Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season has treated you well, and the first day of 2012 was a great start for you into this new year! I spent a few hours on New Years enjoying the great weather that continues here in south Florida. As some of you may know, a nesting pair of Bald Eagles have made their home for at least 4 years in Pembroke Pines, just east of the Everglades on Pines Blvd. So that was my “destination-in-the-sun” on Sunday, to check-out the eagles, or at least hope for a glimpse of them at a couple of their normal perches. This time of year the female mostly stays low over her eggs in the nest, while the male is close-by tending to mom’s needs and watching over things. If you don’t know the nesting habits and general nature of bald eagles, you should Google “nesting bald eagles.”
Bald Eagle, Pembroke Pines, FL, 1-1-12.
They are fascinating birds that are loyal to their mate and nesting home each and every year. The pictures today included snaps of several of one of the parents, and also an osprey and egret that were close by the nest. I even found a buzzard crossing the moon to add to the New Year’s Day collection. As you can see, everyone was hungry. It wasn’t too long after seeing all the chowing, I decided the couple hours had treated me well, and perhaps I should head back for late lunch and some Miami Dolphins and Heat entertainment, and leave nature’s fowl blessings for another day. As it turned out, it was a sweep, the birds and our teams!
To see a video of the Osprey eating, and more pictures of the Bald Eagles and their past young, view the links below. Note the last one shows videos of the eaglets too:
Eagles recent years:
4) http://jimhartman.smugmug.com/Gallery/Wildlife/2011-Bald-Eagle-Videos/15458326_L2Fmjr
So in closing this first blog of 2012, a couple comments on what to expect in the year to come. It’s been a while since my last one, so here I am into day two of 2012 aiming to be a bit more regular with posts. I like the sound of weekly’s, so there you go, that’s the goal. This coming year please look forward to seeing a blurb once a week, and I will surely do the same by posting one. Wikipedia says a blurb is, “a short summary accompanying a creative work.” You will always find a creative element in what you see here. Also, you will find my style to be a little like a Swiss Army Knife, where the blades may not always be what you were expecting. My passion these days is the thrill of wedding photography. The excitement and joy to be around people at this special time in their lives, and the satisfaction I have helping couples cherish their day for a life time with captured emotions of the day, makes this type of photography most enjoyable. 2011 was a busy time for me with Weddings, and 2012 will likely be the same. So you may see a few wedding images pop into my blogs, but those won’t necessarily be the focus. Other times there may be a bit of instruction or commentary on various topics, but always accompanied or centered around creative photography. Expect to mostly see a collection of images that are unrelated in type and subject, but every much the same as to the “Impression” you are left. That is of one that touches your emotions, and if it causes you to slow down just a moment from your busy, treadmill life we all seem to find ourselves on these days, the effort and touch was worth it.
I wish you the best in 2012, Godspeed.
Pembroke Pines, FL, 1-1-12.
Osprey with prey, Miramar FL, 1-1-12.
Osprey, Miramar FL, 1-1-12
Osprey with fish, Miramar FL, 1-1-12.
Osprey, Miramar FL, 1-1-12.
Osprey, 1-1-12.
Egret on way to find lizard, Pembroke Pines, 1-1-12.
Egret, Pembroke Pines, 1-1-12
Egret eats lizard, Pembroke Pines, FL, 1-1-12.
Egret Eats Lizard, Pembroke Pines, 1-1-12.
Things to do while waiting for Osprey to fly away, 1-1-12
Bird Flies by Moon, 1-1-12.