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Luci Westphal

Documentarian – Photos, Videos, Words
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Recent Posts

  • Favorite Songs: 4th 1/4 of 2020 Mix Tape
  • Movies set in 2020 – Better or worse than the actual 2020?
  • 2021 Wall Calendar Featuring My Photography
  • Favorite Songs: 3rd 1/4 of 2020 Mix Tape
  • Everglades National Park Photos – Part I: Shark Valley

Popular Blog Posts

  • Photos of Riverbend Ponds, Fort Collins (Colorado)
    Photos of Riverbend Ponds, Fort Collins (Colorado)
  • Cherokee Park Road (80C) - In A Colorado Minute (Week 335)
    Cherokee Park Road (80C) - In A Colorado Minute (Week 335)
  • Imogen Heap: "You Know Where To Find Me" (MusicMonday)
    Imogen Heap: "You Know Where To Find Me" (MusicMonday)
  • Photos of Berlin Street Art (West Berlin)
    Photos of Berlin Street Art (West Berlin)
  • David Sedaris' Easter Story...
    David Sedaris' Easter Story...

Popular Photo Albums

  • 2021 Nature Calendar Photos
    2021 Nature Calendar Photos
  • Egrets, I've Had A Few
    Egrets, I've Had A Few
  • South Dakota Icons
    South Dakota Icons
  • Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)
    Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)
  • Barcelona (Spain)
    Barcelona (Spain)

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luciwest
Hey, almost didn't see you there in the morning fo Hey, almost didn't see you there in the morning fog. Had just put down camera and was turning to step down from observation platform when I felt eyes looking back at me. (Upped the contrast a bit in post to make deer more visible.)
Morning fog slowly lifting where the woods end and Morning fog slowly lifting where the woods end and the prairie begins. #happierplace #flstateparks #floridahikes #paynesprairie #findyourpark #bestofgainesville #lovefl #winterinflorida #floridaexplored
The perk of traveling all the way to Paynes Prairi The perk of traveling all the way to Paynes Prairie just to see sandhill cranes is how many big beautiful birds you get to see there at once. Here are two different flocks flying in different directions and a solo bird. Some are migrants, some are locals. I can't tell them apart. Can you? . And then there's the sounds of all the "honking" cranes carrying across the prairie for miles. I'll upload a video with sound to my IG story...
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.
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Flickr Photos

I used to think running was the best to "get away from it all". Then I discovered floating through nature among fish, manatees, birds + dolphins (not in this river oc but out on the Gulf) and paddling just enough to feel like you're still in control. AlsoIndividual, but not alone. . (royal terns and least terns on Honeymoon Island) #birdnerd #happierplaceFinally caught one in the act! Pelican diving between Honeymoon Island and Three Rooker Island - which means I walked 4 km of beach to where no roads lead just to get this shot. Well, I also walked back. Also, I took a lot more photos... a lot... That sunOne of my favorite Florida sites: Gang of Ibi Fly-By! More commonly known as a: flock of ibis in the sky.
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