Dunedin, Florida: Some Ducks Are Such Posers!

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I snapped this total poser of a duck (that's Muscovy Duck) while walking around Lake Paloma. I tell you, he was totally posing! The more I snapped, the more he posed. Hmmm, come to think of it, it might have been a FEMALE duck! lol

I gotta tell you, when you see this little lake for the first time, Lake Paloma, you might think it's just another overgrown (barely) pond. I mean, it really isn't all that big. BUT... I see some of the coolest birds in the lake, or in the vicinity. Here's a list of all the different birds I have seen in my last couple of walks around and near the lake: Muscovy Duck, Mallard Duck, Mottled Duck, Wood Duck, White Heron, Great White Heron, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Kingfisher, Osprey, Crested Night Heron, Bald Eagle (FOR REAL!), Gallinule, Blue Jay, Starling, Crow, Grackle, Mockingbird, Cardinal, and I am sure I am forgetting at least two more.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Ducks Gang: Corner Of Hibiscus And Paloma

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It's true! Gang activity right here in Dunedin! These ducks are a real treat to see here at the pond. They seem to be doing well, and growing in numbers.

Hopefully people will not decide that the ducks are too happy, and decide they have to go. That's how people get, it seems, they get so they don't like to see ducks getting happy and doing well and having families. I hope they leave this group alone.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Make Way For Ducklings!

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When I was a child, I loved a book called "Make Way For Ducklings!" It was a wonderfully enchanting book written by Robert McCloskey in 1941. It has since sold over 2 million copies!

So when I saw this lineup, I could not resist the shot, nor the flashback to that wonderful book. And I must congratulate Ms. Muscovy on bringing this many of her brood to this age. I hate to say it, but the area is not conducive to the maturing of all ducklings hatched in each sitting.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Island Check: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Project

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Here we see the last of the three floating islands installed in December 2007 by a local Boy Scouts troop working on an Eagle Scout project. As I mentioned earlier, the islands have come a long way since they were first floated out onto the lake.

It's pretty impressive in a lot of ways. I can just imagine what they might look like in a few years. It hasn't been 12 months yet, and they look great. Perhaps, they will fill in around the edges where many plants were lost in the first few months. I have seen ducks and other water birds wandering around the 'interiors' of the islands, so I won't be surprised if they start building nests out there.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VII

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There's no denying it. These boys were having fun. And hey, this is Dunedin, Florida, so it just wasn't cold that day... at all! So this is what I like to call Turtle Island. They have strapped down the coconut fiber landscape material, and they are planting it with more aquatic plants now. Shortly after this, it will be towed out to its new home.

If all goes well, tomorrow I will post a picture taken today, of the wildlife enjoying this new Turtle Island. So far I have seen a max of about 8 turtles on the island, and today I saw several turtles sharing it with some egrets and herons. We will see who is about tomorrow when I point the big lens at them!

Sunday's posting will wrap up the series on the Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project. I hope you have enjoyed it. I appreciate the comments from those of you who found it heartening to see this type of community spirit in these young men, and women. And I also appreciate those of you who got bored with the series, but still came back to see what was happening next. :D

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt V

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Ah-hah! Now we know what the heck they were saving the rest of the plants for! A totally different kind of floating island. Very cool! As you can make out from the picture, these floating mats have holes in them for these specially potted water plants. In this picture, they are preparing the first of two such rafts. This was taken just before the alligator grabbed one of the boys. NO! Just kidding. I have never seen a gator in this lake.

In the picture below, they are making final preparations to plant the other island, which was to be more of a wildlife island, as opposed to a plant life raft. This island, in the picture, is the one you saw Mrs. Garrison checking on in my Christmas Eve post. And in the meantime, if you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt IV

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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You may remember in the previous posts about the Eagle Scout project at Lake Paloma, that they were planting lots and lots of plants all around the edges of the lake. Cool. But these plants were all left back at the staging area. Why would that be? Do you really want to know? Good! Then come back tomorrow and see what happens to these plants.

And in the meantime, if you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt III

Hey, someone has to keep these guys in line. It looks like Mrs. Garrison is checking with the island building team to see how it's going. This accumulation of wood and barrels and barricade wrap will get covered with a layer of coconut landscape material to become a floating habitat for the wildlife in Lake Paloma. We will soon see the resulting island afloat and hosting sunbathing turtles.

We have had a change in plans though, and will not be able to list the supporters of the project today. Please stay tuned for more pictures of this great project, and acknowledgement of the project sponsors.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt II

Having met Eagle Scout Jim Garrison's parents, and gotten a little information about what was going on, I started around Lake Paloma with my camera to see the 'troops' in action. It was impressive to see the Scouts, of all ages, planting all the new vegetation along the edges of the lake.

They planted a variety of fringe plants that will grow to provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife that call the lake home. As I visit Lake Paloma on a regular basis, I look forward to watching these improvements develop. Tomorrow we will check on the island building progress. We will also take a moment to acknowledge the supporters of Jim's project.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Floating Wildlife Islands Project

I was recently tipped off that a local Eagle Scout would be installing floating islands in my favorite duck pond, Lake Paloma, here in Dunedin, Florida. Needless to say, I made arrangements to be there and get some good pictures for my Dunedin blog. After all, this is really cool stuff! :D And so begins a new series that will last at least several days as I show you the progression of this project.

When I arrived that morning, last Saturday, they had already gotten setup and were hard at work. That's when I met Jim Garrison's parents, Roberta and Joe. They were fine with me being there and snapping shots, so I got right to it. One team was beginning the work on one of the floating islands. You can see them in the photo above. Other, lots of others, were at work planting all sorts of wetland fringe plants along the edges of the lake. They even had City of Dunedin personnel there helping. You gotta love that.

In the days ahead, you will follow along as they plant almost a thousand plants, make two different kinds of floating 'islands', and anchor them in the lake. In Friday's St. Petersburg Times, there is a nice story about Jim and his project. Click here if you would like to read it. And if you are feeling supportive, click the Scouting banner below to see how you can help. Thanks!

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Giving Thanks

Oh how I pondered and dithered and pondered some more. How best to represent the many, many things I am thankful for. Other holidays are more easily settled... a Christmas tree, an Easter egg, a Valentine heart, etc. But a turkey on Thanksgiving... it just doesn't say enough. So you look at the two in the picture and ask "What is he thankful for?"

It's not hard to guess, since I am showing the grand-twins, that I am thankful for family. But also for all the wonderful things in our lives that we are able to enjoy. Like fresh air, and clear skies. Living in Dunedin, Florida. A nice warm place to sleep every night. People who love us. The freedom to walk around my neighborhood in the evening, enjoying the moonlight and fresh air. Healthy babies (above). Fuzzy little ducklings. Sizzling sunsets. Fall colored leaves. A quiet place to sit. Food on the table each day. People in the world who care about other people, like Ham supporting Cancer Care, and Free Rice, and Free Hugs. Not to mention people that care about animals.

In addition, I am thankful for gorgeous white birds in county parks where I can see them in person, instead of in a book or museum. For trails and bikes and feet for walking. I'm thankful for the Daily Photo blog that I found that inspired me to start this one. And for the Romanian who teaches us about Brasov. For the incredible photography of OML. For a Boston blogger. I give thanks for ALL the bloggers out there doing City Daily Photo blogs, and who welcomed me into this incredible community. Not to mention all the OTHER photo blogs like this one, and that one, and this other one, and that other one, and any others I forgot at the moment.

I am thankful for the health of loved ones. Forgiveness. Patience. Wisdom. Acceptance. Tolerance. Peace, when it can be had. And I am thankful for YOU, a visitor to my Dunedin Daily Photo blog, because YOU make it all worth while. Thanks for coming today. I wish you and your family the very best Thanksgiving, and a life full of things to be thankful for.

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Duck Crossing Sign

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I don't know the people who put this sign up... but I like them just the same. I have observed several broods of ducklings appear around this tiny lake, Lake Paloma, only to watch sadly as their numbers dwindle. The whole lake is surrounded by streets, with only a narrow verge of bank between. So the ducks are crossing the road all the time. I am sure that many of the ducklings are lost to cats, dogs, etc... but I find hope in the sign that maybe a few less will fall victim to vehicular duck-slaughter.

On a brighter note, the weather is getting to be quite delightful around here. Finally cool enough to enjoy a walk outside. The humidity has fallen through the floor, and that is okay with me. Well, to a point. I noticed that this area is under a red flag warning due to humidity so low that wildfires are a high risk.

On a lighter note, here are a few other views of Lake Paloma that you may enjoy:

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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!