Friday, May 15, 2015
GATORS ON PEPPER CREEK
On April 4, a new pair of gators showed up on Pepper Creek at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. They were very active making their way all around Osprey Island, and in the following weeks, from one end of the creek to the other. This video captures a bit of the experience of that first day's sightings as I piloted guests up and down the creek.
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, Boat ride, Florida, Florida Wildlife, gators, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Pepper Creek, wildlife
Saturday, December 27, 2014
THE SOLSTICES OF 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Had to go early to Old Homosassa this morning. While there, I decided to drive around a bit, and suddenly came upon a pull-out and a gate at the side of the road. Turned out to be the entrance to a small piece of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Spent a few quiet peaceful moments there.
Enjoy.
:)
Jud
Labels: homosassa, Jud, Wet lands, Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, September 28, 2014
NEW DUCKS AND A COUPLE OF STRANGE OLD DUCKS
[Note: as always, you can right click and "open in new tab" to see a larger version of any image.]
Over the last week or two, the Wood Ducks have started returning to Pepper Creek and the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Last Thursday, I was shooting in the park and found a bunch of new arrivals swimming in the spring waters down near the deer habitat.
And on the ride back up Pepper Creek, spotted a few swimming about near Osprey Island.
This fellow kept quacking at me, enough so, that even in the picture his mouth is open!
Yesterday, as I was driving back with an empty boat, I managed to grab a few more shots including some close ups.
In the last turn before the Visitors Center, I was struck by this Snowy White Egret sitting high up in the shrubbery.
In the creek beneath him, a Blue Heron (as opposed to a Great Blue Heron) was picking away.
After my day was done, I visited with Gail in the office, and we played dueling cameras.
Over the last week or two, the Wood Ducks have started returning to Pepper Creek and the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Last Thursday, I was shooting in the park and found a bunch of new arrivals swimming in the spring waters down near the deer habitat.
And on the ride back up Pepper Creek, spotted a few swimming about near Osprey Island.
This fellow kept quacking at me, enough so, that even in the picture his mouth is open!
Yesterday, as I was driving back with an empty boat, I managed to grab a few more shots including some close ups.
In the last turn before the Visitors Center, I was struck by this Snowy White Egret sitting high up in the shrubbery.
In the creek beneath him, a Blue Heron (as opposed to a Great Blue Heron) was picking away.
After my day was done, I visited with Gail in the office, and we played dueling cameras.
:)
Jud
Labels: Blue Heron, Egret, homosassa, Homosassa Spring, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Pepper Creek, Wood Duck
Monday, September 22, 2014
SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 AT THE WILDLIFE PARK
It was a bit overcast today as I visited the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, but that made for some good lighting for photography.
From the Garden of the Springs, I looked out over the Homosassa River, fed by the 50-60+ million gallons of water the spring pumps out every day.
A newly bonded pair of Wood Ducks also was taking in the view. The Wood Ducks have just returned to the area this last week.
From the bridge across the Homosassa River, I just missed getting this large fish that was leaping into the air.
A pair or tourists gaze in wonder at two of our permanent resident manatees.
A few moments later, I grabbed this shot at the end of the bridge.
A bit further into the park, a few of the new arrivals prepare for the mating ritual.
Park Volunteer Marcie tosses a hunk of hard squash to Lu after the program. He was not very cooperative during the presentation today, but once the people turned their sights to the alligators on the other side, he was all for getting his.
Y'all come back and see us again!
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, animals, Daktari, Florida, Fountain, Hippopotamus, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, HSWLSP, Jud, Wood Duck
Thursday, September 04, 2014
ON PEPPER CREEK
Two new gator vids from Wednesday, 3 September on Pepper Creek at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida.
JR on the Edge: (0:50)
and
Round Trip with Waldo: (2:19)
And a shot I am very happy with, taken as a passenger on this day, of a Great Blue Heron in the creek.
Enjoy, like, share!
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, Florida, great blue heron, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, JR, Jud, Pepper Creek, Waldo
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
WILD WILD LIFE
Over at the boat dock of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, lives Waldo, a wild gator who rules the raft. Here are a few clips of the old boy:
In my neighborhood, there have been a pair of Sandhill Cranes for several years. On April 28 I caught them with their new offspring...
And today, May 21, I saw them again, now in their "teen" years:
Enjoy!
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, Cranes, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Sandhill Crane
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
THE JUD-MOBILE RIDES AGAIN!
Had to go over to the library to print out some stuff yesterday and it was bright and sunny- though very cold- so I grabbed a shot of one of three nice statues decorating the outside grounds.
Last night I went to rinse my tea cup and nothing! Shocking! What's wrong??? This is like 1AM. So I dressed, went out with flashlight to see if there were any burst pipes, found no sign of anything wrong, checked fuse on pump, okay... but nothing.
Checked again a couple of hours later looking for a reset button on the pump...
This morning, went out and looked again, found the motor of water pump was warm to the touch, but 'head' was very cold. So I thought maybe it was frozen. I set my hair dryer on it and went back in. About half an hour later, heard the toilet filling and realized problem solved! Phew!
A bit later, I realized we have a few more days of sub-freezing temps, so I made a shelter/heater for the pump, cardboard box and a 55 watt light bulb.
Checked again a couple of hours later looking for a reset button on the pump...
This morning, went out and looked again, found the motor of water pump was warm to the touch, but 'head' was very cold. So I thought maybe it was frozen. I set my hair dryer on it and went back in. About half an hour later, heard the toilet filling and realized problem solved! Phew!
A bit later, I realized we have a few more days of sub-freezing temps, so I made a shelter/heater for the pump, cardboard box and a 55 watt light bulb.
Next, I put my ECV motor and tranny back together, but have two small very specific parts left over... ahem... have no idea where they came from and looking back over my pictures of the dis-assmebly process, they never show up! Hope it all works... hope I find some place later where they go... one is a tiny, like 1/4 O-ring and the other is a tension spring. I see no place where they might go and have no idea where they came from, but they were in the very carefully segregated and secured storage of parts from the dis-assembly...
When I finished reassembling the Go-Go, I still had those two bits left over- never saw anywhere where they were supposed to go. But it is up and running and feels so much better! Can't wait to get it out for a test run! Except for having to wait months to get the replacement bearing- the particular bearing I needed was made only for this particular model and brand and year, so was very difficult to get- the repair job was about 2-3 hours and a 10 dollar bearing- as opposed to a 250 dollar + labor for a used rear end, or 600+ for a new rear end from an official dealer. [Actually, just found a listing on the net and the part alone is $803.25, about 100 more than I paid for the scooter with shipping on a close out deal.]
Additionally, a lot of trouble over the last several years could have been avoided if the Pride telephone rep hadn't been so anxious to get rid of me for fear of having some liability while it was still in warranty and instead had listened and maybe known that something was wrong when my batteries died in 6 months. And there was: broken bearing on the rear axle.
Would also have been easier if Pride (and every other ECV manufacturer) would provide a parts list and parts availability to the end user. The entire market is totally closed, being primarily tied to insurance and disability. No other market would survive such practices.
Additionally, a lot of trouble over the last several years could have been avoided if the Pride telephone rep hadn't been so anxious to get rid of me for fear of having some liability while it was still in warranty and instead had listened and maybe known that something was wrong when my batteries died in 6 months. And there was: broken bearing on the rear axle.
Would also have been easier if Pride (and every other ECV manufacturer) would provide a parts list and parts availability to the end user. The entire market is totally closed, being primarily tied to insurance and disability. No other market would survive such practices.
Labels: art, cold, ecv, homosassa, library, mobility scooter, repair, scooter, water pump
