Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill (Aijai aijai)

The Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaia) is a tall bird, about 32 inches in height and a wingspan of 5ft 6 in, with a flat, bluish bill flattened at the tip.

They get their name for how they feed. They use their beak, swiping it back and forth in the water, sort of spooning for their food. Spoonbills feed on small fish, snail, aquatic insects, and shrimp.

They can be found in mangroves and saltwater lagoons or marshes in the shallower water.  They are resident in Louisianna, Florida, occassionally in Texas, and in the American tropics. 

Because of their color, tourists to Florida often mistake them for Flamingos.

Wood Storks (Mycteria americana)

A pair of Wood Storks (Mycteria americana)

I found these two Wood Storks sitting to the right of a large group of other birds, Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills, Little Blue Heron, etc. Since it was just before sunset, I think they were probably getting ready to nest for the night. This pair seemed to be standing guard over the others.

Wood Storks can be found in Southeastern United States and are the only storks breeding in the US. They have a late breeding season which is timed to Florida's dry season when their fish prey is plentiful in the shrinking pools.

Right now, Sawgrass Lake Park is being dredged and the water is very low. Normally, Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks aren't seen in this park, but the low water is attracting them to this area.

Southern Screamer

Since I've been too sick to go out and shoot, I decided to go back through some old files.

I made this shot of this Southern Screamer at Busch Gardens as he was chasing another bird. It seems he's very territorial and didn't want the other bird in his area. He was pretty mad.

I never heard his call and judging by his name, I'm glad I didn't.

University of Tampa Minaret

This was taken in back in January, just before I left for vacation. I must apologize for going back to my files for posting since I had a long day today and haven't done any editing.

I've never shot these minarets in total darkness before because I like to see some blue in the sky; but with the black background, I think it sets off the minaret better than if it were taken with a blue sky.

The University of Tampa, Plant Hall building has always fascinated me. It reminds me a little bit of Moscow (at least of the picture of Moscow that I've seen). I just love that architecture.

I'm always trying to expand my comfort zone by shooting what I'm not used to. I find it enhances my abilities--even though my experiments don't always come out to my liking. This one, though, I like. (I got lucky.) I also had a little bit of help with the campus lighting.

Downtown Tampa From the UT Campus

This is only one of many beautiful views of downtown Tampa that can be seen from the University of Tampa campus.

The buildings, from left to right are, the Sykes building, the Bank of America building and the Regions Bank buildings.

Arch Detail

Arch detail and reflections in window of Regions Bank, which is in downtown Tampa. The University of Tampa campus is one of the preferred places to create "out of the box" images of downtown Tampa.

These arches are over the main doors in Plant Hall at the University of Tampa.

Backside Plant Hall, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

This is another image from Plant Hall at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. This building is so ornate it's hard to know what to shoot. It shows detail of some of the Gingerbread design that was so popular in the Victorian age.

Plant Hall, University of Tampa

This is one of the many porches on the backside of this amazing building. I've been there twice now, and still haven't been able to capture everything there is to photograph.

The University of Tampa campus is one of the most amazing campuses I've ever seen. The architecture appears to be a combination of Russian and Victorian, yet it also resembles Middle East architecture.

If you're ever in the Tampa area, this is one place to put on your list to see.

Minarets Atop Plant Hall at University of Tampa

Well, it's been a while since I've updated my blog. I've been on an extended vacation.

This photo of the Moorish minarets atop Plant Hall at the University of Tampa is only a small part of the beauty of this campus. I went there about two weeks ago and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the beauty of this place.

Plant Hall was once the old Tampa Bay Hotel. "On June 14, 1898 Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt and the first United States Volunteer Calvary, known as the Rough Riders, embarked from Port Tampa for victory in the Spanish-American War: The Tampa Bay Hotel was used as headquarters for general officers who came to organize an invasion force for Cuba , and it gained national attention. Lt. Col. Roosevelt and his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, were hotel guests for a brief stay. Later, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States 1901-1909." - as stated on a plaque in front of the entrance to Plant Hall.

As you can see it is only fitting that this beautiful building is now used as one of the main buildings on the University of Tampa campus.