SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S LAST MISSION

It was a picture-perfect day for Space Shuttle Discovery's last launch at 4:54 p.m. today.



(Click on photos to enlarge.)

 The Shuttle with the rocket boosters

 There was an enormous crowd there today for

the launch; the largest I have ever seen!



Video of Space Shuttle Discovery

(Click play button to play.)

Yeah, I know!!  I'll try and hold the camera still next time!

SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY

Space Shuttle Discovery's launch tomorrow at 4:50 p.m. from Launch Pad 39A.  (Obviously, this is not my photograph!)

BALD EAGLES ARE BACK!!

For the third year in a row, a pair of bald eagles have nested in an area of Pembroke Pines, Florida.  In 2009, they produced 2 chicks; in 2010, they produced 3 chicks; and this year there are 2 more chicks in the nest (born probably sometime in early January 2011).  The chicks are still real small and I couldn't see them very well, the mother (or father) was fiercely protecting them - sitting right above the nest.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Parent just watching over the nest

 This is the nest.  I could only see one chick, but

there are 2 in there

 The chick's black head is on the left

 Hard to see because he is behind the tree.

 At one point, a turkey vulture came too close to the nest.

The parent who was watching over them took off after

the vulture like a bat out of hell.

 The vulture ran from the eagle, but was no match

 The vulture finally left the area

 The eagle quickly flew back towards the nest

She got back on her branch to watch her babies

 The nest is right below her

 And all is well again

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS STATE WILDLIFE PARK

This is a wonderful State Park.  The grounds are beautiful and built around a spring with lots of manatees, fish and other creatures.  It is home to a lot of native birds who have either been injured and are being rehabilitated, or who cannot live in the wild.  For someone who likes birds, the place is a dream!  It's very nice to walk around the park and enjoy the animals and scenery.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

 HUGE manatees all over the place

 It was a  beautiful day to walk around the park

 A man and  his 2 friends enjoying the river

 Beautiful, endangered Florida Panther
(there were a  couple of them there)

 Red Wolves (also endangered)

(Smaller than the gray wolf, but bigger than a coyote)

 A retired circus bear

 Bobcat

 A little fox

 The star of the place - LU

(He was born in 1960 - an old guy)

 A possum comes every night to my house and eats

my cat's food - funny, I never thought of picking it up

and playing with it!!  This one's mother was killed

and she was raised by the park rangers.

THE BEST!   Whooping Cranes

 Bald Eagle (duh!)

 HAWKS
Red-Tailed Hawk

 Red-Shouldered Hawk

 Lots of Herons and Egrets

 Horned Owl

 Roseate Spoonbill

 This is a Crested Caracaras, a member of the falcon family.

It is a threatened species (I like his toupee!) 

 Pair of Wood Storks

 Anhinga

 Brown Pelicans nesting

 Sandhill Cranes (this one was  sleeping)

 Swan

Beautiful Wood Duck

 Wood Duck and his Wife

He was never far from his wife

River Otter out for his morning swim

Then a little roll in the dirt

(Click on the play button (bottom left) to play videos.)

Whooping Crane making his famous whooping call

The underwater viewing area - LOTS of fish swimming in circles!