Many years ago when I was stationed in Japan I heard a koto musician play a piece called “Chidori,” which means plover in Japanese. The story behind this haunting music is of a Samurai walkinghis guardpost on a castle wall….at dawn he sees a lone plover on the shore and feels a kinship with the […]
Author: Steven Scott
Steven Scott is a photonaturalist blogger based in Florida and Maine. He has surveyed butterflies with Earthwatch Institute in the mountains of Vietnam, tagged juvenile snook with Mote Marine Laboratory in the mangroves of Florida and filmed a BioBlitz insect survey in Acadia National Park. A registered nurse and retired Army officer, Steven believes man is an integral part of nature and travels annually to Vietnam with humanitarian medical teams from Vets With a Mission.
Flame Box Crab at Gasparilla Island Beach
This little Flame Box Crab (Calappa flammea) washed up on the beach on Gasparilla Island Beach State Park. Not uncommon, but rarely seen, the Flame Box Crab quickly burrows in the sand when exposed. The larger of it’s claws can give a surprizingly nasty pinch. It also uses it’s claws as a defense by closing […]
Gators and cavorting Stilts on a lazy Myakka River afternoon
If you want to see “Gators” in Florida, then visit Myakka River State Park in Sarasota. Albeit common everywhere in the Sunshine State, they are always intriguing and photogenic.Myakka River State Park website Hunted almost to extinction, the American Alligator (Alligator mississippienensis), has made an incredible recovery. Perhaps this is a good lesson for Conservation […]
Beaver at the Cable Pool, Naraguagus River, Maine
This North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) has taken up residence in the famous Cable Pool on the Naraguagus River in Cherryfield, Maine. The Cable Pool was one of the most popular fishing spots during the heyday of Atlantic Salmon fishing. While restoration efforts are made to bring back this wonderful fish, the Cable Pool is […]
American White Pelicans return to Placida Harbor, Florida
The American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) have returned to Placida Harbor, Florida for the winter. One of America’s largest birds, and much larger than the common Brown Pelican, the American Whites breed only on North America’s inland prairies, but winter on the southern coast. A great place to get a close-up view is Placida Harbor….near […]
Odonata at Ollie’s Pond
Ollie’s Pond, in Port Charlotte, Florida, is a popular birding spot. It is also one my favorite spots for dragonfly photography. This 5 acre freshwater pond in SW Florida has a nice trail all around….also a parking lot and an adjoining small patch of pine forest. Strolling with binos and camera takes about an hour […]
Tropical Checkered Skipper
Although listed as common in SW Florida, this is the first one I’ve seen. All about the Tropical Checkered Skipper