Sat/Sun Feb 25-26 2023

[Don]

The weekend is upon us. Mild this morning but should warm up nicely. I am thinking of riding down to a veggie stand and stocking up on our supply of fried peanuts. A nice 75 mile ride down and back would be a good way to start the weekend.

Here is a short video of a section of one of the back roads I went on last Wednesday. We don't have any roads quite that curvy around these parts - have to go up into the hills in the northern part of the state. Almost the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. It was overcast but warm, and no rain.

https://youtu.be/_DFyoroDHwQ

By the way, anyone heard from Patty recently?  She used to post quite regularly but I haven't seen her on here recently. Might have just missed it though as I myself are hit and miss.

[Dave]

Thanks for starting our weekender Daily, Don.

My area got a lot of rain yesterday, even more overnight, and it will likely rain all day today up until midnight. The rain wasn't too heavy when I took my customary early morning walk today, but local streets were slightly flooded and I couldn't avoid some of the deeper puddles so I came home with wet and cold feet.

Last week I posted a photo of a wall and roof of a sushi restaurant. Two days ago my walk took me past the same spot and I took another photo. I like this one because of the ominous but attractive blue-gray of the sky and the areas illuminated by lights that were still on in the early morning...

   

I wish you all a good weekend.

[Don]

Good afternoon Dave. Yes, I like the blue image too.

We haven't gotten a lot of rain here recently. It was cool, foggy and wet this morning but it was more of a heavy mist rather than rain. I had to stop and put on my rain jacket for warmth on my ride down to the veggie stand. I did score some tomatoes though, which was about the only fresh veggie that they had. I did get my fried peanuts though.

Strongly considering taking a ride down to the gulf coast Monday for a 2 night stay. Ride down Monday, spend Tuesday riding around primarily in St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and back home on Wednesday. Trying to get into riding shape for a trip into Tennessee later this Spring, maybe June.

[Dave]

75 miles to get tomatoes and peanuts? But I'm assuming it was more abut the experience of the ride than the errand.

During a short period (maybe 45 minutes) without clouds and rain yesterday morning I managed 3 photos worth processing. Here are 2 of a hawk. I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't heard a hawks cry. (I can't identify species by the call, but am able to know there is a hawk of some kind around.) So I looked around and saw some crows cawing and behaving as they typically do when there is a hawk nearby. I finally spotted this one (most likely a Cooper's Hawk) perched high and a block or two away.

1) As most people know, hawks like to find a high vantage point...

   

2) But perching high has a downside - strong wind gusts...

   

The third photo is not a flower, bird, succulent, insect, or sunrise/sunset. I'll save it for another Daily.

[Don]

Good morning Dave. Seems like it's just you and me this weekend. There is almost always little activity when I post... starting to get a complex.

Yes, it was just a good morning (temp wise, it being Feb) for a ride. I am trying to get in some longer rides to get ready for a bike trip up into Tenn later this Spring. I'm shooting for April but depending on the weather where I am going, it might have to be June after we get back from Iceland.

I think you are right about the Cooper's Hawk. I think I can see a bit of a dark cap. Good capture.

Keeping to the bird theme - we spotted this Sharp-shinned Hawk on the way into Big Bend N.P.

[Dave]

Very nice capture of the Sharp-shinned, Don.

Cooper's and Sharp-shinned are the most commonly seen hawks here, and I find it hard to determine which is which. Size is one way but without something of a clearly known size in the frame this isn't much help. So I relied on head shape and the black cap that you mentioned.

The only other hawks I've photographed here are the Red-tailed and the Northern Harrier, but none of these shots are good enough to post.

I'm not a motorcyclist. The closest I came was many years ago when I rode behind a fraternity brother who volunteered to drive me from St. Louis back home to Cincinnati. There was another time when a different frat brother and I went out for a ride on a small scooter that died about 10 miles from campus. Pushing that scooter back was not fun.

[Man From Ironbark]

In some hawks, like our collared sparrowhawk, the female is larger than the male and can offten be difficult to distinguish from the larger Australian Goshawk. Being that they have very similar colouration.

Juveniles add further confusion to the issues. They often look larger than their parents and have different colourations.
A juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle is difficult to distinguish from the juvenile White Breasted Sea Eagle, both are Aquila. Likewise if a juvenile golden eagle happened to arrive in Australia, at first it would look like a Wedge-tailed Eagle. Because it is also Aquila.

Do you have to point that at me while I'm eating?


You are developing a complex Don?
There's never anyone here when I'm here unless I come in at unearthly hours.
Like your sharp shinned hawk. Our sparrowhawk is quite similar to the Coopers hawk in Dave's photo.

Here is a short video I made today. I have a better one but the woman from ironbark was conscious of the fact that she was talking to herself in the background while I was taking the video. Well, she probably thought she was talking to me but I didn't hear it until I played the video. Nothing much was said apart from the fact that she was just about to clean that window.

[Luv2shoot]

Hi guys.
My daughter was visiting with us for four days and she left this morning for home.  Our stay is coming to a close, I already started packing the the car with things we bought or didn't need for the last few days here on Anna Maria Island.

I have seen lots of birds but just have not taken that many photos.  So, pardon me while I admire your wonderful winged images and post something totally different.
On one of my walks, I visited the historical museum on Anna Maria Island.  It is a tiny little house with many collectibles donated by people who lived on the island at one time, like the bathing suit seen below.

Enjoy your Sunday.
Patty is doing fine but she is deep into making quilts and enjoying her first favorite hobby.  I will tell her that you have been asking about her.
LORELL

Leisure on the Beach
In Cortez Beach, now  Bradenton Beach (on Anna Maria Island, Florida) , visitors were charged admission to use the changing rooms and then could rent a bathing suit at the bathhouse.  As tourism increased in the area, new business ventures were started, some succeeded and some failed.  The nearby Pagoda Dance Hall was a key element in the success of many early Cortez Beach ventures.  It was the only bathhouse and dance hall on the Midwest coast of Florida at the time.

[Michael]

Outstanding photography!!!

Just a city shot today, and probably many days to come.

[Adamphotoman]

Yes I agree!
Here is Leroy    

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More Frost,
Don't think I have shared this one....