Tree Snags

Tree Snags. Helpful or Dangerous?

This snag is but 40 ' from my pool deck an I have photographed over 15+ sp of birds resting on this tree.

 

Note the 2 lighter knot posts adjacent to my pond.

Compare the photo taken by me to the beautiful painting by Barbara Faehnle.

I've Planted Taxodium distinctum, Bald Cypress in this low area to replace the Slash Pine.

                     ** Updated Email address: ASRinc4Ponds@gmail.com

  Email Update:

 ASRinc4ponds@gmail.com

 

Swallow Tailed Kites

The following is my final presentation for the Audubon Field Academy.  The class is the first of its kind East of the Mississippi. It was developed by John Nelson and Martin Co. Audubon.  The 8 modules consisted of 64 hours of classroom, field work and 2 independent projects.  My interest in birding grew in 2012 and 2013 when large numbers of Swallow Tailed Kites frequented my neighborhood in Eastern Martin Co.  Those 2 years allowed me to observe these masters of flight on a daily basis from April through July.  During this time nightly roosting was in 2-3 pine trees on and within 300 foot of my home.  In one pine tree alone as many as 28 Kites were roosting at the peak of the feeding season leading up to their long annual migration.  These 2 years we were blessed with abundant Winter rainfall providing plenty of food resources in the Spring, before the rainy season which starts about June 1st.  

Special Thanks goes out the Avian Research and Conservation Institute for their invaluable help with this presentation.  Please consider a donation to their very important work.  

 http://arcinst.org/

 

Roosting and Feeding Site

Thanks for looking.

Copyright Pat Faehnle 2017.  All rights reserved.

Courtesy of: SnapKnot

Ring Neck Snake

              Ring Neck Snake  Diadophis punctatus punctatus

Seems these guys are on the move recently possibly due to the recent rains.  Whilst gathering my equipment for a photo shoot of two of these critters I almost stepped on another small one not quite 4" long.  Scooped em up and gave him or her their 15 minutes of fame before letting them go.  My daughter wanted to keep a couple as pets but found out how hard collecting food for them was going to be.

The lowly Dauben water lily in a new light.

I have been experimenting on a new (or at least new to me) technique.  It involves a translucent background lit from the behind as well as balanced foreground light.  This really accentuates the subject without any distracting feature.  Pretty easy with stationary subjects and really portable enough to take into the field.

Scarlet Snake