Don’t get cute with me. Hey Cutie. I’m cute and I know it. Isn’t that cute! Words can have many meanings, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Yet sometimes words can truly “paint a picture”. I have a dear friend and mentor who writes of his walks in the cold winter woods of Wisconsin. I often feel like I have to take off my coat and boots to dry them off and warm up when I am done reading about his most recent walk.. And I don’t even wear boots! I just hope a few of today’s photos capture the cute theme for you today.

One of the Editor’s favorite birds is the Sandhill Crane. I recently learned some had hatched down south at one of my favorite birding sites. I got the Editor up about 3 AM and by by 0430 we were on the road south. Arriving at the wetlands just before sunrise, I had hoped to get some silhouette shots of the nesting Great Blue Herons. The morning sun was golden. Only one lone Great Blue adult was on the nest. The mate was elsewhere looking for breakfast for the two recently hatched little Great Blues. As the sun began to climb other photographers arrived and told me where to find the colts (newly hatched Sandhill Cranes are called colts). The Editor was sitting in the car while I grabbed the Doohickey and joined the others. The cranes were feeding along a pond embankment and decided to cross the road to another feeding pool. They headed right for the Editor and she could not help but get out of the car to see them up close. Are they cute or what? Not wanting to disturb them further, I got some quick photos and then searched for other birds and creatures about.

Around a bend in the road by one of the ponds we noticed some more photographers taking photos. A Snapping Turtle was slowly sauntering across the worn drive. Believe me it wasn’t very cute, but I got a good photo anyway. On our way home, we stopped at Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve. There we were greeted by a pod of White Pelicans and a few Roseate Spoonbills that made the Editors day.

I think we took cute to a whole new level don’t you? No, I am not trying to be cute but sometimes I just can’t help myself. Blessings.