Photography, nature, science, and more.
Summer in Florida is a great time to take beautiful cloud and storm photographs. It also brings a chance to view our galaxy, the Milky Way, in its full glory.
During Summertime in the U.S the Earth faces directly at the galactic core where the stars are most numerous. Continue reading “The Milky Way and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Lighthouse”
A few days ago Chantal and I were at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge as some dark storm clouds passed to our west. The dark clouds formed a beautiful backdrop to the Cedar Point Trail salt marsh. The sun was low in the sky and illuminated parts of the marsh creating a great photo opportunity.
We were also treated to the sight of several sea squirts shooting impressive streams water into the air. Perhaps they were warming up for the 4th of July celebration the next day.
The image of the sea squirts was extracted from a video I shot so it is not the same quality as the images from my Pentax DSLR.
I hope you enjoy these images!
Jim
(Click to enlarge)
I love watching a forest recover from a prescribed burn. Almost overnight fresh vegetation arises from the blackened ground and soon the forest is more beautiful than before.
Often species which were suppressed by the thick undergrowth are free to to grow and blossom. Continue reading “Beautiful “crow poison” plant flowering at St. Marks NWR.”
In a previous post I wrote of the beauty of Winter sunsets at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It is now a year later and I want to share with you some of this season’s beautiful sunsets.
The images were taken mostly at St. Marks NWR and a few other Florida panhandle locations. I’ll update this post as I get more images.
The best time to go hunting for Winter sunsets is right after a weather front has passed and the air is still activated.
I hope you like them!
More sunset images can be seen on our sunset gallery
October 11 was a busy day at the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It was the first day of National Wildlife Refuge week and no admission fee was required.
The “Big Sit” bird count was taking place at the Lighthouse observation deck so there were quite a few birders and photographers around.
I started my day’s photo journal with a photo of two kayaks taken from Ranger John’s bench. Since the wildflowers were in bloom with pollinators everywhere I decided to spend much of my time on the levee trails. Continue reading “Photo Journal St. Marks NWR 10/11/2014”
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
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”
During the spring turtles often cross the roads to find sandy areas to lay their eggs.
This turtle had crossed from Lighthouse Pond across the road to lay her eggs on the shoulder of the road and was in the process of going back to the pond when I took these telephoto images.
When you are on the refuge please stay below the speed limit so you don’t kill these vulnerable creatures. (click on image to enlarge)
Continue reading “Give the St Marks NWR Refuge animals a brake”
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”