Muhly Grass Blooming

The muhlenbergia is blooming on the refuge, this area burned in a wildfire in July. Muhly grass responds very quickly to fire, we see the most blooms after a late spring early summer fire which is the typical fire season in south Florida. The purple was everywhere out in this prairie, amazing show of nature rebounding from a disturbance.

TTI Grand Opening

I attended Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge's grand opening for the new public parking lot and Marsh Trail. The morning included a bird watching trip, guided kayaking, a nature walk, and a fly fishing demonstration. Here are a few quick outtakes, enjoy your weekend.

Running North

Took this picture on my trip out to check out an area we hope to burn this week, small aperture with a long exposure and low ISO give us the movement.

Fog on the road

This morning Alligator Alley and State Road 29 were closed down to heavy fog, the fog was like a wall, at times there was as little as five to ten feet of visibility.

blimps, fire, orchids, and lightning

Another day out on the panther pasture, we were out looking for lightning strikes from the day before when a few new fires popped up out side of the refuge. A short explanation on the lightning tracking is due I am sure, we use an online version of the lightning sensors that are used across the nation, we download the coordinates (lat and long) and then go looking for new fires or lightning struck trees. Yesterday we had around 20 strikes on the refuge so we split up and went looking for either fires or lightning struck trees. Here's some photos from my day...

A blimp


I didn't see anything about Ice Cube being a pimp.


I found a new cigar orchid (also known as cowhorn)


A demised deer...


Using the GPS to find lightning strikes.


Rain to the left, fire to the right.


Looking for orchids and lightning strikes.


Out in the woods, I am happy.


Some sort of alien face you would expect to find on Endor.


The last water holes go to the biggest gators.


Looking up!