JN Ding Darling NWR FL

Nov 19, 2012 Mon
Before I checked out the sand sculptures I took my second trip to JH Ding Darling NWR. I found a few birds to photograph on both trips.

American White Pelican

Wood Stork

Anhinga

Double-crested Cormorant with fish

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Sand Sculptures at Fort Myers Beach FL

Nov 19, 2012 Mon
Fort Myers Beach held a sand sculpture competition last weekend. I stopped by today to check out the sculptures that were still on display. WOW there were some very talented people at the beach. The competition had a winter theme. I'm not quite sure how that theme relates to a couple sculptures. What do I know? They are going to have a "doubles" competition next weekend, but I will not be in the area. 

Welcome

Now that's a sand castle

Winter dragons?

Pieta is Italian for pity

Trimming the Tree

Snowy Owl

Decorated House

Arm wrestling Santas. The mouse if the ref.

Waiting for Santa

Hey, it's art

I'm shy

Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary

Nov 18, 2012 Sun
I visited the Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary today. I took a 2.6 mile walk on a raised boardwalk that took me through the largest stand of Bald Cypress in the country. Some of the trees were there when Columbus landed. Since I was going to walk the entire 2.6 miles I did not carry my long lens. I missed a couple of bird shots, but I found a few other critters. 

Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary Swamp

Sign on the boardwalk that winds through Corkscrew Sanctuary FL

Large Bald Cypress Tree

Sign that explains "what I thought were vines growing UP the trees".

Strangler Fig growing down a bald cypress tree

Raccoon at Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary

Queen Butterfly
Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary

Alligator
Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary FL

Arrived FL

Nov 14, 2012 Wed
I arrived in Fort Meyers Beach FL today. I’m only going to be here for a week. Thanksgiving is just a week away and I’m going to spend the holidays in the Everglades if the mosquitoes and no seeums don’t run me out. 

St John the Baptist Cathedral - Savannah GA

After stuffing myself at Paula Deen and Son's restaurant in Savannah GA, I visited the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. It was quite a sight.

St John the Baptist Cathedral Exterior- Savannah GA

St John the Baptist Cathedral from Lafayette Square

St John the Baptist Cathedral - Alter

St John the Baptist Cathedral Interior

St John the Baptist Cathedral - Stained Glass Window

St John the Baptist Cathedral - Stained Glass Window

St John the Baptist Cathedral - Stained Glass Window

St John the Baptist Cathedral - Stations 3 & 4 - Savannah GA

St Teresa and Mother Cabrini - St John the Baptist Cathedral - Savannah GA

Savannah GA

Nov 9, 2012 Fri
I finally left the wildlife refuge and made it to Savannah GA. If you want to visit any or all of the many plantations in the Savannah area, I would suggest you visit during the Spring bloom. There are a few blooms all year, but nothing like in the Spring.
When Edward Oglethorpe started the colony of Georgia (named for King George II) the charter prohibited slavery, lawyers, Catholics, and hard liquor. That all changed over time.
I visited Savannah a couple of days ago and took a trolley tour. It was an informative tour. The tour guide was very funny and well educated on the history of Savannah and it’s inhabitants. Today I came back to visit a few places on my own.
One of the places I visited was Paula Deen and son’s restaurant. I chose the buffet.
Fried Chicken
Fried Catfish
Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Black-eyed Peas
Green Beans
Grits
Biscuit
Potato Pancake
Peach Cobbler for dessert.
I rolled out of the restaurant and continued my tour of Savannah. Here are some of the places I explored.

Savannah River and Talmadge Bridge

Waving Girl Welcoming Ships and Sailors to Savannah's Harbor

Forsyth Fountain Savannah GA

Haitian Monument Franklin Square

Paula Deen and Son's Restaurant 

The same Lady Chablis that appeared in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"
She still struts her stuff on the stage

First African Baptist 1859 - Oldest Continuing Black Congregation in American

While visiting in England Juliette Gordon Low became acquainted with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. She decided to return to Savannah to start an organization in America. On March 12, 1912 she gathered 18 girls and held the first meeting of the Girl Guides, later renamed the Girl Scouts. You can visit her home in Savannah. I didn't make it to her house, but a section of the Savannah History Museum is dedicated to Juliette(Daisy) and the girl scouts.

Juliette Gordon Low - Founder of the Girl Scouts

Girl Scout Poster

Savannah NWR SC

Nov 5, 2012 Mon
On my way to Florida I stopped in South Carolina. I was just an hour from Savannah Georgia so I decided to check it out; although, I try to avoid cities. While I was on my way to Savannah I saw a sign that read “Savannah National Wildlife Refuge”. My truck automatically turns when I pass these signs. I drove to the very nice visitor center to get information about the refuge. I discovered they have a four mile auto tour. So off I went with map in hand.
The refuge has over 29,000 acres. Most of the refuge is accessible by boat only. Part of the refuge is made up of 13 old rice plantations that used slave labor.
It was a little early to see any real numbers of ducks and geese. I did manage to find a few water fowl. The Little Blue Heron landed right in front of me. I had the 500mm on the camera and I almost couldn’t get the whole bird in the frame.

Little Blue Heron

White Ibis

Double-crested Cormorant

Flying Gadwalls

Belted Kingfisher

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Glad I have a long lens

Savannah NWR SC

Part of the four mile auto tour that passes close to old slave quarters.
Savannah NWR NC

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Great Blue Heron