Winter Won't Let Go

We have reached the record snowfall, of I don't know 122"? Yikes! The last time we had this much snow was 19-dark hundred. This morning I awoke to a snow squall that lasted several minutes. I just shake my head at this point. Next week we are slated to have ONE, yes one warm day, before the cold comes back. So next week, for one day we could see a high temp of near 60F.

Meanwhile, I have seen the return of the Red-Winged Blackbird, Killdeer, and Robins. The Robins have flocked to the scarce bare spots on area farmland. As I drive down the road they fly up in front of me, seeming to remind me that Winter IS nearing the end.

Nevertheless, when I see more snowfall, I feel like this guy, the Komodo Dragon. Yet another beautiful creature at the Lowry Park Zoo. He is a massive lizard at least five feet long. Though not really a vicious killer, the bacteria in his mouth is so toxic that his bite could kill you!

The Honeymoon is over

Ask me how much I wish I were back at this beach! As the wind howls around outside, the sun's warmth is very much subdued. I have plenty of snow and ice left around my house. Who knows what the "windchill factor" is. So I look at my beach pictures, remembering the wonderful warm sand on Honeymoon Island last week. The wind blew there also, but the difference? about 40 degrees!

The bird, a Great Egret. This bird was stealing a fisherman's catch from his five gallon pail, while the fisherman stood in the water waist deep. Very slick thief that Egret. He could not be dissuaded or scared off. Each time the fisherman tried to scare the bird away, the bird would return. Finally the fisherman took his shirt off and spread it across the top of the pail so the bird couldn't get in.

Give me a break

The Orangutans at Lowry Park are not dissimilar to human families. The female/mom appears to be trying to sneak in a power nap, while Dad keeps track of junior. Junior on the other hand wants Mom(at the right) to pay attention to him. Dad gives up on watching junior, and goes off to the yard to play with tools, or swing from a rope.

Back to reality

This handsome bird is one of several kinds of Lorikeet. He and many others live in the aviary at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL. I went to the zoo on Friday amidst spotty showers, but it was a pleasant experience nonetheless. Many of the exhibits were being renovated so I did not get to see the Tigers, as I'd hoped. I wanted to check on the height of the fence, after the news of an attack on three people a couple months ago in another zoo. I'm convinced those fellows antagonized the tiger, so she went after them.

Anyhooo I enjoyed the zoo immensely, especially the birds. I took several pictures which I'll try to share with you if my dial-up connection cooperates. I spent a good amount of time in the J.B. Starkey wilderness park also. Starkey is just a mile and a half from my mom's house in New Port Richey, FL. There is a bike path that passes through the park for 6.5 miles. The path hooks up with the Suncoast Trail which will take you all the way to Tampa! I was wishing I had my road bike, but my mom's beach comber single speed worked just fine.

Whenever I am in Starkey, I see wildlife, without fail. I was able to approach a deer, and take a video clip within about 15 yards. She was very small, as are most Florida White Tail deer. I thought about how comfortable she seemed to be despite my approaching on a bicycle. I wonder if the rangers feed the deer? I have found deer feeding stations in the past, just beyond the park boundary. Those feeding stations were privately owned, and not by the rangers.

I saw several Armadillos meandering through the Palmettos. Armadillo have both bad eyesight, and hearing, so it's very easy to approach them, and even touch them.

I'm back home now. Back to the snow, ice, and mud. Spring is fast approaching. I can hardly wait to smell those Lilacs, and hear the Spring Peepers.

I'm not blue

This is "Blue", he is a Blue Macaw. What a beauty. He keeps track of folks coming in and going out of "The Crab Shack" in New Port Richey, Florida. I'm down here on Spring Break, chilling with my mom and stepdad. My mom likes to "do lunch" out alot, so we go to little places anywhere near the water. The Crab Shack is along the Pithlascotee River. Boats use this waterway to get out to Tampa Bay.

We tried the beach this morning but it was pretty chilly, and overcast. The water temperature is about 60 degrees F, but that's nothing compared to Maine. I did wade along the beach at Anclote Key, a beautiful spot for swimming or fishing from the shore. The sun came out this afternoon, so I caught some rays in mom's backyard. Tommorow we're headed to "Honeymoon Island". The beach there is made up mostly of coral that has broken off, and washed ashore. People love the shells you can find. Who knows maybe we can find a Megalodon tooth! A nine year old boy found one just the other day. Across the water is Caladesi Island, which is one of the top beaches in the world. You can swim among large skates without fear of being stung. Don't step on one though, THAT really hurts like hell. Take it from one who has experienced it!

Coming In for a landing

I took this clip while attending the B.O.W.(Becoming an OutdoorsWoman) weekend at Squam Lake last September '07. One of the seminars I attended was Falconry. This bird is a Marsh Hawk.
We each took a turn feeding the various birds of prey on hand. There were several; Marsh Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons. Because the weather was hot, we could only allow the birds a few runs at our baited gloves. The bird would fly up into a tree, then we would hold a piece of bait in a thick leather glove. The bait was baby chicks raised just for this purpose.

The bird of prey would see the bait, then swoop down from its lofty perch. It was amazing to watch and experience. The instructor told us that birds of prey are opportunistic hunters that are not actually "trained" to respond to a glove with bait. The birds are simply following their instinct and need for food. The birds tired quickly after landing on many gloved hands. They began to pant, their bills agape.

In order to be a falconer and hunt as such, you have to jump through several complicated governmental hoops. You can't simply go out and catch yourself a Marsh Hawk and start hunting. There are federal and state laws that govern both catching and using your winged hunting partner.

Twy-linator

I had intended to attach a video clip of my recent snow shoe hike. However, I have "dial-up" and even after several hours, the clip would download! So I decided I will have to go out and get more "stills", and give up on the video until DSl gets to the hinterlands of Walpole.

This is Twyla, my newest cat. My mom says Twyla is a Norwegian Forest cat. I'll have to take her word for it. I looked up NFC in my cat encyclopedia, and found that Twyla does have many of the characteristics. The ears sit high on the head. She has a beautiful full mane, and tail. Her back legs are longer than her front legs. Her eyes have a beautiful green tinge to them, and are distinctly more almond shaped than my other cats. Twyla has white whiskers, and on her feet, the toe pads are pink while the big pads are black!

We got a lot more snow last night, so I will head out on the snow shoes again. Now that March is here, hopefully some signs of spring will begin to show. Stay tuned.