Scenic Views

Not sure why, but this picture I took at Vestal Shoal makes me think of a dark medieval forest.  The big green wall-like coral behind the little yellow hill just looks ominous and menacing while the cute little yellow hill with the spindly little tree looks so innocent and vulnerable.  Just thought I'd share.

What is this Bird?

I think it's some kind of woodpecker.  The top of the head is a bright red color and he's got his eye on the palm tree trunk, like he's debating whether it's peckable.  This was taken in November 2010 in Key West.  Does anybody know what kind of bird this is?

Summer in Key West

Well this is a picture of what we are missing right now:  clear water.  Summer in Key West brings warm water and the big fish go out to sea, so hogfish and little mangrove snappers are a big part of the catch, usually.  This July, it's been bad vis, too. 

This is actually a shot from last November, when clear water came in.  You could see 80 feet that day, so getting shots of people spearfishing was really fun.  This shot was taken right after a grouper was shot, and he kicked up a bunch of sand.

Whack Nature Trail

Key West has a nature trail- it's through a shady mangrove area and ends up on the beach. Sounds nice. But actually rather than enjoying a pleasant walk, you get a swampy trek across the back yard of a condo building.

I'd much rather try some Key West fishing and get out on the water, come to think of it...

There's nothing to see but some mangroves which around here are like weeds. You can also spy on what's happening on people's balconies which overlook the wooden walkway. It would just be a cool little pathway to the beach but for the fact that whoever made the trail announces its presence with a glorious official-looking sign that promises much much more than it delivers.

Trees in Key West

Key West is a small, flat island so trees are sparse here. Palms are often cut down for building so even large palm trees are special. These beauties are along Higgs Beach, one of the most popular Key West beaches.