Hurricane Earl and Sandhill Cranes

This family of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) kept me company this afternoon. They came very close to the house to get into the sprinklers. Sometimes this is a family of four. Today they were three.

Several blog readers have asked how Hurricane Earl has affected our weather. Today was wicked hot, dry, and buggy with descending air. We're to experience this dry for some days to follow the passage of Earl as the outflow continues to descend over Florida. It appeared that the Sandhill's wanted out of the heat as much as I did.



ABOVE: The cranes followed me up from the lakebed.



BELOW: Major Hurricane Earl, 300 miles to our east. The system is causing Florida to bake. . . for now. Tomorrow I hope to go to the beach to see the swells from the hurricane. The current forecast is for large swells with 8-10 foot breakers north of Cape Canaveral. Notice the complete lack of clouds over the Florida peninsula.



I uploaded more photos created yesterday and today. . .

For more Sandhill Crane photos go to PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD III

For some of Florida's spectacular butterflies go to PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD. . . the other photos.