Day: December 29, 2017

Friday (29-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 9: Big Cypress National Preserve.

I traveled down to southern Florida to visit Big Cypress Swamp and the Everglades. My base for next three days is Clyde Butcher’s “Swamp Bungalow” behind his Gallery in Ochopee. I stayed here once before, and during that visit did a guided swamp walk. 10-February-2014.

I arrived mid-afternoon, and after checking in at the Gallery walked back to the pond next to the “Swamp Cottage”. “Moma” the alligator was still there, but I didn’t see any of the babies near her. After cooking dinner, I walked back to the Gallery to access the WiFi. There was another alligator in the pond next to the parking lot that had just caught a big catfish for its dinner.

Alligator ("Moma") at Clyde Butcher's Gallery and Swamp Cottage. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Alligator (“Moma”) at Clyde Butcher’s Gallery and Swamp Cottage. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)




Three-Years Ago (29-December-2014) — Antarctica

Gone To See Antarctica 2014/5. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 13: South Shetland Islands.

The south Atlantic seas and wind calmed considerable overnight. The skies were clear and bright blue. In the morning I was able to tour the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. As we approached Elephant Island I got this panoramic image using the in camera pano feature of the Fuji X-T1 camera. Since it was so calm, the captain of the ship allowed us to take the small Polarcirkel boats to land at Point Wild on Elephant Island. This was the desolate rocky beach where Ernest Shackleton’s crew survived for 4 months in 1916 while Shackelton managed to sail to South Georgia and ultimately assure their rescue. I assume that the Sheathbill’s and the Penguins would have been on the menu for the sailors during this time.

View from the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 160, 23 mm, f/2. 1/80 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
View from the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 160, 23 mm, f/2. 1/80 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Panoramic view of Elephant Island. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). In camera panorama. (David J Mathre)
Panoramic view of Elephant Island. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). In camera panorama. (David J Mathre)


Eleven-Years Ago (29-December-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Cats.

This local cat started showing up every day. I could tell when it was around when the birds got quiet. I don’t mind when it is hunting field mice, and wish it would chase the squirrels that were moving into the attic.

Local Cat Caught Birding. Early Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Local Cat Caught Birding. Early Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Local Cat Leaving. Early Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec). (David J Mathre)
Local Cat Leaving. Early Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec). (David J Mathre)