The Wandering Disciple

"We Stand Ready" isn't just a motto on the side of an aircraft, its a way of life for the men and woman of our nation's armed forces. A KC-135 from the Michigan Air National Guard stood ready on the ramp at Southwest Florida International Airport the past few days as crews awaiting their next assignment in the Sunshine State. (Photo: January 28, 2021)

In the shadows of the downtown skyline, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve provides an wilderness oasis in the hustle and bustle of city life.  Located on the banks of Lake Maggiore, the nature preserve provides hiking trails where you can spot some of Florida native wildlife.  (Photo: December 29, 2018)

Tortoises and turtles like the African Spurred Tortoise here have a connection with the prehistoric era over 145 million years ago. The turtle species began to diversify during the Cretaceous period and many species survived the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. So when you see a tortoise in the zoo or a turtle in the pond, you are looking at a creature that has evolved from the age of the dinosaurs. (Photo: December 28, 2018)

Fort Myers, Florida: This week RSW turned into a mini military base thanks to a flurry of military movement. The Navy sent a few P-8’s through the airport this week and there were transient KC-135’s from Michigan and Ohio that spent a few days staged on the north ramp. A few large charter planes stopped by including a 737 from Saudi Arabi and the homecoming of the Crystal Air 777. Rounding out the cool planes of the week was Delta’s breast cancer research 767.  Here is a look at the aircraft that I saw at RSW this week:  60-0346 – KC-135 Stratotanker (Michigan Air National Guard)  62-3511 – KC-135 Stratotanker (Ohio Air National Guard)  168433 – P-8-Poseidon (US Navy)  168435 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  169543 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  169555 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  N87HD – Dassault Falcon 2000  N116DA – Cessna Citation Excel  N225WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N228WN Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N261WN –...

A Great Egret comes in for a landing as the sun sets on the Venice Audubon Rookery. This park features an lake with an island known as a rookery. A rookery provides a safe nesting site for birds like the egret and other wading birds. The rookery creates a castle type arrangement for the birds, the water from the lake keeps predators like raccoons from raiding the nests. So each night as the sun sets, there is always a flurry of activity as the birds return to the island for the night. (Photo: December 25, 2018)

A manatee chomps down on a head of romaine lettuce at ZooTampa. The manatee, also known as the sea cow, is a large vegetarian marine mammal and spends its days lazily chomping on greens. Because of their slow movement, they become victims of boat propellers way too much. As a result, ZooTampa operates a large scale manatee rehabilitation program in which they rescue, rehab and return manatees back to the wild once healthy. Those that can not be released find a home here at the zoo. (Photo: January 23, 2021)

  A quad of Southwest jets shine during the Golden Hour at Tampa International Airport.  TPA is a focus city for Southwest Airlines with a heavy presence of the colorful LUV birds.  From Tampa, Southwest connects travelers with over forty destinations.  In fact Southwest is the busiest air carrier at Tampa, serving almost 7 million passengers a year.  (Photo: January 23, 2021)

The Tampa Bay region has become united to support the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their quest to win the Super Bowl. From signs in downtown Tampa, murals in St Pete and the Bucs colors shining bright on the Sunshine Skyway; the whole Bay area is showing support for the home team. The iconic Sunshine Skyway was outfitted with LED lighting about a year ago to celebrate holidays and special occasions like tonight's support of the Buccaneers. (Photo: January 24, 2021).

Work is underway to transform Raymond James Stadium into the home of Super Bowl 55. Tampa Bay will host the annual NFL championship game on February 7, 2021. Due to COVID-19, the game and festivities leading up to the game will have a different look but thing that will that will look familiar at Ray J is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be on the field for this year's game. The Bucs knocked off the Green Bay Packers to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl and the history books becoming the first team to make the Super Bowl in the same year they hosted the game. The Bucs await their opponent either the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo: January 23, 2021)

The baseball community mourns the loss of an icon to the sport, Hank Aaron. Hammerin' Hank got his nickname from his power at the plate. Over the course of his 23 year career, Aaron slugged a career 755 homers. When he retired from the game, he entered the front office of the Braves where he spent several years on the executive side of the sport. His impact to the game was immortalized by his number being retired by the Brewers and the Braves as well as being a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Off the field Hank was a integral part of minority programs and even an advocate during the current COVID-19 pandemic where he publicly joined Atlanta leaders in getting the vaccination .  (Photo: August 21, 2019)

Fort Myers, Florida: This week I spent a little bit of time at Page Field and caught a few cool gems during my time there. One interesting spot was a US Army TH-67 that was transitioning into civilian service. And then there was the Cirrus Vision Jet, my new favorite private jet.  Here is a look at what I saw at Page Field this week:  C-GEPR – Eurocopter EC-120  N48HS – Cirrus Vision  N294CW – Cessna Citation   N326EW – Dassault Falcon 2000  N600CS – Embraer Phenom 100  N946CG – Beechcraft Super King Air 300  N5522S – Cessna Skyhawk  N67301 – TH-67 Creek (US Army)  Click on the photo to view these and the rest of the Page Field photo gallery .

Fort Myers, Florida: It was a pretty quiet week for me and planespotting this week. With a short week because of the holiday and a busy work schedule, I didn’t have much time to spot. Minus a visit from the Coast Guard, a P-8 from Jacksonville and a missed approach by a Texan, the flights I saw were pretty routine.  Here is a look at what I caught this week:  2309 – HC-144 Ocean Sentry (US Coast Guard)  166087 – T-6 Texan II  169560 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)   N50LD – Learjet 60  N343FR – Airbus A320 (Frontier Airlines)  N415FX – Embraer Legacy 450  N452WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N612NK – Airbus A320 (Spirit Airlines)  N712FR – Airbus A321 (Frontier Airlines)  N826MH – Boeing 767-400 (Delta Air Lines)  N838MH – Boeing 767-400 (Delta Air Lines)  N902WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N925UY – Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N953WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines/Silver One) ...

A little redhead stands out along the bark of an oak tree at Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve while this woodpecker searches for food. Despite its red head, this is actually called a red-bellied woodpecker. Like most woodpeckers, this little guy uses its pointed beak to hammer away at trees causing the insects to scatter for his next meal. The red-bellied woodpecker is one of more prevalent species found on the west coast of Florida and can be seen in urban through rural landscapes. (Photo: December 24, 2018)

Sunning on the bank, a bunch of little alligator keep warm in the Florida sunshine. Once a gator reaches 4 feet in length, they no longer have any natural predators besides human and larger gators. Until then, the younger gators have a colored banding on their tail that help them to hide in the brush of riverbanks link this.. See how well the real small gators blend into the dirt and brush of this photo. How many gators can you see in this photo? (Photo: December 24, 2018)

A little blue heron chomps down on a catfish it caught along the banks of the Myakka River. On any given day, a trip to Myakka River State Park in eastern Sarasota County will reward you with tons and tons of wading bird fishing for food along the river. The river is the smorgasbord of life and is your best place to see an abundance of Florida native wildlife in their natural environment. (Photo: December 16, 2018)

A young alligator photobombed this photo of a green heron on Sunday afternoon at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. On any given day, you can see hundreds of gators along the trails at Circle B. But on this trip, we didn't see a single one due to the colder weather in the Sunshine State. It wasn't until editing photos that I caught this little guy lurking in the background, a good reminder that they are everywhere even if you can't see them. (Photo: January 17, 2021)

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Today we honor Dr Martin Luther King Jr and his impact on the not just the civil rights movement but his impact on the nation. Today's we are living though some of the most turbulent moments we have seen in our lifetime. From the social injustices and uprisings, the political turmoil and insurrection to the loss of life from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing a level of instability that most of us have never witnessed. But still today, the words of Dr King provide a beacon of light in these troubling times. So as the events of our world continue to shape us, ask yourself where do you stand? (Photo: December 20, 2014)

The new air traffic control tower at Southwest Florida International Airport continues to take shape. The new tower is planned to be completed in Summer 2021 and is a centerpiece of future development of the airport. Taller than the current tower, the new tower will have fewer visual obstructions. And its new location provides an ideal location in advance of the proposed second runway. Although the tower will be completed in Summer 2021, it will be about another year for the FAA to outfit the tower and become operational. (Photo: January 15, 2021)

Lakeland, Florida: After over a year hiatus, we finally went back to the wildlife mecca of Circle B Bar Reserve. This nature reserve is a wildlife hotspot popular for the variety of animals seen along the trails. On today’s visit we hiked the Heron Hideout, Alligator Alley and Shady Oak trail.   Along the way we saw the following animals:   American Alligator  Anhinga   Black-bellied Whistling Duck   Black-crowned Night Heron   Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher   Brown Pelican  Cattle Egret  Common Gallinule  Common Yellowthroat  Double-crested Cormorant  Eastern Gray Squirrel  Florida Red-bellied Cooter  Glossy Ibis  Great Blue Heron  Green Heron  Little Blue Heron  Nine-banded Armadillo  Northern Cardinal  Osprey  Painted Bunting  Palm Warbler  Pine Warbler  Red-shouldered Hawk  Red-winged Blackbird  Snowy Egret  Tree Swallow...

A pair of F-5 Tiger II's get ready to depart on a training mission after a quick refueling stop at Southwest Florida International Airport. Civilian jet adversary teams like this duo from Tactical Air Support are crucial to the mission of the US military. These pilots act in the role of enemy aircraft during training missions with fighter pilots from the US Air Force and US Navy, practicing tactic in real life simulation in the skies rather than in a simulator. (Photo: January 14, 2021)

Fort Myers, Florida: This past week was the week of the heavies, at least for what I has able to see this week. During the week, I managed to see five of Delta’s 767 heavies as well as the arrival of the Queen when Western Global brought the 747 into town for a quick delivery. A cool unscheduled visit came on Thursday as a pair of F-5’s from Tactical Air Support made a quick fuel stop at RSW.  Here is a look at what I saw at Southwest Florida International Airport this week.  168433 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  C-GOAI – Pilatus PC-24  N65SQ – Beechcraft Beechjet  N121HQ – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/American Eagle)  N141NN – Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N220WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N241BC – Embraer 145 (IBC Airways)  N258SN – Boeing 747-400 (Western Global Airlines)  N295WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N299WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N350DN – Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N35...

The joke has always been that Florida has one season, summer.  While the snow may stay away and the temperatures are usual mild, if you look closely you can see some signs of seasons.  Unlike most of the country that sees leaves turn colors in the Fall, you will see reds and oranges in the foliage during Winter.  These colors are seen along the boardwalk at Sawgrass Lakes Park in St Petersburg.  (Photo: December 15, 2018)

A baby Siamang clings to its mother at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Zoo babies are an integral part of the Species Survival Plan in which zoos partner to ensure the survival of endangered species through breeding programs. The zoos work together to move animals from one zoo to another for breeding to keep the gene pool diverse and continue the species through another generation. (Photo: November 28, 2018)

When hiking in the wild, be sure to be aware of your surroundings and watch where you step. You never know what might be camouflaged in the forest floor. Like this Cottonmouth here, its markings help it hide so it remain safe and also to camouflage to strike prey. A misstep here could be dangerous as Cottonmouths are venomous.  (Photo: November 18, 2018)

 A brown pelican flies high over the beach at Stump Pass Beach State Park.  Operated by the Florida State Park service, Stump Pass Beach State Park is a popular place to bird watch where you can see shorebirds and birds of prey in plenty.  As a result, the park is listed on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a list of spots across the state that are prime areas to enjoy wildlife.  (Photo: November 17, 2018)

The icon of Epcot, Spaceship Earth shines brightly in the Central Florida night sky. Since the park opened in 1982, the geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth has stood tall to welcome guests to a park where the future is here. At night the light cast from the triangles that comprise the sphere appear to change color before your eyes depending on the angle in which you are looking at it. (Photo: November 10, 2018)

When you are flying a mission thousands of miles from home, you can't just pull of the exit and stop for fuel.  Enter the Air Refueling Wing.  With tankers across the globe, the mission of the ARW is extend the range of the US Air Force.  The primary workhorse tankers are the KC-135 Stratotanker and the KC-10 Extender, but recently the KC-46 Pegasus has entered into the mix.  This KC-135 Stratotanker pictured here is from the 161st Air Refueling Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard.  (Photo: January 9, 2021)

Sarasota, Florida: Since starting my new position at RSW, I do not make it back to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport that much anymore. After spotting here for over ten years, it been a while since I have spent some time at the airport. Sure I've stopped by to catch a plane here and there but I haven't spotted here for a while. The drawing factor was a KC-135 from the Arizona Air National Guard but I stayed for a while to catch some of SRQ's action.  Here is a look at what I saw today at SRQ:  62-3550 - KC-135 Stratotanker (Arizona Air National Guard)  N52C - Beechcraft Super King Air 200  N68UP - Dassault Falcon 20  N112KD - Beechcraft Bonanza  N171JC - Gulfstream IV  N221NN - Embraer 175 (Envoy Air/American Eagle)  N229NV - Airbus A320 (Allegiant Air)  N235NV - Airbus A320 (Allegiant Air)  N239JB - Embraer 190 (JetBlue Airways)  N285NN - Embraer 175 (Envoy Air/American Eagle)  N327MM - Cessna Citation Excel  ...

The unmanned MQ-9 Reaper operated by the US Air Force is the ultimate seek and destroy platform. From the safety of a military compound, operators can deliver over 3,000 pounds of payload with pinpoint accuracy on a target way down range. It has been an important tactical weapon in the War on Terror with many key combatants falling victim to the Reaper. In addition to the US Air Force, the MQ-9 is in service with the US Department of Homeland Security, NASA and a variant called the Mariner is in use with the US Navy. The MQ-9 pictured here is operated by the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base and was on display during the 2018 Wings Over Homestead air show at Homestead Air Reserve Base. (Photo: November 4, 2018)

The sun rises over the sawgrass along Alligator Alley on a 2018 trip to Zoo Miami.  Alligator Alley is a toll section of I-75 that passes through the heart of Florida's Everglades.   The east and west section of I-75 has raised overpasses along the route to allow wildlife to pass underneath.  (Photo: November 4, 2018)

  Rising above the coastal town of Mayport, the St Johns River Light has been guiding ships through the mouth of the St Johns River from 1859 though 1929.  Despite being taken out of service as a lighthouse, it still stands on the grounds of the Naval Station Mayport as the oldest structure on the island.  (Photo: December 30, 2020)

A backlog of departures line up on Taxiway Foxtrot at Southwest Florida International Airport trying to depart before a regional ground stop is initiated. On Monday Jacksonville Center, responsible for most of the airspace in the Southeast US, closed due to COVID-19 cleaning. During this regional ground stop, they opened a 55 minute window for departures and RSW was slammed with flights trying to depart before the ground stop resumed. Air Traffic Controllers did an amazing job of clearing the backlog within the window of opportunity. (Photo: January 4, 2021)

A canon overlooks the St Johns River from Fort Caroline. The French fort sat high atop St Johns Bluff a crucial defense post near the mouth of the river. The new French settlement became a safe haven for Huguenots being persecuted in French. The colony was later captured by the Spanish in 1565 and became San Mateo under Spanish rule. Today a replica of Fort Caroline operated by the National Park Service provides a visual example of what Fort Caroline would have looked like under French rule. (Photo: December 30, 2020)

  Much is known about horrors of slavery in the southern United States, but did you know that slavery existed in Spanish ruled Florida.  While the labor was still intensive, Spanish slavery had more rights and even a pathway to freedom.  The Spanish Florida had three classes of people;  whites, free people of color and slaves.  Slaves could earn their freedom though tasks on plantations like the Kingsley Plantation near the mouth of the St Johns River.  Here the plantation was partially run by a freed slave Anna Madgigine Jai.  You can learn about life as a Spanish slave and plantation life at the restored Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island near Jacksonville.  (Photo: December 30, 2020)

Some of your best discovery can be found once you leave the asphalt and take a journey down an old dirt road.  Take this one here on Fort George Island for example.  Just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville, this dirt road leads you to some hidden historic gems from yesteryear.  From tabby ruins to the wealthy plantation of Zephaniah Kingsley, there are snapshots of history around every corner.  (Photo: December 30, 2020)

From within an award winning habit, a majestic Jaguar is on the prowl.  With a natural range that stretches from Southwest US through Central and South America, the Jaguar seems right at home in north Florida at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  Opened in 2003, the Range of the Jaguar exhibit was built to house the zoos six jaguars. It resembles a Spanish village and temple providing two separate habitats making it the largest jaguar exhibit in the country.  In 2005, the Range of the Jaguar was awarded the American Zoological Associations "Exhibit of the Year".  (Photo: December 30, 2020)

While most people look to forget 2020, there was still a lot of great experiences during a rather rough year.  2020 brought us the COVID-19 pandemic which crippled the nation by shutting down the country for months and never fully reopened without restrictions, a busy hurricane season which saw us deep into the Greek alphabet for storm named with areas of the country hit by multiple major storms and a presidential election that still hasn't been officially declared.   It was one that will always be remembered. The crazy year really sidelined a lot of what was planned for the year.  We started the year out with a trip to St Augustine in March.  That was at the beginning of the pandemic but when strict restrictions began.  During the trip, Governor DeSantis began issuing orders that closed bars and restaurants and by the end of the trip all attractions were closed as emergency stay at home orders were issued.  These restrictions would remain in place in ...

There's a motto that was instilled on me early on in my public safety career, " Don't train till you get it right, train till you don't get it wrong".  That can easily transition into the military sector as their units are constantly training and preparing themselves for whatever comes their way.  Like the crew of this MH-60R Seahawk flying low along the St Johns River as they practice flight maneuvers at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville.  (Photo: December 30, 2020)