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Luci Westphal

Documentarian – Photos, Videos, Words
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Featured Photo: Roseate Spoonbill

This Roseate Spoonbill, I photographed on my 2020 birthday in April.

BLOG (under re-construction)

2020 in the movies, old moveis set in 2020 on tv and streaming

Movies set in 2020 – Better or worse than the actual 2020?

2021 Happier Place Nature Photography Calendar, Photos by Luci Westphal

2021 Wall Calendar Featuring My Photography

Favorites Songs Summer 2020, mix tape, playlist

Favorite Songs: 3rd 1/4 of 2020 Mix Tape

Baby gator sleeping on a log in Shark Valley, Everglades, National Park, Florida

Everglades National Park Photos – Part I: Shark Valley

Red-winged black bird, 1 dollar bill, buy local tampa bay

Discover and Buy Local from Tampa Bay Artists and Makers

music playlist favorite songs 2020 second quarter, April, May, June, sunset

Favorite Songs: 2nd 1/4 of 2020 Mix Tape

Snowy Egret coming in for landing on new LuciWest photography website and blog

New Landing Spot: My New Merged Relaunched Imperfect Website

Great white egret on tree, pink roseate spoonbill in flight, facing away

Introspection, Reflection and Need for Action – by a White German Expat in America

music playlist favorite songs 2020 first quarter, January, February, March, royal tern beach shadow

Favorite Songs: 1st 1/4 of 2020 Mix Tape

Roseate Spoonbill, pink, bird, animal, Florida

Featured Photo: Roseate Spoonbill

Cormorants, Florida, birds, black, orange beak, blue eyes

Refreshed

Favorite Songs: 4th 1/4 of 2019 Mix Tape

Jumping Over My Own Shadow: My First Indie Market

Favorite Songs: 3rd 1/4 of 2019 Mix Tape

Favorite Songs: 2nd 1/4 of 2019 Mix Tape

Photos from the Weeki Wachee River and Springs State Park (Florida)

Spring Blooms and Chicks

Favorite Songs: 1st 1/4 of 2019 – #MusicMonday

Photos of Florida Gulf Coast Birds

Favorite Songs: 4th 1/4 of 2018 – #MusicMonday

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luciwest

In a close-up of a Sandhill Crane you can see the In a close-up of a Sandhill Crane you can see the red accent is skin, not feathers, the eyes are bright orange and the bill has a hole in it.
Of course, I use a long lens to avoid getting too close to wildlife, but this bird walked right up and then quickly past me.
While a majority of the migrating Sandhill Cranes from the Mid-West may be partying all winter in Paynes Prairie, this bird and partner were doing their own thing in the nearby Sweetwater Wetlands. Made me wonder if this is one of the Southern non-migrating native couples annoyed at all the snowbirds taking over all the chill spots. Ah #winterinflorida... 

Just added this + more to the Colorful Birds album: https://luciwest.com/portfolio/colorful-birds/
(Link via Bio, too)

Will add Behind-The-Scenes photo later that shows how closely this and another crane walked up to another photographer (whose photo I must have bombed - sorry).
To me sandhill cranes are especially cool because To me sandhill cranes are especially cool because of their large size, bright red forehead + fancy butt bustle. But also cause it's the one big bird that doesn't seem common on our peninsula (I've never seen one). So I took a 3-day trip to Gainesville where 1000s meet for the winter in Paynes Prairie.
Surprise: when looking for a gas station on my way out of the Bay Area, I took a wrong turn, tried to recover by driving behind a strip mall and suddenly saw a small group of sandhill cranes... right outside of Tampa.

Of course, I still drove up to Gainesville. And I ended up capturing one of the reasons why it was worth it: seeing dozens standing and flying together... and then another few dozens... and another few dozens...
Just back from a few days at Paynes Prairie to pho Just back from a few days at Paynes Prairie to photograph Sandhill Cranes during their annual summit, the most *awesome* experience was when this wild bison blocked my path back to the trailhead. I chose to step off the path through shrubs to the side without any gator holes...

(SWIPE to see what happened next)

... and waited quietly for her to pass. She did.

Of course, I was probably not in any danger since I kept more than the appropriate distance and heeded the warnings to not attempt passing wild bison or wild horses. But facing such a big animal all on my own in its territory was very humbling.
Tricolored Heron Take-Off. Considered cropping thi Tricolored Heron Take-Off. Considered cropping this shot tighter to put all the focus on the bird - but then couldn't quite let go off the bend and desaturated fuzziness of the withered winter plant in the foreground. What do you think? Dynamic match or unnecessary distraction?
.
#birdnerd #heron #floridabirding #happierplace
That's my girl! Now #WhiskeyDog can check off the That's my girl! Now #WhiskeyDog can check off the #FloridaTrail, too. She's already been on the AT - but not yet on the PCT. 
Also, it appears she can camouflage among Florida sandy woods as well as among Colorado rocks. 
#dogsonadventures #happierplace
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