Uploads from jungle mama

Wetland Fire Flag in morning light

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:27:49 -0700

Fire Flag is a large emersed plant that grows from a thick rhizome. It grows in swamps and wet ditches from the peninsula west to the central panhandle of Florida. It blooms in wetlands from summer to fall.

Large simple leaves on long stalks are among Fire Flag's most notable features. The leaves are broadly lance-shaped, with broadly rounded bases. They can be up to eight inches wide and more than 2 1/2 feet long. Several leaves growing together are sheathed at the base. Fire flag flowers are paired; that is, two flowering bracts emerge on top of a tall flower stalk. Multiple small purple flowers hang from the bracts. The flowers have three petals.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL

Boat tailed Grackle in morning light

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:27:48 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

When you smell saltwater on the East Coast, it’s time to look out for Boat-tailed Grackles. The glossy blue-black males are hard to miss as they haul their ridiculously long tails around or display from marsh grasses or telephone wires. The rich, dark-brown females are half the size of males and look almost like a different species. Boat-tailed Grackles take advantage of human activity along our increasingly developed coast, scavenging trash and hanging out in busy urban areas away from predators.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL

Boat tailed Grackle is perched on Fireflag

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:27:48 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

I love the jewel-like quality of Fire Flag's dangling flowers.When you smell saltwater on the East Coast, it’s time to look out for Boat-tailed Grackles. The glossy blue-black males are hard to miss as they haul their ridiculously long tails around or display from marsh grasses or telephone wires. The rich, dark-brown females are half the size of males and look almost like a different species. Boat-tailed Grackles take advantage of human activity along our increasingly developed coast, scavenging trash and hanging out in busy urban areas away from predators.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL

Male Zebra longwings are mating with female still in the pupa

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:08:58 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

The Zebra longwing doesn't wait for a specific time to mate. A female Zebra longwing can be smelled through the wall of the chrysalis and male Zebra longwings will often hover around the chrysalis in anticipation of mating when the new female emerges! Or even penetrate the pupa.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL

Zebra longwing mating frenzy!

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:08:58 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Fluttering Zebra longwings are mating under a rosy Bromeliad

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:08:57 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Zebra longwing female hasn't even hatched and the males are impregnating her

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:08:56 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Purple waterlilies blaze from golden centers

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:28:51 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Morning sun calls purple waterlilies to rise, open and reflect

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:28:50 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

CLICK IMAGE to see this one on BLACK! A different perspective and color range.

I love the glassy water tension rings at the base of the stems! The green mottled bud pushing up like a volcano and its opposing reflection. The uniting of real and unreal worlds.

Cormorant is preening... watchful eye and lifted feathers

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:39:20 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

I love the twisting undulating shape of its highly flexible neck! And the careful lifting of the feathers to reach just the right spot. Check out the black foot that is supporting all of its weight. Strange how solid it looks here and how curled up like a rose it was in an earlier shot.

What a moment! This Cormorant landed on the rail next to me and seemed to enjoy having me record the most intimate moments of its preening. What a privilege it was to be up so close and personal!

Cormorants and Anhingas are frequently confused. They are both black birds that dive under the water to catch fish. Both dry their feathers in the sun.

But there are other differences that are easy to see. The Anhinga's beak is pointed for spearing fish, while the Cormorant's beak is hooked for grasping its prey. The Cormorant's body remains above the surface when swimming. It lacks the Anhinga's slender snake-like neck, long tail and white wing feathers.

There are many types of Cormorants worldwide. The one in Florida is called the Double-crested Cormorant because of the small tufts of feathers that appear on the head during the breeding season.

In the Far East, the Cormorant's fishing ability is harnessed by man. The owner of a flock of Cormorants places metal rings around the birds' necks and puts them on leashes. Each bird is released from a small boat and dives to catch fish. The ring prevents the bird from swallowing. Bird and fish are reeled in together and the fish confiscated. After a number of fish are caught, the ring is remove and the Cormorant is allowed to fish for his own dinner.

Unlike Cormorants and most other water birds, Anhingas do not have oil glands for waterproofing their feathers. When they swim, their feathers get wet. This helps them dive and chase fish under water. But, above water again, they must spread their wings and dry them in the sun. They can still fly with wet wings but far less efficiently.

Double-crested Cormorant
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL
For more, see my set Wetlands and their Inhabitants
www.flickr.com/photos/jungle_mama/sets/72157625997954564/...

Fiery wet Torch Ginger blazes on black!

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:26:09 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

CLICK image to see this glowing beauty on BLACK!

Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior) also known as the Red Ginger Lily, an exceptionally-red, waxy flower common in gardens throughout Costa Rica.

Windows of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL

Purple waterlily and dragonfly glow in the morning light

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:46:10 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

CLICK this one to see on BLACK!
For more, see my set Living in a Jungle.

Blue Heron... reflecting on take off!

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:29:29 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

CLICK this image to see it on BLACK!

I love the white body and white flowing feathers on the back of the neck.

Color, texture and stealth of an Alligator

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:18:51 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

I love the wave of glassy water emanating from the mouth and the gold outlines around the eye. Quiet but moving.

An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). In addition, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago.

The name alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator.

All you see of an Alligator!

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:18:51 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Beware, so easy to miss this tread-like pattern on the surface of a wetland, especially if it's in the midst of duckweed and water lettuce!

An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). In addition, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago.

The name alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator.

Bluing Water Lettuce creates sparkling graphic design

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:08:18 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Red shielded Moorhen and bluing Water Lettuce

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:23:52 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

The Common Moorhen's amazing brilliant red shield-shaped beak has a contrasting yellow tip. Such a grand bird to be called Common! I love the reflection of its head and the transparency of the water that shows its long yellow-toed foot. The tiny blue edged wave patterns provide a wonderful soft contrast

The Common Moorhen or Common Gallinule is a duck-like bird often seen on fresh water ponds along with Coots. The red shield on the forehead makes it unmistakably different. It climbs on and around tall grass and reed at the edge of wetlands. The name Moorhen has been recorded in English since the 13th century and the word "moor" here means marsh. An older alternative name, Common Waterhen, is more descriptive because of its habitat.

This is a common breeding bird in marsh environments, fresh and salty, and well-vegetated lakes. Populations in areas where the waters freeze, such as southern Canada, the northern US and eastern Europe, will migrate to more temperate climes. This species will consume a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. They forage beside or in the water, sometimes upending in the water to feed. It is often secretive, but can become tame in some areas. Despite loss of habitat in parts of its range, the Common Moorhen remains plentiful and widespread.

The nest is a basket built on the ground in dense vegetation. Laying starts in spring, between mid-March and mid-May in N hemisphere temperate regions. About 8 eggs are usually laid per female early in the season; a brood later in the year usually has only 5-8 or even less eggs. Nests may be re-used by different females. Incubation lasts about three weeks. Both parents incubate and feed the young. These fledge after 40–50 days, become independent a few weeks later and may raise their first brood the next spring. When threatened, the young cling to the parent's body as it flies to safety.

Common Moorhen, Common Waterhen or Common Gallinule
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL
For more, see my set Wetlands and their Inhabitants
www.flickr.com/photos/jungle_mama/sets/72157625997954564/

Moorhen towing a reed through Water Lettuce

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:11:24 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

Alligator floats quietly in the wetlands... waiting

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:32:31 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo:

CLICK image to see it on BLACK!

Silent. Stealth. Invisible in the wetlands environment!
This one is about 8 feet long.

An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). In addition, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago.

The name alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for "the lizard", which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL

A rare moment... Costa's Hummingbird sitting quietly on a branch

nobody@flickr.com (jungle mama) — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:32:36 -0700

jungle mama posted a photo: