Looking up

White Moonflowers seek the light of the moon.

The Hunter's Moon begins to set in the west. I think of Lesley who swims laps under the moon and stars. Every morning.

Wise people say that if you're feeling agitated, step outside and look up. I did and felt a spontaneous breath arise. I decided to take photos of the sky. 

Looking east. I wondered if this is a contrail. Marc Holtsberg might know.

Southeast.

East.

As the rising sun warmly lit morning, I noticed that Lesley and I weren't the only ones looking up. 

This is a Little Blue Heron - a one-year-old (so say the birders who know way more than I do). Little Blue's attention is caught by an Osprey making its call. 

What Osprey? This one.

Did you wonder why Little Blue has white patches? They are feathers left from its juvenile molt into adulthood. Look HERE. 

Anhinga looks up.

This one perches on a dead tree limb behind Tom and Jeanne's place. 

WWI lets some dead tree trunks remain - that's so healthy for the habitat because they're a treasure trove of bird meals (insects), and 5-star nesting spots.

A Northern Mocking Bird.

A Bluejay.

Arriving home, I heard the Belted Kingfisher! I looked and clicked. More photos of the Kingfisher to come. But here, the Kingfisher with another flyer.

Earth Day, many of us looking out and up

Great Egret, 4.22.20. Earth Day. (SM Barrett)

"It is in you that you must look, not around you." – Eugene Delacroix. 

This quote is good guidance for Earth Day. I'm encouraged to explore my habits and see if they align with what I care about. I found it in award-winning scientist and brilliant teacher Hope Jahren's book, The Story of More. The book's message is to "use less, share more."

Such noticing. Marc Holtsberg took his camera on an early walk. Look what he saw. A pair of Osprey, likely from a neighborhood nest. (Marc's photograph)

Playful rascals - American River Otters. (Marc's photograph.)

Marc said that this family of 12 (!) departed the nest recently. (Marc's photograph.)

And, one of my favorite birds! A Limpkin. (If you haven't heard its call, you can find it in this link to All About Birds.) You'll never forget it. Thank you, Marc, for this photograph, especially.

From Wild Palm neighbor, Sandy, an invite to a Barred Owl cam. This is the type of family we hope finds our recently installed nesting box!

Pineneedle neighbor Walter Goodrich photographed from his window this American Bald Eagle cleaning up the leftovers of a too-much-fish-for-an Anhinga:

Here are some recent sights that caught my attention.

Has anyone else noticed how active the ducks are right now? This Mallard hen kept 3 males fast-waddling behind her, jumping, flying in circles, heading off into the Wedelia (laying eggs or what comes before?) She was vociferous!

A Red-Eared Slider Turtle took notice of the commotion.

This female Pileated Woodpecker checked out a Laurel Oak and maybe this Dendrobium Orchid. They are pretty delicious. (The orchid!) Have you tried one? Pineneedle's Grounds Committee has placed 35 orchids onto mostly oak trees for viewing, not eating.

(Yes, you can eat orchids and other flowers. Like Nasturtiums. Here is a photo of our dinner salad, nasturtium flower and leaves from our neighborhood Butterfly Garden.)

Here she is a few minutes later pausing in the Southern Live Oak behind Rosalie, Pat, and Betsy and Jim's. Let her inspire us to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in an Audubon Certified Wildlife area.

A Green Heron pair continues to nest. This is one of the two. Look for their activity at dusk.

Moonflower vine is one of the lovelies along Wildewood's border on 34th. I took this photo of a partly-prepared-for-weather blossom under the dim light of a soon-to-burst bluster of rain. Like sails unfurled it reminds me of a memorable wordless sail with a girlfriend in a boat her husband built.

Rounding the curve to our home, this airplane contrail (is that what you think this is?) seemed to be pointing out Wildewood, a wonderful place in the world.

UPDATE: Marc Holtsberg says that the contrail is from the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral yesterday afternoon. See the launch replay HERE.

Note - All photographs by others on Wildewood Wonders belong to the photographer named. Posted here with permission.