I Have My “Eyes” On You!

Peacocks are beautiful creatures! If you go to the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, you will encounter some prime specimens welcoming you and meandering on the grounds. In this image I managed to capture the plumage in full array which makes it appear as if it has multiple “eyes on you!” Peacocks or Peafowl are not native to Florida. They are typically found in India, Southeast Asia and Central Africa. They are both loved for their beauty and feared for their size and aggressive nature. The display of their full plumage can be somewhat threatening to both animals and people.

Painted Bunting

We discovered this colorful bird in our yard yesterday and it sent us straight to our bird identification book. Its called a Painted Bunting, male and in the Cardinal family. The colors are just outstanding! Even though its a small bird and extremely shy, the slightest noise scares it away, but it is a fierce fighter when it comes to defending its territory or its nest. This image was captured at a 435mm setting through a window glass. The Bunting was just feasting in our lawn and there was no way to capture its image outside without scary him off, I tried many times!

435mm, f7.1, 1/200 hand held