Last of fall colors in Central Illinois

 

Central Illinois in November.

 

Look at the background!!!!

Canon 85 1.2 

A brass vase from India

 

Another Osprey picture

 

Black Tulip!

 

Cat@Work!

This was in one of the mine sites in Central Florida. 

Orange groves in Central Florida

 

Picture of Clearwater beach from the pier.

 

The pier just after sunset

 

The Pier at Clearwater beach

 

Tulips from our front yard

 

Sunset at Clearwater beach, Florida.

 

Laughing Gull

A smallish gull with a black head, the Laughing Gull is abundant along the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Infrequently found away from the ocean, it takes advantage of human habitat modifications, foraging in parking lots and dumps, and breeding on dredge spoil islands.

Description
Medium-sized gull.
Back slatey gray.
Underparts white.
Wingtips black, without extensive white markings.
Entire head black in breeding season.
Size: 39-46 cm (15-18 in)
Wingspan: 92-120 cm (36-47 in)
Weight: 203-371 g (7.17-13.1 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes look alike; males slightly larger
Sound
Very vocal. Common call a loud series of laughing notes
Conservation Status
Nest colonies in northeastern United States were nearly eliminated by egg and plume hunters in the late 19th century. Populations have increased over the last century, following protection.
Other Names
Mouette atricille (French)Guanaguanare (Spanish)
Cool Facts
Nest colonies in northeastern United States were nearly eliminated by egg and plume hunters in the late 19th century. Populations have increased over the last century, following protection.
The male and female Laughing Gull usually build their nest together. If a male cannot find a mate, he may start building a nest platform and then use it to attract a female.
The adult Laughing Gull removes the eggshells from the nest after the eggs hatch. If the shells are not removed, a piece can become lodged on top of the slightly smaller unhatched third egg and prevent it from hatching.
The Laughing Gull is normally diurnal, being active during the day. During the breeding season it forages at night as well. It usually looks for food along the beach at night, but will also hover to catch insects around lights.


 

Ospreys in Central Florida.

Ospreys, also known as �fish hawks,� are expert anglers that like to hover above the water, locate their prey and then swoop down for the capture with talons extended. The undersides of the toes on each foot are covered with short spines, which help them grasp slippery fish. In Florida, ospreys commonly capture saltwater catfish, mullet, spotted trout, shad, crappie and sunfish from coastal habitats and freshwater lakes and rivers for their diet.
The osprey is smaller than the bald eagles that typically share the same habitats, but its five to six foot wingspan is impressive nonetheless. Adults are dark brown above with a white underside and head. Look for the distinctive dark line that extends behind the eye and the gull-like way the narrow wings are angled downward when the birds are in flight.
Ospreys build large stick nests located in the tops of large living or dead trees and on manmade structures such as utility poles, channel markers and nest platforms. Ospreys have adapted so well to artificial nest sites that the species now nests in areas (e.g. inner cities) once considered unsuitable. Nests are commonly reused for many years. Nesting begins from December (south Florida) to late February (north Florida). The incubation and nestling period extends into the summer months.
The osprey is found year-round in Florida both as a nesting species and as a spring and fall migrant passing between more northern areas and Central and South America. Ospreys in Florida did not suffer the serious pesticide-related population declines that occurred in other states in the 1950s and 1960s. Pesticides, shoreline development and declining water quality continue to threaten the abundance and availability of food and nest sites for ospreys.
The osprey is listed as a Species of Special Concern only in Monroe County. Permits are required throughout the state to remove a nest for these wonderful raptors, however, and a replacement structure must be erected to mitigate the removal of the nest.


 

Alligators in Florida