Beach fun at Miramar Beach, Florida

It's cooler along the Emerald Coast this week and the sky is that dynamic blue that is seldom seen in the summer months. I have had great fun shooting beach portraits of little boys and boats in the last couple of weeks. When I first began photographing families, I had no idea how much fun it was to work with children. They are like that proverbial "box of chocolates". You never know what you are going to get, but you know you are going to savor the experience. To everyone who has let me work with their children, thank you. And if it has been awhile, I hope I'll be seeing you again soon.

This is a wonderful time of year on the Emerald Coast. Cool mornings promise cooler days to come. Sea oats frame beaches and the sand and water are beautiful.
Migratory birds will soon be traversing the area in the quest for warmer climates for wintering. I always look forward to the return of the white pelicans to the area and further south. They are magnificent birds. Larger than the brown pelicans, they are solid white except for black on the underside tips of their wings. The white pelicans are different from their brown counterparts in several other ways. They inhabit bayous and bays. They don't dive for fish, instead, they herd them into a circle and eat them. They also have yellow feet and bills. Some of the pelicans that come through this area migrate from Canada and Montana. Florida has so many areas that are great places for this bird to winter. You never know where they will settle down. Keep an eye out for these wonderful creatures.

Trip to Venice, LA

The second weekend in August found us on the road to Venice, Louisiana. News reports from Venice peaked my curiosity about the area and what better way to satisfy that curiosity than to pay a visit.
A number of things surprised me about the area south of New Orleans. There were numerous groves of citrus trees, cattle farms, horse farms, and pecan orchards. In some areas the land mass looked no wider than half a mile or so with dikes on each side. As we entered the Venice area helicopter pads dotted the area. The tops of huge vessels could be seen over the dikes. A few miles past Venice the road ends. Past that point are Cypress swamps and the Gulf of Mexico. The end of that road was covered with about six inches of water, a real reminder of how vulnerable the area is.
Many visitors come through the area on the way to offshore oil rigs and to fish the rich waters surrounding Venice. Numerous accommodations resembling mini trailers on blocks or stilts are visible throughout the area.
We intentionally traveled the coast line to and from Venice. We were pleased to see clean beaches.

Meet Lionel and Coco. They were abandoned as babies. When we first took them in six weeks ago they were suffering from a parasite infestation, eye infections and respiratory problems. Coco weighted 8 ounces and Lionel 1 pound 2 ounces. From the beginning they responded to loving and good food. Coco now weighs in at almost 3 pounds and Lionel is a hefty 4 pounds. They are both healthy and both need loving homes. It would be great if they could stay together, since they have such a close bond. They are extremely loving and playful and will be a great addition to any home. Please look into your heart and see if there is room for such sweet and beautiful creatures.

Pelicans on the Gulf

Growing up in Valdosta, Georgia, my father took me fishing with him at an early age. I learned to love nature and to respect all God’s creatures and I carried that respect with me to Destin when my husband and I moved to the Gulf Coast in 1999. My love and fascination with coastal wildlife and the shoreline only grows stronger with the years and I sincerely hope my photography reflects that. This beautiful, healthy Brown Pelican from our Emerald Coast is a sharp contrast to the photo visual that for me will forever define the horrible tragedy of the spill, the iconic image of the oil covered Pelican in Louisiana. Thankfully, our coast remains clear and so this pelican’s home, for now, remains pure and beautiful. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
I support the efforts of Audubon and our local wildlife refuge agency, The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge and Marine Mammal Stranding Center (http://www.ecwildliferefuge.com/). While the impact on birds in our area is as yet unclear, these agencies are working closely with NOAA, USFWS, FFWCC, BP, Okaloosa EOC and they are prepared to respond to oiled wildlife. I am ready to stand with them.

So far we Walton County Citizens are urged to be sentinels and to call these numbers: Walton County Citizen Information – 850-267-2000 with any oil related concerns. To report oiled or injured wildlife we are to call 866-557-1401.

Hazel

Before moving to the Emerald Coast we had no close encounters with cats as housemates. We were "dog people". Our area has a large feral cat population and it was only a matter of time before we were fascinated by these creatures. Fascination led to feeding and feeding eventually led to five cats that get their mail at this address. One can only imagine the adventures these animals have had.

Our latest feline family member is Hazel. She was trapped, spayed and set free because she was too wild to socialize. We agreed to feed her and keep an eye on her if she allowed. At first she would appear for food each morning and evening. At night we made her a bed on the porch (with heating pad) and she would turn in fairly early and spend the night in her bed. She was very much alone and tried repeatedly to establish relationships with other cats that came into the yard. That failing, she began to eye us with more curiosity, particularily the indoor cats. She began to spend more time with her nose pressed to the glass door watching our every move. Since she was still very wild, we were not sure how to proceed. We finally decided to open the door to her and let her decide if this was a "hill" she could live on. She has quickly, with minimal encouragement, become our most sociable cat and has an insatiable appetite for petting and food of any kind.

We were not looking for a fifth cat. Had promised "no more cats". However, when Hazel applied for membership, the rules went out the window. Welcome home, Hazel.

Great Blue Herons

May is a beautiful time along the Emerald Coast of Florida. Blue Lupine and Gaillardias dot the sand dunes, the water is a beautiful color, the weather is perfect, and bird nests are full of babies. I love photographing bird families, particularly the Great Blue Herons. This Heron couple is in their courtship mode. They nest in the tops of trees. This couple lives in the Dewey Destin Seafood Restaurant area on the Bay.