Florida Archives - Luci Westphal

Flock of terns flying with shadows, Honeymoon Island, Florida

Trail and Beach Photos from Honeymoon Island State Park (Florida)

Honeymoon Island quickly became one of my favorite places as soon as we moved to the Florida Gulf Coast. Let me show you some views from the beaches and trails.

sandhill cranes flying above palm trees, migration, winter in Florida

Winter Photos from Paynes Prairie State Park (Florida)

Paynes Prairie in North Florida is famous for the flocks of sandhill cranes that winter here among the local birds, wild horses, and bison.

wooden boardwalk, pier, into the fog, lake, wetlands, Paynes Prairie, Florida, US 441

Featured Photo: Paynes Pier

This photo of the boardwalk that reaches into the wetlands lake of Paynes Prairie directly off US 441, I took on an early January morning in 2021.

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

Everglades National Park Photos – Part I: Shark Valley

The Everglades National Park is a wildlife and bird photographers paradise. All these photos I took along just one trail: the Shark Valley Loop.

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

Discover and Buy Local from Tampa Bay Artists and Makers

Tampa Bay’s LocalShops1 created a great online marketplace to support local artists, makers and small businesses – and to help everyone find unique products. It’s a win-win for a healthy community!

Roseate Spoonbill, pink, bird, animal, Florida

Featured Photo: Roseate Spoonbill

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

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

Refreshed

Testing the air and soon the water.

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

One of the best places in Florida: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and the Weeki Wachee River and its manatees.

This spring, I got to travel to North Carolina and various places around Florida. Naturally, I took lots of photos. Over the next few weeks, I plan on publishing several posts (either here or over on Happier.Place) dedicated to specific locations, e.g., Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Photos of Florida Gulf Coast Birds

Since moving to the Florida Gulf Coast in June 2018, I’ve found real pleasure in admiring and photographing the local birds. At times, it seems that my camera is drawn mostly to waterbirds – but then I spent over an hour just standing near a bald eagle’s nest in hopes of seeing a white head.