Photography, nature, science, and more.
Today I am sharing a few images I recorded on a rather typical September day at the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
September begins the transition to Autumn with flowers, pollinators, and slightly cooler temperatures. The spoonbills and eagles have returned and the alligators abound in large numbers.
Come see it for yourself!
Jim
One of the most popular benches at St. Marks NWR is dedicated to Ranger John McKenzie and is located near the lighthouse where it overlooks Apalachee Bay.
Ranger McKenzie was beloved by the St. Marks NWR community, and his untimely passing in 2011 was mourned by all who knew him. The site of the bench is a location McKenzie visited often, especially at the end of his workday. Continue reading “Ranger John McKenzie’s bench”
These images of the moon, hidden by clouds and reflected in Stoney Bayou 1, were taken during the “Blue Hour” just after the sun sets. Coincidentally, these particular images were taken on the eve of a Blue Moon.
The colors change very quickly during the Blue Hour and you have to be ready to take a photo quickly because some of the colors may last less than a minute. Continue reading “Moonbeams over Stoney Bayou”
In the summer these beautiful mushrooms pop up in our front yard. They are the “American Caesar’s Mushroom” Amanita jacksonii and are very close relatives of the European Caesar’s mushroom Amanita caesarea .
(click to enlarge)
This unusual mushroom looks like it hatched from an egg.
The genus Amanita is well known for its poisonous species such as Amanita muscaria (the fly agaric mushroom) but the Caesar mushroom and its relatives are edible.
I find the taste quite mild but not interesting enough to eat often. (Please don’t eat any wild mushroom unless you are absolutely certain it is edible.)
Amanita jacksonii is mycorrhizal with oak and pine trees and covers the fine tree roots with mycelium (mushroom tissue). The tree supplies sugars to the mushroom and the mushroom provides minerals to the tree root so they both benefit from the relationship.
I will post more mushroom images in the near future
Thanks for visiting,
Jim
In addition to the great wildlife St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge offers amazing landscapes and vistas. During the summer the lucky visitor may get to witness one of nature’s spectacles, a summer thunderstorm.
A few days ago my wife and I were preparing to leave after a day on the refuge when we noticed a developing thunderstorm. We were at the lighthouse which happens to be one of the best locations for watching and photographing approaching storms. Continue reading “The witness may approach the bench”
As a photographer I love looking at still images but I recognize many people prefer to watch a video instead.
This is similar to the fact that many people prefer color movies to black and white movies. Years ago I had a friend who absolutely refused to watch old B&W movies no matter how good they were, an attitude that confounded me. Continue reading “Converting your photographs to video”
The routine prescribed burns at Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge often open up new photographic opportunities.
Some areas of the refuge, such as the section just south of the visitors center, tend to grow thick vegetation that obstructs the view of the east river pool. Such thick growth is not good habitat for wildlife and regular prescribed fires help restore a more natural habitat. The fires are good for photographers as it provides new views of the refuge
Below are a couple of images of high water in the East River which created an interesting reflecting pool.
Continue reading “Interesting patterns in East River reflecting pool.”
Water levels at St. Marks NWR are actively managed by the staff to provide the proper environment for migrating water fowl and to control invasive plants.
Although some visitors find low water levels unattractive there is still beauty to be found, even in mud.
Continue reading “Mud, algal mats, and low water make interesting patterns”
I love the sunsets of summer here in Florida, but I have to admit that winter sunsets have a very special beauty.
The sunsets from December to February can be quite remarkable with their vivid red colors and unusual cloud formations. I have noticed that some of my best sunset photos are taken around Christmas to New Years.
Just after Christmas (December 27, 2014) my wife and I were finishing up our day at the St. Marks Lighthouse when I noticed the clouds and sky were forming up to give a particularly beautiful sunset.
Continue reading “Beautiful winter sunsets”
Visitors to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge are often startled to see an unwelcome sight as they approach the refuge gate. Instead of the beautiful natural landscape they expect, they are greeted by a huge clear-cut, devoid of vegetation. Plies of tree stumps are scattered across the barren scarred earth.
Continue reading “Why we need public lands.”