January weather varies near the coast in west central Florida, from beautiful, sunny days with no humidity that remind us of the coming spring, to dreary gray skies and temperatures in the 40s or 50s with a cold north wind, often within the same week. Though usually our dry season, this January started and so far remains rainy and more overcast than usual. Photography tends to slow also, brown and green predominate, and both the fauna and flora keep a low profile, though fungi look healthy due to the wetter weather.
Even though this day started gray and cold the promise of some sunshine made us grab our binoculars and cameras and head to Brooker Creek Preserve. I walked the trails, enjoying the fresh air but the colder breeze diminished the nice warmth of the sun.
At the bridge I spotted a Black-crowned night heron. Unlike me, he knew how to enjoy this day. Sitting on a branch in the sun but protected from the wind, he fluffed his feathers and tucked his head down into them, apparently sound asleep.
P.S. By cold I do mean cold for those of us who live here! I saw neighbors recently arrived from New England in shorts and a t-shirt, that cold north wind didn’t bother them.
Nichter Photography PLUS 