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Everglades Trip 2015 (Solo)
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Travel Video 2015

This was my Eighteenth Everglades Journey and a collection of firsts for me: first Solo Trip, first en-route rendezvous, first exploration of the River of Grass, first time around Cape Sable, first time sailing beyond the horizon, first time camping in Florida Bay, and first major equipment failure (rudder). This was probably my penultimate trip! With the exception of bug problems at one site, it pretty much came off without a hitch. 🙂
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
Birds Nature 2026

Consider the Black-Bellied Whistling Duck! (One of the better bird names IMO.) Larger than average ducks, longer neck, pink bill & feet, used to be called tree ducks. I see these very early in the morning and occasionally a pair on a nearby dock. Only learned recently that they are mostly active at night, which is why I wasn't aware they were around.
Everglades Trip 2017
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Panoramas Travel 2017

Everglades time again! This year I went for five days/four nights with my sister Diana Pray from LA. We did a lazy double figure eight route around northeastern Whitewater Bay and the Gulf. With the exception of a few distant motorboats we were completely alone for four days, quite remarkable! I brought along a 360° panoramic camera and took some impressive shots! [note1]
Galápagos Islands
Birds Galleries History Nature Travel Video 2013

We arrived about noon and proceeded to nearby Black Turtle Bay where we saw Sea Turtles, Sharks, and Golden Rays amongst the mangroves. If you have enough bandwidth you should also view the 12 Minute Video I’ve prepared to see them in motion!
Road Trip West 10, Arches National Park
Birds Flowers Galleries History Panoramas Road_Trip_2026 Travel 2026

We entered Arches National Park about 8am the next day. This was a great time for photographing the rock formations in the southern part of the park (near the entrance). Our plan was to take a leisurely drive north—exploring along the way—until we reached the Devil's Garden area. This is where the majority of the notable arches are. You might also like to view photos from My November 2024 Trip.
Road Trip West 11, Nine Mile Canyon
Birds Flowers Galleries History Road_Trip_2026 Rock_Art Travel 2026

We left Green River heading north to Wellington and the Petroglyph megasite known as Nine Mile Canyon. The backway road went over a small pass before descending into a beautiful flat-bottomed canyon. This is the best map I could find on the web. [source: National Scenic Byways Program]
Road Trip West 4, Crane Petroglyph Site
Birds Flowers Galleries History Road_Trip_2026 Travel 2026

My target for this segment was inspired by a used book I came across while working at my local Friends of the Library Sinagua Sunwatchers by Kenneth Zoll. At first I had a bit of trouble finding the site online because the name has been changed very recently to better reflect its Native American origins. [The old name was V Bar V in reference to the now defunct ranch on the property.]
Everglades Kayak Trip 2026 (Solo)
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Nature Travel 2026

This was my 30th trip to the Everglades—different from all the others in several respects. First I was trying out new equipment (a sit-inside folding kayak). Second, I planned to just camp on a desert island, read, and take it easy. Third, I left from the Smallwood Store on Chokoloskee Island because the actual Ranger Station was closed for long-awaited hurricane repairs. I was also alone as there were no takers to join me this year.
Heron Killing Grebe
Birds Nature 2010

I caught this drama outside my kitchen window. A Great Blue Heron was swinging the limp body of a Pied Billed Grebe. Apparently this grizzly action has been observed elsewhere. There is some debate weather the heron is defending its foraging area or sees the grebe as potential prey.
Sandhill Cranes in the Neighborhood
Birds Nature Video 2023

We’ve had a family of four Sandhill Cranes lounging around our neighborhood for the past few weeks. These birds are endemic to Florida and do not migrate. Apparently there are two other non-migratory subspecies found in Mississippi and Cuba.
Road Trip West 3, Petrified Forest
Birds Flowers Galleries History Road_Trip_2026 Travel 2026

The next day I had a three hour drive to my next destination—Petrified Forest National Park. The southern entrance is less used than the north but two of he major hiking trails are there: Crystal Forest & Blue Mesa. Unfortunately there is no trail to Newspaper Rock—a major Petroglyph site. It was cold and windy, but apparently I came at a good time to see the many desert flowers in bloom. 🙂
Road Trip West 6, The Longest Day
Birds Flowers Galleries History Road_Trip_2026 Travel 2026

I planned to stay overnight in Flagstaff, AZ so I could visit the Lowell Observatory in the evening. Apparently they give tours during daylight hours and then setup smaller telescopes to view whatever's happening in the sky that night. Alas, dark clouds moved in and there was precip predicted for the early evening. So I went to bed early…
Road Trip West 7, Wild Turkey Interlude
Birds Flowers Galleries Road_Trip_2026 Travel 2026

While attending a family wedding I camped on my Brother's property in the Sierra Foothills. This turned out to be a hook-up place for Wild Turkeys in the area. About six Toms (males) appeared every day in pursuit of a few hens (who appeared to completely ignore their suitors 😉). Other birds included Hawks, Owls, and California Towhees. The area also supported a herd of deer and many wildflowers, including this Yellow Star Tulip (actually a type of lily).
Road Trip West 1, Westward Bound
Birds Flowers History Road_Trip_2026 Travel 2026

I was called to California for a family wedding. The first part of my journey took me through several southern states, the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, & Arizona. I left about two in the afternoon so I arrived in Pitcher Plant territory after dark. Fortunately I knew where there was a patch just off the shoulder of a county road.
Florida Manatees
Birds Critters Galleries Nature Video 2024

A recent cold snap in the Tampa Bay area forced hundreds of manatees inland in search of warmer water. One ready source is the outflow from the TECO powerplant. To their credit, the company provides a dedicated viewing dock and surrounding wildlife preserve for birds and other critters.
Sweetwater Wetlands 2026
Birds Galleries Nature 2026

Photos from our recent visit to Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Not sure I've been there in January before. There were the usual denizens and one surprise (Roseate Spoonbills). It was a bright shiny day and it warmed up quickly.
Cedar Key & Hall Creek 2021
Birds Camping Galleries History Travel 2021

I went for a quick solo kayak trip to Hall Creek near Cedar Key (putting in at the #4 Bridge off of Highway 24). I last visited this area in 2012 with a friend. The first mile or so is very shallow and I made a few mistakes on my way to Live Oak Key, where there is a narrow channel through the oyster beds. Surprisingly the old oak tree on the point is still alive! [compare with 2012]
Cedar Key & Hall Creek 2012
Birds Camping Travel 2012

My colleague Carlos and I took a quick overnight trip to Cedar Key and the primitive campsite at Hall Creek. We put in at “Bridge #4” at low tide and paddled through some very shallow water for the first hour or so. Once out in the Gulf of Mexico I had a chance to try out my new sail.
Garden of the Gods (Illinois)
Birds Galleries Hdr Travel Video 2017

I had the opportunity to travel through Southern Illinois on my way back from Iowa in June. I large part of this hilly country is contained within the Shawnee National Forest There are miles of trails, several wilderness areas, and many points of interest. I stopped for the night at The Garden of the Gods (not to be confused with the area in Colorado by the same name!).
Natural Selection in the Nest!
Birds Nature 2018

Yesterday we kayaked over to the Egret Rookery on Little Lake Santa Fe. There were at least ten great egrets sitting on nests and one nest had a raucous bunch of chicks (3 or 4). Then we noticed there was a much smaller chick on the edge and its siblings were attacking it! After a minute or two we watched the little guy fall sixty feet into the water…
All in the (Eagle) Family!
Birds Nature 2012

Sometimes you see something in nature that has a direct analog in the human world. I caught sight of this family of Bald Eagles on the Mississippi River—then I noticed a familiar pattern…
Stockon Island Camping Trip
Apostle_Islands Birds Camping History Plants Travel 2021

We made an amphibious landing to offload our gear and then moored the boat about a mile away at the pier. I pitched my hammock tent right on the beach between mature white and red pines. The level of Lake Superior had recently gone down so there was a more normal amount of beach exposed.
BWCA Canoe Trip 2024
Birds Bwca Galleries Photography Travel 2024

This year we decided to base our trip out of Ely. We spent the night in the bunkhouse on Snowbank Lake. The next day we took the short drive to the official entry point #27 to head out into the wilderness.
Total Eclipse & Snake Road
Birds Galleries Science Travel 2024

Last week I traveled with my Sister Diana to Southern Illinois hoping to experience the Total Solar Eclipse. We were not disappointed! We had mostly blue skies that day with some high stratus clouds. Nothing can really prepare you for the moment of totality. We could suddenly see “stars” (actually the planets Venus and Jupiter) in the odd twilight. It got perceptively cooler and the wind changed direction.
Lake Superior Trail 2015 (Gallery)
Apostle_Islands Birds Galleries Hdr Panoramas Travel 2015

This trail is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It overlooks the famous Lake Superior Sea Caves. Below is a gallery of my best photographs from hiking this trail in 2015.
Santa Fe River Day Trip
Birds Galleries Travel 2025

Out with friends to canoe down the Santa Fe River in north Florida. We saw many large turtles sunning themselves along the way plus a juvenile bald eagle! Stopped for lunch in the outflow from Blue Spring.
BWCA Canoe Trip 2025
Birds Bwca Galleries History Photography Travel 2025

This year we decided to visit the big lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail. We planned to spend the first night in the bunkhouse on Seagull Lake. It was nice weather when we arrived, but the forecast called for thunderstorms, lots of wind, and near freezing temps. We elected to stay at the Trail's End campground and do day trips instead of heading out onto the big Lake Saganaga.
BWCA Canoe Trip 2008
Birds Bwca Camping Galleries Travel 2008

I learned to canoe in Northern Minnesota and the BWCA. I recently returned for a five day trip with an old friend. We went to the extreme northeast corner along the Canadian border. The lakes in this area are mostly long and narrow, running west to east between steep hills. The water clarity was remarkable. We saw bear, beaver, loon, eagle, osprey, and many smaller birds. Our route included the Royal River, which was beautiful and very different from the large lakes. Wild Rice was falling into our canoe as we passed. At one point we even had to pull over a Beaver Dam.
BWCA Canoing & Hiking 2023
Birds Bwca Camping Travel Video 2023

This year's trip was a return to a familiar locale. Our goal was to establish a basecamp and take day trips from there. We started at Bearskin Lake and paddled across to the Duncan Lake portage. After exploring options on the north shore of Duncan we decided to stay on the campsite closest to the portage on the south shore (conveniently vacated by the prior group as we waited).
Yucatan Maya Trip
Hdr History Travel 2009

First on our list was Uxmal, my personal favorite! Located in the gently rolling Puuc Hills, it is one of several significant Late Classic Mayan centers in that area. The so-called Pyramid of the Magician dominates the modern entrance to the site. The main temple entrance takes the form of a huge mouth, still intimidating even today. The pyramid was actually built in five stages, each covering older parts of the structure.
Guttenberg 2025
Birds Flowers Galleries Iowa Travel 2025

This year I came and went three times due to other trips and obligations. Starting in May to open up the place. Then back in late July for the RAGBRAI and family reunion. Then back after trips to Brimson and the BWCA in September.
Pikes Peak 2025
Birds Flowers Galleries Iowa Travel 2025

Pikes Peak is a state park in Clayton County, Iowa, United States, featuring a 500-foot (150 m) bluff overlooking the Upper Mississippi River opposite the confluence of the Wisconsin River… The Iowa incarnation of Pikes Peak, a particularly high point overlooking the gorge of the Upper Mississippi, and like Pikes Peak in Colorado, is named for Zebulon Pike. Pike visited the area in 1805 during his first expedition. [wikipedia]
Mono Lake
Birds California Galleries Travel 2025

This is my second trip to Mono Lake and the good news is it hasn't changed much. In fact, the water level has stabilized (it was drying up) after agressive water management action by California. A large amount of water had already been drained for watering lawns and golf courses in Los Angeles. We visited the Tufa State Reserve on a sunny afternoon and saw many cool plants and birds.
Everglades Kayak Trip 2024
Everglades Galleries Photography Travel Video 2024

This year we planned an aggressive trip—going down the Gulf Coast to access the narrow Wood River, revisit Camp Lonesome, stay at Willy Willy, and then loop back through the various inland bays on our return. Yet again we were thwarted by adverse winds.
The Book of Birds (1849)
Birds Books History Reviews
George S. Appleton (1849)

Below is a limited sampling of historically significant pages that contain many surprising (and perhaps inaccurate) facts. Alas the Elegant Plates mentioned on the title page appear to be missing. Also missing is any mention of smaller birds such as wrens and warblers?!
Lake Powell 2020
Birds Flowers Galleries History Panoramas Travel Video 2020

It had been ten years since I last visited Lake Powell. This year I went with my college friend Al and his partner Marian. Not having our own boat, we decided to rent a houseboat from the Bullfrog Marina. This turned out to be a great idea! With a few exceptions it was clean and well maintained (certain lights and the gas grill did not work).
BWCA Canoe Trip 2019
Birds Bwca Camping Galleries Hammocks Travel Video 2019

This year we returned to the Gunflint Trail. Our party of four became just two due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control. This was exacerbated by horrendous wind and cold rain on the drive up. Fortunately we had a place to stay (a family cabin) and waited an extra day for the weather to improve. Ross and I took off on a cold, windy morning from the entry point on Poplar Lake. Crossing Poplar turned out to be the hardest part of the trip. We started with a cold headwind and couldn’t find the portage at first.
Everglades Trip 2018
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Travel 2018

This is a quick-and-dirty gallery of my Everglades photographs. Only a placeholder for now while I work on converting my older sites. See my Everglades Wilderness Guide for more trips, maps, & photographs.
Birds of Amelia Island
Birds Galleries Nature Photography Travel 2015

I was the trailing spouse for a meeting on Amelia Island. I spent most of a morning taking these photos of the local birds—including some spectacular flying by a pair of Ospreys! Right at the limit of my equipment.
Everglades Trip 2014 (#1)
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Hdr Travel 2014

This is a quick-and-dirty gallery of my Everglades photographs. Only a placeholder for now while I work on converting my older sites. See my Everglades Wilderness Guide for more trips, maps, & photographs.
Everglades Trip 2013 (Sailing Kayaks)
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Hdr Travel 2013

This is a quick-and-dirty gallery of my Everglades photographs. Only a placeholder for now while I work on converting my older sites. See my Everglades Wilderness Guide for more trips, maps, & photographs.
Everglades Trip 2012 (Sail Canoe)
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Hdr Travel 2012

This is a quick-and-dirty gallery of my Everglades photographs. Only a placeholder for now while I work on converting my older sites. See my Everglades Wilderness Guide for more trips, maps, & photographs.
Wrens Singing a Duet
Birds Nature Science Video 2011

Plain-tailed wrens (Pheugopedius euophrys) cooperate to produce a duet song in which males and females rapidly alternate singing syllables. From Neural Mechanisms for the Coordination of Duet Singing in Wrens by Fortune, Rodríguez, et al in Science 4 Nov 2011.
BWCA Fire & Canoe Trip 2011
Birds Bwca Galleries History Travel Video 2011

Just back from a challenging trip to the BWCA with my friend Ross. We had intended to start on the Sawbill Trail, but were told to evacuate just as we got to the entry point due to the rapidly expanding Pagami Creek Fire. (Satellite photos show this plume forming in less than two hours!)
Everglades Trip 2011 (Sail Canoe)
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Hdr Travel 2011

This is a quick-and-dirty gallery of my Everglades photographs. Only a placeholder for now while I work on converting my older sites. See my Everglades Wilderness Guide for more trips, maps, & photographs.
Everglades Trip 2010
Birds Camping Everglades Galleries Hdr Travel 2010

This is a quick-and-dirty gallery of my Everglades photographs. Only a placeholder for now while I work on converting my older sites. See my Everglades Wilderness Guide for more trips, maps, & photographs.

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