BlogHide Resteemsrawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Red-Tailed HawkWhile walking a nature trail this beautiful Hawk swooped in just ahead of me. I absolutely love Birds of Prey and watch them carefully when I am fortunate enough to encounter them. This…rawruss (51)in reptiles • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake - Don't Tread on Me!Watch your step when you walk on a nature trail in Florida. I crossed paths with this beauty one early morning, slithering across the trail. I've encountered Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Brown ThrasherBrown Thrashers are relatively common, however I don't usually get any good pictures of them. I usually hear them "thrashing" around in bushes and shrubs before I actually see them. I was…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Male Red CardinalThis male red cardinal swooped in just above me while walking a nature trail. Their quick, sharp chirps are easy to distinguish in a foreat full of diverse sounds. We took a moment to…rawruss (51)in reptiles • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Florida Softshell TurtleWe found this baby softshell turtle near our home. He was not much larger than my clenched fist. He was far from water and his shell was very dirty. He was alert but apprehensive regarding…rawruss (51)in mammals • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Marsh Rabbits (four of them)This week I saw four Marsh Rabbits. A calm, slow approach will bring you close to them. This one had a slice in its left ear. I wonder what happened? They are adorable when they chew…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Tufted Titmouse- feeding time!Watching a cute little Tufted Titmouse led to a wonderful surprise! I spotted this fluffy little cutie surprisingly close to me. The Titmouse started to hop around the branches. When…rawruss (51)in reptiles • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Snake - Black RacerI stumbled upon this Southern Black Racer while peacefully walking a nature trail. It was about 3 feet long and quite thick for a Black Racer. I patiently spent time watching it while…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Exciting Birding firstWhile birding one of my favorite nature locations, a flash of orange fluttered past me into the brush. My first thought was "that is a huge butterfly!". It stopped for a moment and my eyes…rawruss (51)in reptiles • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Anoles - Brown and GreenAnoles are common in Florida. It is easy to forget how amazing and beautiful these little lizards are. While birding today I watched and interacted with a variety of Anoles. Look at the before…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Female Downy WoodpeckerA lovely woodpecker. Earning her meal. Watching and listening. The touch and feel. Cute Downy markings. Enhance the appeal. What do you see... When you look at…rawruss (51)in macrophotography • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Brown Anole - Dewlap inspectionMy daughter loves catching reptiles. She is especially adept at catching Brown Anoles. They really do look like minature dinosaurs. This male had an especially beautiful dewlap.…rawruss (51)in art • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.The Cummer Museum - Jacksonville, FloridaThe historic Cummer Museum. Rests gently on the banks of the St. Johns River. Their gardens contain many treasures. For those who may appreciate such beauty. Unique, worn and…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Tricolored Heron - Song and DanceMy first encounter with a Tricolored Heron was memorable! I heard about a birding area that was new to me and went to check it out. When I arrived on the other side of the lake I heard these…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Male House FinchHouse Finches may be common in North America, but this is the first time I have seen one in North Florida. I thought it was a House Sparrow until I saw the distinct red markings. I learned…rawruss (51)in photography • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Stone Bench Image - Lighthouse LandscapeWhile exploring a local park I discovered a unique stone bench. It didn't look very special from a distance. However, when I drew closer I found a captivating scene etched into the…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Red-Tailed Hawk - My StoryI'm a Red-Tailed Hawk and this is my story. Some birds sing songs... pathetic and sad if you ask me. If they sing a song about my glory and adventures I might just let them live. If…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Downy WoodpeckerI moved into the middle of a good set of trees and waited... After a few moments my senses adjusted and heightened and it was like seeing through the simulated matrix into the natural world…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Tufted TitmouseOne of the cutest little birds you can imagine, the Tufted Titmouse. They are common in the United States, but I still love seeing them in the wild. This little beauty was deep in a trail…rawruss (51)in birding • 6 years agosteemCreated with Sketch.Barred OwlHigh up at the top of the tree canopy, watching silently, sat a beautiful Barred Owl. The owl rests... While at one of my favorite parks I saw an old pro walking around with an expensive…