for “beautiful membrane,” referring to the hymenlike membrane attached to the stamens.  The flower is 2″- 4″ tall  and frequently topped with 6 to 10 fragrant white blooms.  Sphinx moths frequently visit the flowers after dark and transfer the pollens from their wings.  This species is known for its fragrant flowers but its bulbs are also considered poisonous.  This photo of a pair of Spider lilies in full bloom was taken from my kayak as I was paddling down the Silver River in Silver Springs, Florida 

If you would like to purchase these photos or view our Gallery, visit us at B A Bowen Photography on Fine Art America. 

References: Everglades Wildflowers, author Roger L. Hammer

Delicate Bloom of the Giant Alligator Flag

This delicate bloom is one-half inches tall and from it spawns the giant leaflet of the swamp!  In the heart of the Cypress swamps the stalks of the giant Alligator Flag can grow up to 9 feet tall with arrow shaped leaves that can span one foot in diameter and three feet in length. 

Alligator Flag (Thalia geniculata) is also named Fire Flag. It recieved its more popular name because the tops would wave like flags when the powerful alligator tail caused movement below as he was swimming through thickets of the swamp. Thus an indicator from far away. 

It is not uncommon to find a caterpillar on the large leaves as this plant is also a host plant to the Brazilian Skipper Butterfly, the IO moth, and the Saddleback Moth.

Momma took our food!

This photo of a Great White Egret with her baby chicks was taken at the Gatorland Bird Rookery in Orlando, Florida. I was able to observe as the mother Egret brings a fish to her three chicks to let them eat. She looked on as they tried but were still too young to pick through the tough skin on the fish. The mother then took the fish into her mouth to soften through digestion. She then later regurgitated the food back into their mouths to feed them. 

To purchase this photo or view more photos in our gallery click on BA Bowen Photography at Fine Art America.

Momma feeding baby

Red Bellied Woodpecker

While unloading my kayak at the park next to the Yankee Town Boat ramp, this Red- Bellied Woodpecker flew right in front of me and landed on a cabbage palm. Delighted, I watched for a few moments, as I was in fully engrossed in the moment. I had never experiences on that close before. Then I decided that nature WAS handing me this photo opportunity.  So, I quietly put everything down and slipped away to retrieve my camera. Of course she had moved from her original location, but I followed her as she flew from tree to tree and she eventually settled back on a Cabbage Palm. I was able to get a few photos before she flew on into the marshlands of the Withlacoochee Preserve. I have come to realize that recognizing photo opportunities is half the battle of getting good photos!

Upside-down Red Bellied Woodpecker

The Yankee Town Boat ramp lies at the mouth of the Withlacoochee River where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. This boat ramp allows access to the Withlacoochee Preserve and the Waccasassa Preserve which encases over 31,000 acres of protected coastline along the Florida Gulf Coast from Cedar Key to Yankee Town.

If you would like to purchase these photos or view our Gallery, just click on BA Bowen Photography at Fine Art America.