SAME BUT ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT

 It's quiet around home these days as nearly all of our fellow snowbird neighbors have flown North.   It's a good time to get things done.  With friends gone and activities over for the season, there aren't as many tempting interruptions.   And traffic outside of the resort where we live is so much lighter it's faster to get places and faster to accomplish whatever it was that you wanted to do.   The standard joke in this area, where much of the winter population are 'senior citizens,' is that the lines at the pharmacy counter are much shorter when the winter season ends.    

 

Our "street corner" ... the Canal going out to the Caloosahatchie River

We are snowbirds too of course, but our season is slightly different from most others.   This time of year, we pretend we live here year-round.   At my dental checkup the other day, the hygienist said how nice it was "now that they're gone" she has cut 20 minutes off of her commute time.  I just smiled.

 

 

I snapped these flowers and the panorama shot above with my I-phone.  I'm trying to become more familiar with what my smart phone can do.

 

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (top three and lower center).    Northern Flicker, lower left and right.

I don't think I'll ever be able to take pictures of birds with the phone though.   I have enough trouble with the small camera I almost always carry.   This collage shows the Red-bellied Woodpecker that I saw on the ground under a live-oak tree (top three pictures and center bottom)  and two pictures of a Northern (red-shafted) Flicker that I took on the same day.  

I am used to  the red-bellied on trees or poles;  this season for the first time I've seen several foraging on the ground.  I often see Flickers on the ground.  At first glance, their markings are a little bit alike, but it's easy to see the difference when you compare the two.  The Flicker is a larger bird also.  

 

Hibiscis

 

Warning:  The snake phobic may wish to avert eyes while scrolling past the next collage.

 

 

Across the streets from the Canal, homes in our resort back on to wetlands areas that are tropical- jungle-like.   An RVer who stayed awhile had either a whimsical or an evil sense of humor.   They transformed a strangler fig behind  their space into a pretty good replica of a Burmese Python.    It will be interesting to see whether the resort management leaves their artistic endeavors for another season.  That space is for temporary visitors; someone else might not appreciate the view!   

Further warning:  One of these pictures  is not like the others.   The one in the lower left picture is a real (but no longer living) Burmese Python.  Someone had rather unkindly laid it out on a railing at a wildlife viewing spot near the Everglades. (That picture is from last February).    It was a good thing that somebody killed it because these snakes are  invasive and create serious problems in this part of Florida.  I just wished I hadn't almost put my hand on it.

Back to the pretty stuff:

 

 

Skies this week have been interesting.   It continues to rain hard at least for a short while almost every day (usually with lightning).   But  there are also always times when we can go outside.    It never rains all day long.    

The  picture below is from way earlier in the season.  It was forgotten on my phone and found when my practice photo at the top of this post (and about a million others I threw away) were downloaded.   

 

Pink Shell  Beach,  January 2019

An oldie but a goodie!

LINKING this week to the following:  Thank you to all of the hosts.

 

NATURE NOTES;   ALL SEASONS;    MOSAIC MONDAY;  MACRO MONDAY , THROUGH MY LENS;  OUR WORLD on Tuesday;  SAY CHEESE;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;   MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SKYWATCH FRIDAY;   FRIDAY  BLISS;   SATURDAY CRITTERS;  and RATHER B' BIRDING  

 

Comments

[Anni@I'd Rather B Birdin']

I really hate snakes...I tried to look away, but I had to scroll beyond & saw ... oh dear.

As always, thanks for taking time to add your link with us at I'd Rather B Birdin', and enjoy your week ahead. Good birding!

Your collages & photos are awesome this week Sallie.

[Adam Jones]

Love the Flicker and Woodpeckers.

[Eileen Wise]

Hello, love the Flicker and Woodpecker. Beautiful scenery and photos. Thanks for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend.

[Michelle Banks]

I take more photos with my camera, but nature photos don't turn out that well but I have a small camera. I think yours are great...Michelle

[JM Illinois]

Sigh. I am speechless!

[David Gascoigne]

Hi Sallie: Are you sure it is a Red-shafted Flicker? I can't see any part of the underwings or any part of the lower regions of the bird, but Yellow-shafted would be expected in the east. Red-shafted would be more likely seen when you get back to Oregon.

[Michelle]

Well, the snake on the rail is not so great. I wouldn't have wanted to put my hand on it either! lol Thanks for linking up today!

[Peter B.]

The python made from the tree root is impressive! I hope they don't take it down. Cell phone cameras are pretty amazing these days, but I don't think they work well for bird photography. Hard to complete with a DSLR and good quality telephoto lens!

[MaryBeth Schwartz]

The skies are beautiful. What a prankster the neighbor is/was. I would take or paint over the pretend snake---to big. Ugh!
MB

[Linda in Virginia]

The last picture is stunning and I love the hibiscus.

[My Corner of the World]

I definitely prefer the pretty shots, too! It's quite amazing what phone cameras can do these days, with the advanced cameras.

I am delighted that you chose to join My Corner of the World!

[Gaelyn]

Nice that you have the locals fooled but that painted snake would have fooled me. Phone is handy for photos but sure do like the quality of my camera shots better.

[ellen b.]

Our Colville Snowbirds are back. Church is a bit more crowded. It's kind of fun. Glad you are on a different time table and you can enjoy your spot with less crowds for a while. Wonderful photos. That snake is scary huge!!

[Sondra]

I like the snake art very clever! Its a shame that people have brought evasive species into the mix...the animals suffer due to human error!
I have taken some photos with my phone...like you I have not tried birds but I did a few nests the other day..
Enjoy being a local a little while longer...

[DeniseinVA]

Love these photos, thanks Sallie. Yikes on the python. I had heard of the problem in the Everglades. Sad state of affairs when invasive species cause such horrendous havoc to the natives. Scenery shots are gorgeous and love your flowers and birds, gorgeous sunset. Enjoy your quieter spell down there. My dad, bless him, and as we lived in a very popular seaside town, always said it was lovely to see them come (the tourists) but lovely to see them go. We always laughed because he meant no malice, just was glad to be able to get around more easily after all the traffic jams.

[bill burke]

Lovely photos, Sallie. I don't like snakes but those photos are great and gives you a sense of how big they are. Love the sunset photo, it's gorgeous.
Have a wonderful day.

[NatureFootstep PhotoArt]

Love the hibiscus flower image. So beautiful. But I think I can do without that huge snake. And I usually love snakes :) Love the low sun shot :)

Have a great week :)

[Debbie]

nice that the dental hygienist did not think you were a snow bird, she must think you are too young for that!!

smart phones these days take amazing pictures, yours are beautiful!! i always enjoy seeing the flickers!

the last picture is gorgeous!!!

[Sharon Wagner]

Yikes! I wouldn't want to be that tree. Great photos.

[Stewart M]

Its nice to feel like a local! My drive (or train) to work is so much easier in the school holidays - much less busy.

I had to chuckle at the python story!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

[Photo Cache]

I cannot handle snakes. I am too scared of them.

[William Kendall]

That last shot is my favourite.

[Colleen LOOSELEAFNOTES]

I was going to say that the snake isn't "the same!" But now I see it's not real. The same but different is my mantra these days as days and life seems to repeat and the challenge is to see it new, like the sky, everyday is different. My woodpeckers are among the least shiest birds in my yard.

[Janice Adcock]

Nope, do not want to put my hand on a dead or worse live snake.

[Lavender Dreamer]

I wouldn't like seeing the snakes...real or otherwise! We've missed most of the rain but yesterday we got a big thunderstorm and some much needed rain. It's already so hot...flowers and grass need the moisture. Enjoy your week!

[Fun 60]

Wonderful photos, as usual. I thought that was a real snake. In fact the last time I saw a snake in the wild was in Florida. What a spectacular sunset.

[Junieper/Jesh]

Pink Shell Beach is pretty! Had to laugh about the shorter pharmacy lines! I already thought from the thumbnail that it was a snake - its length is amazing! The pink/peach flowers is amazing, taken with your smart phone! A lovely collection for All Seasons Sally! Wishing you another great spring week. Here in the mountains it's still on or off with warm days at the moment!

[Florence]

As always, your photos are lovely. The last shot is picture perfect. I can imagine being on that beach and watching the sun goes down. I’m a believer in live and let it alone when it comes to snakes.
Enjoy your less crowded days.

[gillena]

Thought they were caterpillars. Happy mosaic Monday

Much💚love

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Lovely array of nature photos ~ wonderful place to spend half the year!

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[Penelope Puddlisms]

Haha … I guess fake snakes are preferable to the real thing that sting. Oh, wow, that last shot is picture perfect. It would be lovely to relax on that beach and watch the sun goes down. I’ve not gotten used to my phone camera either and prefer my small camera, although walking around with both weighs me down a bit more than I’d like. :))

[Jennifer Jilks]

My kids only use iPhone photos. They are amazing. My SIL is a geek, encryption engineer, and they always have the top of the line!
I love your photos. I like our resident snakes. The invasive ones are just shameful for people to do this. Of course, those wouldn't survive here in the north.
I love the flickers. Good photos. We have one nesting, I think.
cheers!

[Linda P]

Love your street corner! I think you photos using your i-phone are good. As yet I haven't used mine as I prefer my digital camera and usual way of getting photos onto my laptop to edit. Our two-home UK/Italy lifestyle is on hold at the moment, but plan to get to Italy later in the year. We're back to cooler weather here in the UK, but have plenty to do in our garden vegetable patch and flower beds.

[Laurie]

Those figs are so pretty! I thought at first glance that they were really snakes! I read an article about invasive snakes in FL. I think they wreak havoc with the bird populations.

[Eileen Wise]

Hello,

Your street view is beautiful. Love the Flicker and Woodie. Gorgeous flowers! Pink Shell Beach looks beautiful, lovely sky. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

[Nancy Chan]

I enjoyed the first picture and the birds. I know the frangipani and hibicus flowers. But sorry, no, no, to the snakes. Have a great new week!

[Diane]

That painting on the creeper is amazing. Love the woodpecker, I hear them here quite often but I seldom see them! I cannot imagine pythons being invasive, they generally keep away from humans and are seldom seen in Africa unless you go looking for them. Have a good day Dane

[riitta k]

I thought first that the python was a real one :) Amazingly done. That red-headed woodpecker looks so cute, we don't have it here... And I always LOVE yellow hibiscus! Happy MM Sallie.

[Michelle]

Very gorgeous area - even with invasive pythons. 😄 Love the shot of the hibiscus! It is one of my favorite flowers.

[mick]

You have so many 'goodies' for photos that I can easily ignore those 'nasty' snakes! I grew up in NZ where there are NO snakes at all! I love the flower photos and the photo of your "street corner' is also particularly beautiful. I hope you can get done all you hope to soon without any distractions. It sounds to me as if you have the best of all worlds with your climate changes.

[Lady Fi]

Wonderful shots and skies. Had to laugh about the fake snake though. Someone nearby has a fake snake on their boat - to deter thieves, I guess!

[Pat]

I am not a fan of snakes, but I know most of them to have a worthy job.

I take many of my photos with my cell phone these days--it is just easier and always available. I do miss the quality of my Nikon and should get back in the habit of using it again.
Love your birds and flowers!

[Angie]

Sallie - I recognize those types of comments from the locals - we have the same conversations among ourselves AFTER the summer tourist season! I am not afraid of snakes, but I certainly would not have guessed the painted vine was not a real snake if you hadn't told us! Love your parting sunset - gorgeous! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday, and have a wonderful week!

[Lorrie]

Phones can do so much these days. I don't use mine for much beyond Instagram photos, and I agree with you that photographing birds would be just about impossible. Thanks for the warning about the creepy crawlies - I moved very fast over that section. Glad you're enjoying the quieter days now that the snowbirds have mostly gone home.

[Alan Bates]

Phones can do a lot especially when extended with apps. The simplest camera can do better a birds and squirrels and other critters though. Sometimes I wonder why we don't have cameras with configurable apps. The in-camera modifications available are pitiful.
That fake snake would have given me a heart attack.
I grew up in the deserts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico and killed numerous rattlesnakes that I came across, and I now regret every single kill. Nowadays I am a live and let live guy. I totally understand killing an invasive species like the python though.

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...such a beautiful ending!

[Carol]

I think your phone photos are great. I know you'll be leaving soon. I like being here full-time but I do take off usually August to go to Michigan to visit my sister. This year I'm going for July and August. Have a safe trip!