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This was an unbelievable last morning of a fantastic trip through South Dakota. From the road, I could see the moon sett...
08/31/2026

This was an unbelievable last morning of a fantastic trip through South Dakota. From the road, I could see the moon setting on one side, the sun rising on the other. That was gift enough.

But the bison were moving. Slowly, deliberately, and somehow, some way, on each side of me. One bull under the setting moon, one draped in the colors of sunrise.

One moment, two miracles.

08/31/2026

Pelican Hooked by Fishermen

This is what I was telling you all about: fishermen continued using live bait while terns & pelicans repeatedly tried to take it. This poor guy ultimately ended up with a hook in his leg.

Take note of how they continue fishing while a suffering animal is hanging there. Then they dangle bait by the bird! At what point do you think it’s time to change bait or move? One dang boat in all of Sebastian Inlet was having their bait constantly bombarded by wildlife, and they just kept on like it was completely normal.

When I first brought this up, a few people said, “Big deal.” Well, harming wildlife when it's avoidable is a big deal to those of us who have a little thing called empathy.

Ever had to get a hook pulled out of you? Trust me, it hurts and it can leave a wound that's vulnerable to infection. This entire situation was avoidable and inflicted unnecessary stress and pain on another living being.

Some people may say, “He removed the hook and the pelican went on its way. No harm done.” But imagine being hooked, dragged through open water with a hook anchored in your leg, then handled by a giant while you're already injured, stressed, and afraid. Then having that hook ripped out, leaving an open wound.

Why do we accept doing this to wildlife? Why do some people fail to be moved by the suffering of another living creature?

Sadly, fishing-related injuries to wildlife are not uncommon. That's exactly why I appreciate responsible anglers so much. So let me say a BIG thank you to those who fish responsibly. ❤️

The path I walk. Everglades National Park, FL
08/30/2026

The path I walk.

Everglades National Park, FL

08/30/2026

Wow! It happened so fast. I saw this gorgeous swallow-tailed kite getting ready to dive. It was very far downriver, but I whipped the camera up, put the hammer down and hoped for the best! Super heavy crop, but hey, this bird is just so amazing I am calling this a win 😁

Silver River, FL

Mesmerizing. I love brown pelican eyes.OK, so here's a "Who's on First?" caption in the making. 🤣The brown pelican's eye...
08/29/2026

Mesmerizing. I love brown pelican eyes.

OK, so here's a "Who's on First?" caption in the making. 🤣

The brown pelican's eyes... not brown pelican eyes. Though I love brown pelican eyes as much as blue pelican eyes.

What?

Yeah, let's get back on track. I love the eyes of a brown pelican. Whew!

In case you haven't guessed, this bird is a brown pelican. Which is kind of funny because adults really aren't that brown. During breeding season, even their eyes aren't brown.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

"The adult brown pelican is a large dark gray-brown water bird with white about the head and neck. Immatures are gray-brown above and on the neck, with white underparts."

My eyes see a lot more gray than brown on adults, so who decided "brown pelican" was the right name instead of "gray pelican"? 😁 Third base?

Spotted at Sebastian Inlet, FL, right by discarded fishing line and human garbage. Just sayin'.

08/29/2026

Snake Snuggles!

These rat snakes were getting their groove on at Sweetwater Wetlands Park this past May.

I just love how they move. 🐍 ❤️

Skewered. 😬Poor little guy didn't stand a chance against an anhinga's bill. That baby is built for this!An anhinga's bil...
08/28/2026

Skewered. 😬

Poor little guy didn't stand a chance against an anhinga's bill. That baby is built for this!

An anhinga's bill is serrated, helping it grip slippery prey that might otherwise escape.

But those same serrations can sometimes make it difficult to remove a speared fish from the bill.

Have you ever seen an anhinga repeatedly whack a fish against a stump, rock, or branch?

People often assume the bird is trying to kill the fish before eating it. In reality, anhingas routinely swallow live fish. That pounding behavior is usually just an effort to get a stuck fish off the bill after a successful strike.

It isn't pretty, but it is effective.

Sorry, fishy. ☹️

Spotted while kayaking at Silver Springs State Park, FL

08/28/2026

Shake It!

Elk bull shaking off after a vigorous antler raking and, um, soaking session. Yeah, he's shaking off some of his own p*e. He went to a lot of trouble to put it there in the first place so this seems counterproductive 🤣 But toward the end you can see he's actually still applying his love potion.

Apparently elk cows love a stinky guy. But who are we to judge. I bet you know someone who is attracted by some really weird stuff. Hopefully not p*e. 😆

PA during last year's rut

Ear-resistible!Yeah, I said it. 😆 I mean can you blame me? Those ears are ginormous! So is that unusual for a black bear...
08/27/2026

Ear-resistible!

Yeah, I said it. 😆 I mean can you blame me? Those ears are ginormous! So is that unusual for a black bear yearling? According to BearWise:

"One way to distinguish yearlings is by their large ears. A yearling bear’s ears are as long as they will ever be, so as the bear gets older and bigger, the ears seem to shrink, but actually the bear’s head is getting larger and wider."

That was a beary cool bit of info 🐻

08/27/2026

Shake It! 😍

Is there anyone else out there who can just get lost watching sandhill cranes? They are one of the most fascinating bird species. Sometimes you get lucky on a quiet day and can hear how frequently they vocalize. I love their little purrs.

And though they often forage through greens for small insects, I have seen them go after gallinule chicks, slurp down snakes, and take small rodents. So yeah, definitely some predator along with the pretty.

Then of course there's the famous dance moves. But cranes actually have a complex range of body language, and many times people do not interpret the meaning correctly. I have brought this up before, but I want to touch on it again as we enter the time when resident Florida sandhill cranes and migrating greater cranes will be muscling for territory.

During the overwintering season, stress can be very high in resident cranes. They breed a lot earlier than their migrating counterparts, so establishing their turf overlaps with migrants arriving and feeding. So vanquishing the interlopers is a key part of a resident crane pair's strategy in successfully raising colts.

If you are visiting wetlands, parks, etc. and see a group of cranes just standing there, trust me, they are likely NOT just standing there. They are probably posturing and engaging in a long series of body language cues that may, in an instant, erupt into a fight.

One of the first things they do in a fight is kick with those powerful legs... and those sharp claws can do serious damage. I've seen them used to slice an opponent, leaving behind a bloody reminder that the interactions are often not just a graceful dance.

So, back to the usual message... let's appreciate the magnificence from a distance.

Or not, and if not, make sure I am there to record it. 😁

Sweetwater Wetlands Park, FL

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40001 SR-9336
Silver Springs, FL
33034

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