El Hondo, Saturday 14th February, 2015.
My first visit this year with the main intention of seeing the Spotted Eagles (Águila Moteada) before they go north. Sometimes the views here are in the distance and this morning it was the case. One had perched low in the red beds, but one bird was in a distant Palm tree and allowing a full view of it.
In the larger hide we could see in the distance two birds flying sometimes together, acrobatically so, and then flying apart before rejoining. Undoubtedly they were the eagles that I had come to see, but without any of them flying over our heads.
Nearby Moustached Warblers (Carricerin Real) were calling from reeds and eventually we did have very good views. I will look for these birds next time I visit. All the time I was watching these warblers Crag Martins (Avion Roquero) were flying within feet of us. Also seen was a Swallow (Golondrina Común) and some House Martins (Avión Común).
Earlier a female Merlin (Esmerejón) flew and a Peregrine ( Halcón Peregrino) was seen.
There is always something good to see here and I could have listed more, but in many ways it was a relatively quiet morning.
Monday 16 February 2015
Friday 13 February 2015
A HARD DEATH, a novel, by JONATHAN HAYES
A HARD DEATH, a novel, by JONATHAN HAYES (including Gene's Books)
It is exceptional to be allowed to pass by a bookshop without having to drive into the parking lot, park up and enter. We were driving along Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island on the western edge of Florida State when 'Gene's Books' appeared on the starboard side.
Inside it was a beautiful sight. Shiney 'proper' wooden bookcases laden with enticing covers. I browsed. I paused at a corner and there piled up were several copies of Jonathan Hayes' book seducing me with its reddish cover advertising death. At $3.98 plus tax I had to pick one up and scan a page or two. I was persuaded. The marked down price making my decision so easy and I am glad that I did. I had discovered a new author (to me, at least) and a tale of enforced fear, torture and gratuitous violence.
He had introduced Dr Edward Jenner in his first book Precious Blood and both he and Jenner have the same background. Jenner is the protagonist he has chosen to fight for justice after being forced out of New York City. That's a story in itself.
A Hard Death is a story of Florida, with some chapters set in or close to the swamp where many things can be found. There is one paragraph that made me wriggle in my chair and to get over it I had to carry on reading.
This is a 'page-turner'. The plots and the actions flow from page to page with a velocity that kept me reading on and on. There are twists and turns aplenty.
Social issues are included, there is some sex, the dialogues are explicit and since this is a crime novel there is a lot about both criminals and victims. This writer is a veteran forensic pathologist and he includes ample detail. Jenner is the protagonist that he has chosen to combat the bad boys and I think that I like him.
In over 400 pages I found only one piece that stretched my idea of reality close to implausibility. I recommend this book and I will seek out his first one, Precious Blood, and try and discover what makes these investigators of cadavers so willing to write about their work!
It is exceptional to be allowed to pass by a bookshop without having to drive into the parking lot, park up and enter. We were driving along Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island on the western edge of Florida State when 'Gene's Books' appeared on the starboard side.
Inside it was a beautiful sight. Shiney 'proper' wooden bookcases laden with enticing covers. I browsed. I paused at a corner and there piled up were several copies of Jonathan Hayes' book seducing me with its reddish cover advertising death. At $3.98 plus tax I had to pick one up and scan a page or two. I was persuaded. The marked down price making my decision so easy and I am glad that I did. I had discovered a new author (to me, at least) and a tale of enforced fear, torture and gratuitous violence.
He had introduced Dr Edward Jenner in his first book Precious Blood and both he and Jenner have the same background. Jenner is the protagonist he has chosen to fight for justice after being forced out of New York City. That's a story in itself.
A Hard Death is a story of Florida, with some chapters set in or close to the swamp where many things can be found. There is one paragraph that made me wriggle in my chair and to get over it I had to carry on reading.
This is a 'page-turner'. The plots and the actions flow from page to page with a velocity that kept me reading on and on. There are twists and turns aplenty.
Social issues are included, there is some sex, the dialogues are explicit and since this is a crime novel there is a lot about both criminals and victims. This writer is a veteran forensic pathologist and he includes ample detail. Jenner is the protagonist that he has chosen to combat the bad boys and I think that I like him.
In over 400 pages I found only one piece that stretched my idea of reality close to implausibility. I recommend this book and I will seek out his first one, Precious Blood, and try and discover what makes these investigators of cadavers so willing to write about their work!
Monday 2 February 2015
Finally a Crested Caracara
Friday 30th. This was our last full day and the last chance to try and see something rare and possibly a species that was endangered.
We looked at the possibilities of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve that was within a 23 minute drive, but eventually decided to go a little further and see if we could find the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
The area that we chose was the Fred Babcock-Cecil Webb State Management Area and it was easy to find as Tucker's Grade was clearly signed from Interstate 4. As we drove to this 'managed wilderness area' we searched the verges for road-kill hoping to see the rare Crested Caracara, without success. It is a very large area with some good roads and an entrance fee of $6 per car. A guide or volunteer would have been very good to see as we felt afterwards that local knowledge would have been beneficial.
We persevered driving slowly down the roads some of which were metaled, some were graded and some were only dirt, but all were passable. This is the dry season and caution would be needed during the summer months.
Our first find of the day was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We had to be patient with this one as he kept disappearing around the back of a pine tree. When scoped we could see his red head and chin which identified him as male.
Then, for me, the most interesting birds of the trip. We saw a male Northern Harrier flying around us and within minutes there was a female flying too. We had great views for several minutes and these two birds made the effort worthwhile.
We called it a day and then headed for Naples and The Cheesecake Factory. We knew that Penny had been sacked but I found Sheldon Cooper tidying up the rest rooms. He is very good at that.
The following day we headed north for Orlando International and our home bound flights. We looked out for road-kill and on State Road 31(this bisects Babcock) there was a group of black birds on the road. They were Vultures and Crows and a Crested Caracara. It flew up, went into a tree and then within minutes it flew away. Cameras and binoculars which were all packed were not needed as we had clear and close views of this endangered species.
We have great memories and on the last three consecutive days we had a 'first'. The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail logo bird, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Tarpon Bay followed by the two Northern Harriers and then on route to the airport the endangered Crested Caracara. The most successful few minutes was at Bunche Beach with the 'pipers' and Black Skimmers.
We were in London on Sunday and to carry on with our birding theme we visited the Natural History Museum in Kensington. It is always worth a visit, but our intent was to see the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition. The images of the various species of Birds of Paradise was worth the effort. These photographs taken by Tim Laman, the Portfolio Winner will live in my memory.
We looked at the possibilities of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve that was within a 23 minute drive, but eventually decided to go a little further and see if we could find the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
The area that we chose was the Fred Babcock-Cecil Webb State Management Area and it was easy to find as Tucker's Grade was clearly signed from Interstate 4. As we drove to this 'managed wilderness area' we searched the verges for road-kill hoping to see the rare Crested Caracara, without success. It is a very large area with some good roads and an entrance fee of $6 per car. A guide or volunteer would have been very good to see as we felt afterwards that local knowledge would have been beneficial.
We persevered driving slowly down the roads some of which were metaled, some were graded and some were only dirt, but all were passable. This is the dry season and caution would be needed during the summer months.
Our first find of the day was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We had to be patient with this one as he kept disappearing around the back of a pine tree. When scoped we could see his red head and chin which identified him as male.
Then, for me, the most interesting birds of the trip. We saw a male Northern Harrier flying around us and within minutes there was a female flying too. We had great views for several minutes and these two birds made the effort worthwhile.
We called it a day and then headed for Naples and The Cheesecake Factory. We knew that Penny had been sacked but I found Sheldon Cooper tidying up the rest rooms. He is very good at that.
The following day we headed north for Orlando International and our home bound flights. We looked out for road-kill and on State Road 31(this bisects Babcock) there was a group of black birds on the road. They were Vultures and Crows and a Crested Caracara. It flew up, went into a tree and then within minutes it flew away. Cameras and binoculars which were all packed were not needed as we had clear and close views of this endangered species.
We have great memories and on the last three consecutive days we had a 'first'. The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail logo bird, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Tarpon Bay followed by the two Northern Harriers and then on route to the airport the endangered Crested Caracara. The most successful few minutes was at Bunche Beach with the 'pipers' and Black Skimmers.
We were in London on Sunday and to carry on with our birding theme we visited the Natural History Museum in Kensington. It is always worth a visit, but our intent was to see the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition. The images of the various species of Birds of Paradise was worth the effort. These photographs taken by Tim Laman, the Portfolio Winner will live in my memory.
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