Author Archives: birds n' bugs

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About birds n' bugs

Retired, living in SW Florida and spending my time at nature photography in my local area. I volunteer with a couple of local organizations to help my adopted home town. Travelling is now by airplane and car instead of a sailboat but happy anyway.

Ants and Aphids – Small scale farming

Posted on 2010/11/16 by birds n' bugs

Really, really small scale but, it really is farming. A 2007 article from the website ‘Science Daily’ gives an excellent explanation of how ants control aphids. Aphids are sometimes called Ant Cows because they are herded by ants and exude a sugary ‘honeydew’ that ants … Continue reading →

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Babcock-Webb WMA – Tucker Grade

Posted on 2010/11/15 by birds n' bugs

Tucker Grade is the main road in to the WMA. As you enter the WMA you will be travelling from west to east. Like most of the roads, it is a straight line through the area. There are three intersections … Continue reading →

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Hathaway Park – East Entrance, Punta Gorda FL

Posted on 2010/11/14 by birds n' bugs

The east entrance to Hathaway Park is just past the west entrance. They are seperated by a drainage canal which, on the east side, is also the kayak and canoe launch point. This side provides more nature trails where the … Continue reading →

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Babcock-Webb WMA – Entrance and Lake Road

Posted on 2010/11/12 by birds n' bugs

The Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is one of my favorite spots to spend some time outdoors. It is primarily Pine Flatwoods but, there is enough variety to make it interesting almost any time of the year. The site has … Continue reading →

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Cormorants and Anhingas

Posted on 2010/11/08 by birds n' bugs

Cormorants and Anhingas are two water birds of similar size and appearance. Unlike ducks, neither has natural oil in their feathers and so tend to get waterlogged as they swim. The result is that both also pose with outspread wings … Continue reading →

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Experimenting with the 105mm Micro-Nikkor with teleconverters

Posted on 2010/11/04 by birds n' bugs

When you take a lot of pictures of bugs, you need to get close to capture the detail. That means that a Macro or Micro lens is a necessity. At the moment, I have two. The 60mm f2.8D Micro-Nikkor, an … Continue reading →

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Punta Gorda Nature Park

Posted on 2010/11/02 by birds n' bugs

This is a nice little park. It is about 1 city block square at the corner of Aqui Esta and Bal Harbour in Punta Gorda. There are two small parking lots at the East and West End. The park surrounds … Continue reading →

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Zebra Longwing – Heliconius charithonia

Posted on 2010/10/30 by birds n' bugs

The Zebra Longwing is the Florida state butterfly. I suspect that the butterflies are unaware of the honor but, they are a pretty little insect. They are woodland butterflies so, don’t often get seen in the pine flatwoods but, wherever … Continue reading →

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Hathaway Park – West entrance, Punta Gorda FL

Posted on 2010/10/26 by birds n' bugs

This little park is a few miles out of town with the main access at 35461 Washington Loop Rd. It’s an access point for Shell Creek which is also our local water supply. It has a boat ramp with handicap … Continue reading →

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American Bittern – Botaurus lentiginosus

Posted on 2010/10/23 by birds n' bugs

Speaking of the Sora at Ollies Pond reminded me of another reclusive marsh dweller. The American Bittern is a bird of the heron family. It is about the size of the Little Green Heron but in a less distinctive plumage. … Continue reading →

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