<![CDATA[Carol Ellis Photography

<![CDATA[Carol Ellis Photography - JOURNAL]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 04:07:49 -0400EditMySite<![CDATA[American Great Egret]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:15:57 GMThttps://www.carolellis.com/journal/american-great-egretTo prey or to pray…. That is the question.

English is a very confusing language. Both words sound the same, yet present very different meanings, all depending on the context in which they are used. There is preying and praying in a photograph of a Great egret fishing beside a makeshift cross. An egret preys on sea critters, where locals pray on Sunday morning.

A Great egret preys on sea critters, while locals come here to pray. Around the turn of the 21st Century... about 23 years ago... a restaurant and watering hole existed in Rock Harbor, called the Mandalay. A casual spot with cold beer, peel and eat shrimp and views of the ocean and boat moorings. A cross erected at the point was the focal point for Sunday morning open air church services.

Around the turn of the 21st Century… about 23 years ago… a restaurant and watering hole existed in Rock Harbor, called the Mandalay. A casual spot with cold beer, peel and eat shrimp and views of the ocean and boat moorings. A cross erected at the point becomes the focus of worshippers who sit at those same tables and chairs during Sunday morning open air church services.

The Great Egret (Ardea alba egretta) is a three foot tall, long-legged wading bird that is often confused with a similar looking white bird the 'Great White Heron' (the white form of Great Blue Heron.) Though both birds are herons, a simple way of differentiating between the two big white birds is the Great egret has black legs, and the Great white heron’s legs are yellow. The male Great egret also sports delicate ornamental feathers down it’s back when in mating plumage.

Those beautiful feathers not only attract female mates, but nearly led to a human-driven extinction of the species. Around the turn of the 20th Century, a ton and a half of Great egret plumes, known as “aigrettes” were sold in London to decorate women’s hats. In terms of birds slaughtered, 200,000 adult birds, multiplied by 2-3 times, counting the eggs abandoned in the nest, became prey to the millinery industry.

The Great Egret by John James Audubon is shown in the marshes, preying on crayfish.

In 1902 John James Audubon worried that “the long plumes of this bird being in request for ornamental purposes, they are shot in great numbers while sitting on their eggs, or soon after the appearance of the young.”

It is hard to imagine a time when birds were so plentiful, they could be sacrificed for vanity and decoration, rather than be admired for their beauty and role in the natural world. The modern day National Audubon Society’s logo is of a Great egret in flight, representing the organization’s role in enacting conservation laws to protect the species and ensure it’s return.

The Great egret can be found in fresh or salt water habitat. Here a flock of egrets and other long-legged wading birds, hunt for fish, frogs and other small fare.

Great egrets are equally at home in fresh or salt water environments. They have also been successful at adapting to life in an increasingly developed world. Egrets can often be seen foraging in roadside ditches, or along suburban roads. They typically stand motionless, and with keen eyesight that can look straight ahead as well as downward, patiently wait until unsuspecting prey comes their way. Then with lightning fast reflexes, the long necked egret strikes with a jab of their sharp bill.

To quote Winnie the Pooh … “Which is more important, the voyage or the destination?” Piglet replied “The company.”

For me the voyage and the company are of equal importance, especially in the Florida Keys when wildlife appears.

I had to do a double take, was this standing bird a new variety of plastic yard art in the genre of the pink flamingo? Then it moved, revealing a real live egret preying on lizards in the hedge.

Sometimes the voyage is the destination, such as the day I photographed an egret hunting beside the road. I stopped and silently observed; luckily I was in a golf cart and not worried about traffic. I watched the scene unfold through the lens, because that is what photographers do. And bam! The once motionless egret produced a nice lizard snack from within the foot high greenery. If I hadn’t stopped, I wouldn’t have known. The voyage and the company of the egret became the experience. It also became the experience for the man in cart stopped behind me. I apologized… he waved that off, “You’re working” he responded. Nice man.

So how about the people that don’t venture out in nature, or never pay attention to wildlife? That is part of why I write, to pique the interest of the unknowing or unaware. You cannot fault someone for doing the wrong thing if they do not have the facts or the understanding.

Suddenly the egret darts into the foliage and emerges with his lizard prize.

The Great egret walks with its neck extended and wings held close.

According to the prevailing view in 1900, a man could kill a bird for its feathers in order to put food on the table. The context of his preying was to feed his family, and there were plenty of birds.

How does that relate to the year 2026? There is an unrelenting population influx to Florida. It is the wild west in many respects, where every man has a right to do what he wants with his property. But will those decisions be morally right? The people of the State of Florida should enact a state-wide comprehensive plan encompassing development, roads, housing, and quality of life, before adding more people to the mix. A healthy environment means better quality of life, and happier people. Prior environmental commitments such as “Florida Forever” should be funded, and projects completed.

Is that too much to ask? Maybe it is time to pray for something greater.

]]><![CDATA[Critters in Our Midst - Turtles]]>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:30:32 GMThttps://www.carolellis.com/journal/critters-in-our-midst-turtlesOne of the first close-up wildlife experiences for typical suburban kids may have come in the form of a “turtle oasis” purchased at the local pet store.

I had turtles. They lived in our Florida room in a round plastic container filled with fresh water. The habitat had a raised center area, filled with sand and adorned with a plastic palm tree. The turtles, who were always named “Tommy,” would swim in circles around the ring, and climb out to dry off in the center.

The turtles were of the slider variety, so designated because they slide into the water when approached. I fed them hamburger meat and turtle food. Though they can live 20-40 years with proper care, my turtles died.

A young Spur thighed tortoise retreats inside its protective hard shell.

Red-earred sliders and Yellow-bellied sliders are the typical species of turtle you will find at the pet store. The yellow-bellied variety is native to North Florida. Yellow-bellied sliders are recognized by the yellow markings on their belly and neck. The non-native Red-earred slider gets its name from the red stripe around its ears, and is included in the list of the world’s 100 most invasive species.

Well meaning folks who have out-grown their need for a pet turtle, have released their pets into the wild, only to have let loose a non-native turtle that can out-compete native species. Don’t do that.

A Yellow-bellied slider emerges from the pond for a gulp of air. They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes.

Though turtles live near the water, they lay their eggs on land.

On the other hand, in a world of disappearing natural spaces there is a lot of competition for a place to live. That is why it is great to create home landscapes that have natural habitat where wildlife can live.

My neighbor Penny Dinsmore’s home is dominated by a water feature that naturally incorporates plantings, rocks and ledges to be as close to resembling a natural occurring pond as possible. The building contractor excavated the length of the property between the house and the street, creating a tidal pond 8-10 ft. deep. There is a raised rocky area in the center, and sloping walls that meet a ledge just above the water level. A foot bridge leads up to the house; shades of Monet’s Giverny in Key Largo.

A Yellow bellied slider turtle showed up in a water feature at Ocean Reef. The homeowner named the turtle “Mystery.” A total of four adult turtles live in the pond, and babies have been spotted this year.

The sound of moving water and lush foliage cascading down the sloping banks completes the tropical oasis, or shall we say “turtle oasis,” after the pond caretaker brought a turtle named “Tiggles” to live in the pond. A second turtle appeared, so Penny named it “Mystery.” Two more of the same species “Ginny” and “Raptor” were purchased. The turtles are Yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta). Penny is a true turtle mom… She provides a great turtle habitat, with lots of hidey holes where turtles can be out of sight, or protected from the weather, as well as regular feedings; even when she is away. Small turtles have been spotted recently, so the turtle family is becoming established in a very special place.

In 1513 Ponce de Leon encountered the seven coral reef islands 70 miles off Key West, and named them “Las Tortugas” (The Turtles) for the bounty of turtles found there. Subsequent explorers found the islands lacking fresh drinking water, and they changed the name to “Dry Tortugas.”

The earliest maps of Key West show that people kept turtles along the shores of Key West. The early settlers captured green sea turtles and stored them in “kraals” until needed for meat, eggs or soup. Krall comes from the Dutch word for “corral,” and were shallow water enclosures with wooden poles spaced close enough to keep the turtles in, yet allow water to flow through.

This Red-footed tortoise is native to South America.

A turtle is a reptile which has a bony shell. Turtles live in the water, but lay their eggs on land. Tortoises live on land. All tortoises are in fact turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises.

Florida has a native tortoise called the Gopher tortoise, and it lives in northern Florida. They create burrows in the ground which provide homes to a range of other creatures in addition to the tortoise. Though the native Florida Box Turtle lives on land, and often wanders into residential neighborhoods, it is not considered a tortoise. They prefer damp environments such as wetlands and swamps, but they do not enter water deep enough to swim.

A box turtle is rescued from the middle of the road and placed in the brush near Crocodile Lake. They prefer damp environments such as wetlands and swamps, but they do not enter water deep enough to swim. Box turtles live on land, and often wander into residential neighborhoods.

An 86 year old Male Spur thighed tortoise and 16 year old female “playing” around. These tortoises are from Africa, and despite the female producing eggs, they do not hatch due to unsuitable conditions in South Florida.

Turtle shells are made of bone that develops from ribs that grow sideways, and form plates that join to protect the body. The shells are covered in scales made of keratin.

This Spur thighed tortoise weighs about 100 lbs. Its feet are covered with spur-like scales made of keratin.

You can encounter non-native tortoises such as the Spur Thighed tortoises from Africa and Red-footed Tortoises from South America at wildlife centers and zoos. The Everglades Outpost located in Homestead, used to be a place to encounter reptiles, including tortoises, however the growing sprawl of new housing developments creeping closer to the Everglades has forced its closure.

Spur thighed tortoises can live to more than 100 years old. In fact, one was donated to the nature center at Ocean Reef after consideration by family members who decided it should not be included in a man’s last will.

Maybe a turtle trust?

]]><![CDATA[White Ibis & Scarlet Ibis]]>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:32:17 GMThttps://www.carolellis.com/journal/white-ibis-scarlet-ibisAs a loyal Florida Gators football fan, I always root for the Gators and anyone playing against Florida State. It’s never easy watching your favorite team on a losing trajectory, especially after living through their glory years, including National Championships in 1996, 2006 and 2008.

So when in 2025 University of Miami defeated Florida State football team, I rooted for the Miami Hurricanes. When Miami found itself in the 2026 National Championship, I was leaning toward Miami, but open to Indiana whose quarterback Mendoza has deep Miami family ties, and is a very good guy. It was a good game, ending with Indiana winning after intercepting a Miami pass, stopping a Miami scoring drive. Not particularly fond of the Hurricanes quarterback, I figured the good guys won.

The scarlet ibis has a long, curved bill which it uses to probe in the mud for insects, crustacean, frogs and fishes.

The Miami Hurricanes mascot is the White Ibis named Sebastian. Though Sebastian looks a bit like a duck, an ibis is a way better mascot than a “hurricane.” What kind of dance would a hurricane do? Would it run around and expel wind?

The mascot was chosen by the student body in 1926. According to legend, the ibis exhibits bravery (or stupidity) as it is the last bird to depart the area in advance of a hurricane. As the storm passes the ibis is the first to reappear, exhibiting resilience. The ibis is often called the hurricane bird, or the storm bird, as they keep an eye on the weather. They are an unofficial storm warning system, especially when you see a lot of them flocked together.

Wading in shallow water, in search of marine worms and other aquatic creatures.

The White ibis (Eudocimus albus) is the most numerous wading bird in South Florida and in the Everglades. It is found from the southern half of the US East Coast (Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia), along the Gulf Coast states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas) and south through most of the Caribbean coastal regions of Central America. Their breeding range runs along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast, and the coasts of Mexico and Central America.

The White ibis doesn’t mind being in urban settings. It is becoming more of a suburban bird, and can be found almost everywhere the Florida Keys, Homestead, Redlands, Naples, road margins, artificial ponds, downtown Miami, and, yes, at the University of Miami campus where they congregated long before there was population in Miami to attend one.

Juvenile and mature ibis.

The ibises call sounds like a foghorn… nothing pretty about it. They croak and quack, like a duck with nasal congestion. They walk in shallow pools, slowly with their heads down, sweeping their bill from side to side, looking for crabs, crustaceans, marine worms, frogs, fish and other wetland creatures. They traverse backyards and road shoulders, probing as they go, capturing by touch worms and insects found in the ground cover.

Thousands nest annually on a small island at Crandon Park near Key Biscayne. In the morning and evening you can see them flying overhead, heading to and from their feeding grounds in yards and parks. Within eye and earshot of a bustling populated Miami, these ibis are a testament to adaptiveness.

Reflection of a juvenile while ibis.

Adult White ibis are easy to recognize by their bright white feathers, pinkish-red bill, and curved posture. Immature White ibis are brown with a white belly.

There is another ibis who is cousin to the White ibis called the Scarlet ibis. The Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) looks exactly like the White except is is bright red, and is the only shorebird with red coloration in the world. It is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago. It is numerous in Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Ibis are social birds, traveling in groups. They are spooked by my presence and the camera.

The Scarlet ibis is red because they eat of lot of red crustaceans. I photographed the Scarlet ibis at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida. The aviary there is 20 foot tall and 4,000 square foot, and visitors walk among the birds as they wade in ponds, and roost in trees within the enclosure.

Natural threats to the ibis include jaguars (haven’t seen to many of them lately…unless you are referring to the vehicle) and birds of prey. A greater threat is due to population growth and loss of habitat, though they are adapting.

Or if you are a Miami fan, the White ibis was overpowered by the “red” of Indiana.

Go Gators. I actually think my Florida Gators can jump out of the water and chomp on the ibis… but that is for another year.

A flock of mature white ibis.

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