The Wandering Disciple

A Royal Tern has its feathers blowing in the wind on a windy winter day at Manasota Beach. The beach is a popular winter retreat for the terns as well as other shorebirds. Royal terns have a black crest and bright orange bill helping to distinguish them among other shorebirds. There are two species of Royal Terns, an Atlantic coast and Pacific coast species. They are typically found along the coast however hurricanes have been known to push them further inland. (Photo: December 22, 2015)

A manatee statue donning pirate attire stands along the walking path of Manatee Park asking visitors to surrender their booty to help preserve the park. This relatively small park draws a rather large crowd in the winter months as dozens of West Indian Manatees seek refuge from the colder Gulf Waters. As the Gulf water temps dip below 68 degrees, the manatees migrate to warmer waters like the Orange River here by the power plant in Fort Myers. December through February are the best time to see these lovable sea cows here at the park. (Photo: January 30, 2015)

A wooden boardwalk winds through the Corkscrew Swamp taking visitors on a walk in the wilds of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.  The boardwalk provides a glimpse into life in the 13,000 square foot sanctuary which contains one of the largest strands of Bald Cypress remaining. On your stroll down the almost two mile boardwalk you will be able to see the plants and animals that call the sanctuary home.  The vast sanctuary is home to the endangered Florida Panther, black bears, American Alligators and a wide variety of birds.  (Photo: November 7, 2015)

An aviation icon, the Boeing 747 was the industry's first jumbo jet. The massive aircraft developed by Boeing in 1969 would lead a storied career, earning it the nickname the Queen of the Skies. With a tail height ranging from 63 to 65 feet depending on the variation, the 747 is the height of a six story building. It was designed to transport passengers across the globe and became a work-horse in long-haul international flights. As the industry continues to evolve, the 747 is seeing its life extended through cargo conversions like this Western Global Airlines 747 on the ramp at Southwest Florida International Airport. While the 747 will remain an icon of aviation, probably the most iconic 747 is the highly modified VC-25 version also known as Air Force One. (Photo: January 28, 2020)

Come one, come all to the greatest little show on Earth.  Step inside the Tibbal's Learning Center to see this amazing model circus created by Howard Tibbals to demonstrate a 1920's era circus as it arrived in town via the railway.  Named the Howard Bros Circus, the model is a 3/4 inch scale model recreates the effect of the travelling circus on a small town.  This model contains over 42,000 pieces including 8 large circus tents, 152 circus wagons and 1,500 workers and performers.  Just like the real travelling circus, this replica circus can be packed up into the 55 train cars included in the model.  Located on the grounds of the Ringling Museum, the Tibbals Learning Center and the adjacent Circus Museum highlight the legacy of the Ringling Brothers Circus.  (Photo: September 26, 2015)

A pair of mangrove tree crabs climb the mangrove at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. While these tiny crabs may seem scary, they are very beneficial to the ecosystem as they feast on leaf debris helping clean the waters and they provide a food source for wading birds. The mangrove tree frog is just one of the many species of wildlife that are founded within the protected waters and lands of the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the 5,200 acre refuge on the Gulf Coast island of Sanibel. (Photo: July 12, 2015)

Punta Gorda, Florida: For a while now, I have been trying to snag two of the special livery Allegiant aircraft I have not gotten yet. This morning when I checked the flight logs, I saw both of them coming in to Punta Gorda Airport, a short drive from the house. So we headed to PGD and since Runway 4 was active, we positioned ourselves at the departure end of the airport in a little field off of Boeing Way. To my surprise, while waiting for the first one, had a special livery (Make a Wish) I didn’t see take-off as well as the vintage Ford Trimotor. After Winter the Dolphin departed, we headed to breakfast and then would come back to get the Master of Disguise livery. But in typical fashion, it evaded me again as it departed ahead of schedule and I got to see it depart from the distance as I pulled back on property. But despite only getting one of the two I sat out to get, there were a few surprises mixed in on a good day at the airport. Here is a look at what I was able to get ...

The US Navy’s Patrol Squadron 8 is a land based patrol squadron from Naval Air Station Jacksonville.   The Fighting Tigers of VP-8 fly the P-8 Poseidon manufactured by Boeing.   The squadron is tasked with maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.   (Photo:   January 13, 2020)

A military macaw grooms its feathers at the Naples Zoo. This green parrot from South America gets its named from its feathers which resembles a dress military uniform. In the wild, the military macaw lives in flocks and can live up to 50-60 years in the wild. They can be found in the canopy of tropical forests as the canopy provides protection from predators. (Photo: January 19, 2020)

An aldabra tortoise looks over as to say hello at the Naples Zoo. These giant turtles can live over 150 years. Once giant turtles lived across the globe but now they are confined to two island chains, the Aldabra Atolls and the Galapagos Islands. This turtle is still in his infancy after being born in 2015. (Photo: January 19, 2020)

Fort Myers, Florida: With the week being so busy, I only got a few minutes of action at Page Field this week and it was a quiet few minutes with only three movements.   But there is no such time as a bad day along the flight line so here is a look at what I saw at Page Field this week: N 17ED – Cessna Citation Excel N460WM – Bell 407 N560BG – Cessna Citation Excel N5522S – Cessna Skyhawk   Click on the photo above to view these and more from the PageField photo gallery .

While most of the nation deals with winter snow and freezing temperatures, the Sunshine State keeps producing beautiful beach days like this on last weekend from Naples where is was low 80's in mid-January. Unlike most of the country that has to endure several months of winter, winter in Florida only comes in spurts of a few days like the current cold snap which brought us a low of the mid 30's for just two days. (Photo: January 19, 2020)

Fort Myers, Florida: It was a pretty busy week and between work and baseball practice starting, I did not get much spotting time in. But with the limited time I got, I did see a few special ones including United’s Friend Ship livery and a Swift Air. It seems like Swift Air is struggling for identity as they feature so many different schemes in their fleet, this was still in Xtra Airlines colors. Here is a look at what I saw this week: C-FWSK – Boeing 737-700 (WestJet)  N324US – Airbus A320 (Delta Air Lines)  N475UA – Airbus A320 (United Airlines/Friend Ship)  N556UW – Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N624XA – Boeing 737-800 (Swift Air)  N712FR – Airbus A321 (Frontier Airlines)  N970JB – Airbus A321 (JetBlue Airways)  N7846A – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N8522P – Boeing 737-800 (Southwest Airlines)  N8663A – Boeing 737-800 (Southwest Airlines)  N13716 – Boeing 737-700 (United Airlines)  Click on the pho...

A giant anteater uses its long snout to hunt for insects in a bush at the Naples Zoo. The giant anteater is one of four species of anteaters and suffer from poor eyesight and hearing. To protect themselves, anteaters will conceal themselves with their long tails. But it if the need to defend itself arises, the anteater uses its powerful claws to fend off predators. Giant anteaters can be found in the tropical forests and grasslands of Cental and South America. (Photo: January 19, 2020)

A Bornean Orangutan toddler grabs a snack at ZooTampa. These playful orangutan love their fruit snacks. Not only is it nutritious for them, it can also be used to help target train the orangutans. ZooTampa is home to a family of eight Bornean Orangutan. (Photo: January 18, 2020)

Navy Midshipman Malcom Perry takes it 52 yards to the end zone for a fourth quarter touchdown in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl held at Tropicana Field. The annual college football all-star game featured a 31-27 win for the east coast squad. This annual event in its 95th season not only showcases some of the top college football candidates for the NFL draft, it benefits the Shriner's Hospital for Children. (Photo: January 18, 2020)

Naples, Florida: For the first time, I found myself along the flight line at Naples Municipal Airport. While this trip was not planned and not an official spotting trip, I managed to nab a few pics while at the Naples Zoo. The zoo is situated along the final approach path to Runway 14 which was in service on this day. Because of the canopy of the zoo, I could not get a pic of everything we saw but I got a few. I did not realize how busy APF is. After the zoo, I tried to find a place to spot but easily got frustrated because I did not know the layout or area. I plan on trying to make it back down there armed with better knowledge and make an official spotting trip out of it. Here is a look at what I was able to photograph today: N500DG – Eclipse 500  N613CS – Dassault Falcon 2000  N8322S – Piper Seminole  Click on the photo above to view the Naples Municipal Airport photo gallery .

Tampa, Florida: Meet Kacey the Sun Bear, the newest resident of ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The smallest of the bear species, the sun bear are found in the tropical rainforests of Asia. But you don’t need to travel clear across the globe to see a sun bear, Kacey can be found in her new home along the boardwalk through Asian Gardens at Zoo Tampa. The Sun Bear exhibit is the latest addition to the Asian Gardens portion of ZooTampa. This popular pathway is home to the Malayan Tiger, Tapir, Komodo Dragon, clouded leopards, Indian Rhino, gharials and two aviaries. Many of these animals are endangered in the wild and part of the zoo’s protected species survival plan. ZooTampa is a 63 acre zoo in the heart of Tampa. It is home to 1,300 animals and is constantly rated as one of the top zoos in the nation. A day at the zoo will bring you face to face from animals across the globe like Kacey and many more. ZooTampa at Lowry Park is located at 1100 W Sligh Avenue in Tampa, Florida. It...

St Petersburg, Florida: Since 1925 some of the brightest stars in college football converge for a post-season all-star game benefiting a great cause. The East-West Shrine Bowl features some of the biggest names in the game playing to support the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. This year’s game featured a shoot-out which saw the East beat the West 31-27 in front of 12,894 spectators at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg. The first score of the afternoon came when Florida International’s quarterback James Morgan hit Louisiana’s wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley for a nine-yard touchdown strike. The East added another touchdown in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Charlotte’s Benny LeMay to make it 14-0. The West then cut the lead in half on a 7-yard touchdown reception by San Diego State’s Parker Houston on make it 14-7 to end the first quarter. The second quarter was quiet on the touchdown front, but both squads exchanged a pair of field goals in the half. The fir...

A roseate spoonbill wades through a waterway looking for a meal. These bright pink wading birds use their characteristic spoon shaped bill to filter feed along shallow waterways throughout Florida and the rest of the Gulf Coast of the United States. (Photo: July 11, 2015)

JetBlue Flight 811 on final approach into Southwest Florida International Airport bringing another Airbus full of passengers to Southwest Florida. Southwest Florida International Airport or RSW, is the gateway to almost 10 million passengers a year into Southwest Florida. JetBlue is one of eleven air carriers that provide service throughout the United States as well as Canada and Germany. (Photo: January 15, 2020)

Fort Myers, Florida: Southwest Florida International Airport played host to the US Navy a bit this week as NAS Jacksonville sent a few P-8 Poseidons down to RSW for some pattern work. At one point, there was two P-8's in the pattern at the same time. This week also saw a few special livery aircraft as well. And for those who look for the new stuff, JetBlue has begun to cycle their Airbus A321neo aircraft into RSW.  Here a look at what I was able to photograph this week: C-GMWJ – Boeing 737-700 (WestJet)  C-GWSJ – Boeing 737-700 (WestJet)  168432 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  168433 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  169342 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  N86MN – Raytheon Hawker 800  N230WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines/Colorado One)  N236JQ – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N246JQ – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N270WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N285XA – Boeing 737-400 (Swift Ai...

Fort Myers, Florida:   Squeezed in a little spotting time at Page Field during a pretty busy week.  While there wasn't much action during that quick lunch break, there was a few planes working Runway 5.  Here is a look at what I photographed: N153FC – Cessna Skylane  N425AL – Cessna Conquest  N900KP – Cirrus SR-22  N5052H – Bell 206  N6027Z – Cessna Skyhawk  N7528W – Piper Cherokee  N8215L – Cessna Skyhawk  N8570Q – Cessna Stationair Click on the photo above to see these and the rest of the Page Field photo gallery .

Most people are used to seeing the laughing gull along the beach. It is one of the more abundant seagulls found on Florida beaches. But these normally gray and white gulls have a neat little trick. During summer breeding, they transform into a whole new appearance with a black hood and bright red bill. This laughing gull in breeding plumage stands watch over South Lido Beach. (Photo: July 3, 2015)

A 76 foot climb up the observation tower leads to a stunning view of the Myakka River State Park that was once only available for birds. The view from the tower gives a panoramic view of the park and its namesake Myakka River. From here you can see just how big the park is, at 37,000 acres it is one of the state's largest state park. (Photo: June 28, 2015)

The South Venice Beach Ferry crosses embarks on a journey across the intercoastal waterway transporting another load of beach-goers to the island oasis of the private South Venice Beach. This members only beach club uses a ferry to connect its members from the mainland base to a private beach along the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo: June 28, 2015)

A brown pelican stands guard over the boat and kayak launch at Don Pedro Island State Park. The unspoiled state park on the Gulf Coast of the Florida is only accessible by water. A quick paddle across the bay leads to a pristine Gulf beach with miles of undeveloped coast, a glimpse of what settlers and pioneers experienced before Florida became developed. (Photo: June 21, 2015)

A hidden kayak launch on the bay side of Caspersen Beach Park leads to the quiet mangrove lined waters of Red Lake and beyond. Not too busy, most of the his kayak trail is sheltered from the busy intercoastal waterway. While you circle around the mangrove islands, you will see different types of shorebirds along the water's edge while osprey soar overhead. (Photo: June 14, 2015)

"If you can read this, you're blue close." That is the catchy slogan on the nose of a JetBlue Airbus. Each aircraft in the JetBlue fleet features a clever phrase which adds a blue take to a popular slogan in pop history. (Photo: January 9, 2020)

Fort Myers, Florida: The peak traffic season continues at Southwest Florida International Airport as this week provided another busy week at RSW. Plenty of great aircraft visited SWFL this week including a Sun Country in Transavia colors, a Miami Air International plane flying routes for Spirit and much more. Here is a look at what I was able to photograph this week: 1711 – HC-130 Hercules (US Coast Guard)  168759 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  C-FJOK – Airbus A321 (Air Canada Rouge)  N25UB – Learjet 45 N45NP – Learjet 45  N107US – Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N151UW – Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N213FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N229FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N243JQ – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N255WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N350NA – Airbus A320 (Delta Air Lines)  N358FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N370DN – Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)...

A white ibis searches through a water filled ditch looking for a bit to eat. An adult ibis is the shape of a football, had long legs and a distinctive curved bill. They can be found in a group foraging in wetlands. (Photo: June 13, 2015)

Water lettuce so thick you can barely see the water. That is what happened to this waterway at Lemon Bay Preserve. This invasive water plant rapidly reproduces and in just a short period of time, overtakes the water surface. While it is unsafe for human consumption, the water lettuce is a popular food source for Manatees. (Photo: June 13, 2015)

Fort Myers, Florida: This week I spent a few days working at Page Field and during breaks got a little spotting action in at FMY. The benefits of spotting at a general aviation airport is you never know what you might see. Here is a look at what I was able to photograph this week: C-GEEL – Robinson R-66  N78 – Beechcraft Super King Air 300 (FAA)  N11SM – Cirrus SR-22  N64PS – Rockwell Turbo Commander 690  N311KM – Cessna 340  N492ND – Piper Seminole  N813AC – British Aerospace 125  N962GV – Tecnam 2006  N3499P – Piper Apache  N4325L – Cessna Skyhawk  N5522S – Cessna Skyhawk  N6013J – Cessna Skyhawk  N61166 – Cessna Commuter  N8289F – Cessna Commuter  N66251 – Beechcraft Musketeer Click on the photo above to view these and the rest of the Page Field photo gallery .

A bright red cardinal splashes a bit of color against the background of the green foliage at the Manasota Scrub Preserve. Like most birds, the male is the more colorful of the species. The male northern Cardinal displays a bright red color while the female is a browner with a orange beak. (Photo: June 13, 2015)

When you call someone a cracker today, you are more than likely offending someone with a racial slur. But that wasn't always the case, in fact it was a way to describe Florida ranchers. In the late 1800's cowmen earned the nickname cracker because of the crack sound made by their whips while herding cattle. This term stuck and was used the western term cowboy took over the region. (Photo: June 6, 2015)

An unspoiled Florida beach, free of development and free of crowds. If you are willing to put in the effort my kayaking here or rent a boat to sail here, there are quiet and unspoiled beaches dotted along the coast line. Like this one here at the south end of Siesta Key. It was created when Mother Nature closed the Midnight Pass that separated Siesta Key and Casey Key. Today, this once open waterway is not a natural and unspoiled beach. (Photo: May 31, 2015)

A quick launch from Blind Pass and its off to explore the Lemon Bay.  This sheltered bay on the west coast of Florida is a popular place for boating, fishing and kayaking.  The bay is over 8,000 acres in size in Charlotte and Sarasota County. The aquatic preserve is fed from the Gulf by Stump Pass and through seven fresh water tributaries.  (Photo: May 24, 2015)

Launching your kayak from the Oyster Creek kayak launch, you can encounter a nice collection of mangrove islands on your journey to Lemon Bay. These mangrove islands are the lifeline of the bay, providing a place for shorebirds to roost above the water and a place for fish to hide below the surface. (Photo: May 22, 2015)

Fort Myers, Florida:   The first week of 2020 was a fun week at Southwest Florida Internatinal Airport.  Might as well called it military week as the armed forces had some fun at RSW during the week.  There was a Navy P-8 Poseidon, a Army UC-35 Citation and of course the arrival of Air Force Two this week.  Here is a look at what I saw this week at RSW: 00-01051 – UC-35 Citation Encore (US Army) 06-0500 – C-37 Gulfstream V (US Air Force) 169341 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  C-FMZB – Embraer 190 (Air Canada)  C-FMZU – Embraer 190 (Air Canada)  N43VA – Embraer 145  N68RF – Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (NOAA)  N202FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N307DX – Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N322FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N332FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N351JB – Embraer 190 (JetBlue Airways)  N359PQ – Boeing 737-800 (American Airlines)  N364FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)...

Air Force Two makes a final approach into Southwest Florida International Airport as Vice President Mike Pence and family head to Sanibel Island for a little rest and relaxation. When most people think of Air Force Two, they see the iconic C-32, military version of the Boeing 757, as the Vice President's plane. But in fact Air Force Two is just the call sign assigned to any Air Force aircraft with the Vice President onboard. For this trip, the second family opted for the smaller C-37, a military version of the Gulfstream V business jet. (Photo: January 2, 2019)

A colorful butterfly rests its wings on a cactus in the succulent garden at Sunken Gardens in downtown St Petersburg. The four acre botanical gardens in the heart of St Pete is home to many themed gardens including a butterfly garden which attracts the colorful butterflies. (Photo: January 1, 2020)

A demonstration of American air superiority helped kick off the 2020 Outback Bowl as the US Air Force conducted a fly-over of Raymond James Stadium as part of the pregame ceremonies. The excitement in the air led the way for excitement on the field as the Big Ten Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the SEC's Auburn Tigers 31-24 on the New Years Day classic bowl game. (Photo: January 1, 2020)

St Petersburg, Florida: This year's New Year's Day hike took on a little different feel. We traded in the traditional wilderness hike for a more civilized hike/walk.  The day started with an attempt of Busch Gardens and then ZooTampa but both options were full.  So we decided on a more quaint option in Sunken Gardens.  The hidden roadside attraction in the heart of downtown St Pete is a great way to kick off the New Year. The holiday made the gardens a lot fuller than we are used to, it was certainly manageable.  While most of the country is dealing with snow and miserable cold, the pathways were alive with colorful tropical plants in full bloom.  Each corner of the garden is home to bright colorful flowers making for a relaxing oasis. The gardens have been entertaining visitors for over 100 years and it is easy to see why.  A short walk around this place easily helps get you in a peaceful zen.  While it is quite the departure from our usual Ne...

Tampa, Florida: A new year is here and so is a new year of planespotting.  The first planespotting trip of the year would be during a NYD trip to Tampa and thus a stop at the short-term garage at Tampa International Airport.  For a while now, I have always missed out on getting a photograph of Swoop and when I saw it had a daytime landing, we headed over there.  While waiting for Swoop to depart back to Canada, got a few surprises including the second of the retro Southwest, the Celtics JetBlue and US Air Force flyover or Raymond James Stadium for the Outback Bowl.  Not bad for a last minute plan.  Here is a look at what we saw during our stopover at TPA: C-FLSF – Boeing 737-800 (Swoop Airlines)  C-GBWS – Boeing 737-600 (WestJet)  N14GD – Dassault Falcon 2000  N353PC – Bombardier Challenger 300  N354FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N343NW – Airbus A320 (Delta Air Lines)  N430XA – Boeing 737-400 (Swift Air)  N59...

As we watch another year pass by the in the rearview mirror, we say hello to 2020 and welcome in a new decade. There is a lot to come in 2020 but lets take a look back at the year that was. 2019 was pretty much a transition year for the website. I have continued working on the migration of photos over to SmugMug, a very intensive project. As of this morning I have moved over 52,000 photos to the site. I really like the SmugMug concept as it allows visitors to the site to have prints made of their favorite pictures, anything from a 4x6 print all the way to poster size. While I am not in the hobby to sell photos, I do like the idea of making it available for those who prefer printed photos. Travel was light this year. It was also a transition year in my personal life and starting a new job at the fire department for the airport.  I have spent 18 years of my life working for the fire department and this opportunity allowed me to combine my career with my love of aviation...