Rather melancholy weather today---not what one hopes for at the New Year here in Florida. I tried to think what to post and of course the first thing I thought of was, inevitably, fireworks. But then I found these. Flamingoes! What is more of a Florida icon than a pink- and-coral giant birds photographed among primitive plants? And what is brighter or more warming to the eye?
And---having research Flickr's commons in anticipation---I just happened to have bookmarked three spectacular photographs..
Happy New Year from Florida, land of (usually) beautiful balmy winters!!
This photographer--from Iceland---submitted this particularly beautiful shot of a flock of flamingoes. I loved the variegated pinks here, from that delicate pastel to that brilliant (literal) shrimp-pink (such a 1950's color, which might be why these birds always make me think of old postcards).
'Flamingoes in Florida' by Gunna (G.J.) | To see more of her photographs, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here |
I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph, but am using it in compliance with the terms of the license. Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here)
You know, looking at this head I am amazed that paleontologists and zoologists generally took so long to see the connection between birds and dinosaurs!
"Just the final touches" by Kenny P. who has some of the most awesome wildlife photography I've seen anywhere; click that link to see much, much more | To see more photographs, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here |
I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph, but am using it in compliance with the terms of the license. Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here)
Speaking of dinosaurs, check out this bird head. "How many people have hand-fed a flamingo?" she inquires. One of her commenters writes, "This is nuts. Are they specialized flamingo pellets? I tend to lose sight of the fact that they're real animals and not some mythical/iconic animal like a dragon. This incredible and freaky-ass angle do nothing to enhance the reality of it. So weird. So good." How many people have hand-fed a dinosaur? You can see what it would be like. I would so love to do this.
"The hand that feeds" by Jessica Reynolds | To see more of her photographs, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, click here |
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This is the quintessential flamingo pose....but I had a really hard time choosing between the photographs he had. For example, here's one of two flamingoes demonstrating that it's not the stork who brings the mother flamingo her eggs. Here's one of two flamingoes having a stand-off. I picked this one because of its artistic qualilty, but these others are fascinating behavioral studies.
"Flamingo" by Andy | To see his other photographs, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, click here
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I have quite a number of his amazing Florida photographs bookmarked and I've already used one of his CC photos (my favorite photograph ever of the St. Augustine Bridge of Lions). But this one made me laugh out loud. As they'd say at Cute Overload, flamingo 'tocks! I bet this flamingo would be mortified if he knew. It's not his best angle. But you've got to love the little bunch of a body on top of that long, long thin pink leg. It's like he's a yoga master.
"Relaxed flamingo" by Bill Frazzetto | To see his other photographs, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here
I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph, but am using it in compliance with the terms of the license. Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here)
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