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 ...