Lysa Napolitano, Call Coordinator ~ Century 21 Sundance

When I posted Pelican Bay Shenanigans ~ The Video, Carol Smith of Toledo came by with the comment and I quote "But the Great Blue Herons are so pretty to watch.  They operate in a stealth mode that the military should study."

How right she is! The grace of this bird in flight with a wing span of at least 6 feet is just a treat to watch. Little did Carol know I had been trying to catch my Heron friend on his final approach of his glide path to me on video. I finally had success!

I really wanted to get the whole thing, gliding over the homes, the golf course, the waterway, but I was in the wrong spot when I caught sight of him. I do know he (or she) watches from high up in a tree for me when he isn't waiting for me close by. When I'm spotted he just spreads those beautiful wings and soundlessly makes his way to where I am.

I'll keep trying, but until then, have a look.. and he even gets lunch!

You really liked the photos I took in my post titled Pelican Bay Shenanigans so I thought I would share with you some video I took of my two feathered friends.

Sometimes it is hard to believe what people tell you..

You know.. like when they tell you a two foot bird chases them?

That's almost like the story about the fish that got away right?

Ah, but I have proof.. Not only does that nasty bugger of the Anahinga (AKA Snake Bird) chase the Great Blue Heron, he chases me!

Take a look...

I know I am so far behind and I am so sorry! Life has a funny way of catching up to me sometimes!

My dad came in last Wednesday and we had a great time together. We even went in search of Right Whales on Friday but the weather was not very cooperative. It was windy and cold (by Florida standards anyway) our high was about 55º, the windchill, probably about 47º. The wind made the water real choppy with lots of whitecaps. If there were any 50-55 foot whales out there, we sure didn't see them and neither did anyone else.

I have updated my Central Florida Thru My Eyes blog with recent sightings and the recent loss of a newborn calf.

The calf washed up in Ormond By The Sea on Friday night and my friends from the Marineland Right Whale Project believe his death was natural causes, more will be known when test results come back. Luckily they believe he was not one of the babies we've come to know and love.

Come on by and say hi when you get a chance!

The Marineland Right Whale Project celebrated it's seven year anniversary of it's first whale sighting on Friday, January 18th with sightings of two mothers and calf's!

The first pair were sighted by one of the Projects survey volunteers who was at her post near "Clicker Beach" which is close to Hammock Dunes in Palm Coast at about 9:30AM.

Joy and the response team arrived soon after and confirmed that the pair were a mom and baby. I mentioned before that when I've seen a mom with her calf, I didn't get to see much animation out of either of them, at the most a wave from the baby.

Read more about the animated calf and the other sighting here

Photo above is of Arpeggio and her calf and was taken by Joy Hampp and is property of The Marineland Right Whale Project, used with their permission.

Last evening I received permission from Joy Hampp and Jim Hain to post a photo of Arpeggio and her calf.

It is the property of Jim Hain and The Marineland Right Whale Project and was taken by Joy at Beverly Beach, FL on December 10th. They estimate the baby was at least 6 days old in the photo.

I was so excited when I got that email! I wish I had the overhead shot of mother and baby that I saw on my visit to The Marineland Right Whale Project office at the beginning of the month.

The photo that is available is just as impressive though, and one day I hope to have a camera that will have a lens to take a photo like the one you can see if you go to my Central Florida Thru My Eyes Blog.