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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> St. Augustine for the Birds - 4 days in May tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

St. Augustine for the Birds - 4 days in May

After 10 years I finally made it back to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm to photograph nesting and flying storks, egrets and herons. I braved two days of unusually high heat - 95 degrees with high humidity - hot even by FL standards! I got to see a very, very special flying thing - the space shuttle Atlantis blasting off into space! Exciting! I also snuck in some lighthouse viewing, got a short private tour of Cape Canaveral, had lunch with a friend, and saw downtown Jacksonville for the first time.
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Sun., flew to JAX, drove to Ft. George Isl to take the ferry to Mayport. Ferry pilot wore a cowboy hat - shade when it's 95?
Sun., flew to JAX, drove to Ft. George Isl to take the ferry to Mayport. Ferry pilot wore a cowboy hat - shade when it's 95?		 Mayport lighthouse is on the grounds of the Mayport Naval Station.
Mayport lighthouse is on the grounds of the Mayport Naval Station.		 Someone (not me!) made a hole in the fence so I could take a picture. Wonder why the bottom of the light's painted white?
Someone (not me!) made a hole in the fence so I could take a picture. Wonder why the bottom of the light's painted white?		 I drove to St. Augustine to visit the St. Aug Alligator Farm, where birds come to nest and raise their young.
I drove to St. Augustine to visit the St. Aug Alligator Farm, where birds come to nest and raise their young.
The wood storks nest high in the trees.
The wood storks nest high in the trees.		 Tri-colored heron
Tri-colored heron		 This stork was building a nest.
This stork was building a nest.		 A baby stork. He (she?) reminded me of a beanie baby!
A baby stork. He (she?) reminded me of a beanie baby!
Egrets feed their babies by transferring food via their beeks. The little guys learn early to grab hold of Mom's beak. Ouch!
Egrets feed their babies by transferring food via their beeks. The little guys learn early to grab hold of Mom's beak. Ouch!		 Florida's beautiful roseate spoonbills.
Florida's beautiful roseate spoonbills.		 Cattle egret
Cattle egret		 I loved the little babies. These are great egret chicks.
I loved the little babies. These are great egret chicks.
I didn't pay much attention to the alligators below the boardwalk, but these little guys made me stop to take a peek.
I didn't pay much attention to the alligators below the boardwalk, but these little guys made me stop to take a peek.		 Snowy egret.
Snowy egret.		 Wood stork babies. They were SO cute - and very noisy when they wanted food!
Wood stork babies. They were SO cute - and very noisy when they wanted food!		 A spoonbill, late Monday evening at the Alligator Farm
A spoonbill, late Monday evening at the Alligator Farm
The next morning, I photographed in the Farm and then left at 10 to drive to Titusville for the space shuttle launch.
The next morning, I photographed in the Farm and then left at 10 to drive to Titusville for the space shuttle launch.		 A beautiful launch (7 astronauts bound for Hubble) at 2:01, right before the rain started!
A beautiful launch (7 astronauts bound for Hubble) at 2:01, right before the rain started!		 Could have viewed it from Cape Canaveral if I'd been smarter (long story). Even from Titusville, however, it was awesome!
Could have viewed it from Cape Canaveral if I'd been smarter (long story). Even from Titusville, however, it was awesome!		 Returned to St. Augustine after the launch.
Returned to St. Augustine after the launch.
Egret tending nest
Egret tending nest		 A great egret displaying, with green lore around the eye. (It turns green during breeding season.)
A great egret displaying, with green lore around the eye. (It turns green during breeding season.)		 Cattle egret. They can sometimes be found perching on cattle! (Really!)
Cattle egret. They can sometimes be found perching on cattle! (Really!)		 A pair of little guys. I never tired of watching them (as you can probably guess!)
A pair of little guys. I never tired of watching them (as you can probably guess!)
One of two white alligators at the Alligator Farm.
One of two white alligators at the Alligator Farm.		 An egret displaying.
An egret displaying.		 A room with a view: From my room at the Sleep Inn Mon. night, I had a view of the St. Augustine lighthouse! How perfect!
A room with a view: From my room at the Sleep Inn Mon. night, I had a view of the St. Augustine lighthouse! How perfect!		 Tues. AM: More photography, and more chicks
Tues. AM: More photography, and more chicks
Such beautiful hair! Maybe Toni gave him a haircut!
Such beautiful hair! Maybe Toni gave him a haircut!		 So cute!
So cute!		 Poor Mom (and poor baby!)
Poor Mom (and poor baby!)		 Tues. I drove to Cape Canaveral. Dr. Sonny Witt took me to see the beautiful lighthouse, which was painted abt 2 years ago.
Tues. I drove to Cape Canaveral. Dr. Sonny Witt took me to see the beautiful lighthouse, which was painted abt 2 years ago.
This is the only operational lighthouse on an AF base. Coast Guard maintains optic; restoration group restored the oil house.
This is the only operational lighthouse on an AF base. Coast Guard maintains optic; restoration group restored the oil house.		 Built in 1848 and moved in 1894 after marking pieces to enable re-assembly.
Built in 1848 and moved in 1894 after marking pieces to enable re-assembly.		 After seeing Cape Canaveral, I stopped at the Ponce Inlet lighthouse on my way back to JAX.
After seeing Cape Canaveral, I stopped at the Ponce Inlet lighthouse on my way back to JAX.		 Wed. morning, I drove to St. Simons Island, GA, to see the lighthouse there. This was about 9 AM from the front of the light.
Wed. morning, I drove to St. Simons Island, GA, to see the lighthouse there. This was about 9 AM from the front of the light.
St. Simons lighthouse tower
St. Simons lighthouse tower		 Tower reflected in a puddle.
Tower reflected in a puddle.		 The back of St. Simons
The back of St. Simons		 My friend Rosemary, who used to work at the San Francisco Mint (now lives in the JAX area).
My friend Rosemary, who used to work at the San Francisco Mint (now lives in the JAX area).
Walked off lunch by exploring JAX Landing. Took a water taxi around the waterfront. My kind of city - lots of water!
Walked off lunch by exploring JAX Landing. Took a water taxi around the waterfront. My kind of city - lots of water!		 Except on tour days, the only way to see the Fernandina Beach, FL lighthouse is to view it from Fort Clinch State Park.
Except on tour days, the only way to see the Fernandina Beach, FL lighthouse is to view it from Fort Clinch State Park.
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