Working remote. Hudson River Chestertown NY 8 25 2025

Another beautiful day in the Adirondacks. 

Just for fun - Palmetto Bay Bird Feeder Cam - common grackles - bullies at the feeder cam

Just for fun.  No politics - just watching birds with elbows - looking to dominate at the feeder cam.

Photo of the day

Cardinal season - photos of the day

My first time ever being cornered by a female cardinal (or greeted - it is all a matter of perspective). Such an interesting bird. 

I enjoy our Palmetto Bay oasis - we have maintained our entire yard to remain friendly to and actually attract native wildlife.

Breaking post - Now I've seen everything - parrot out for a drive

 I did ask and obtain permission for the photos.  Of all the things to see on my way to a mediation: a parrot riding on the car (tethered).  A beautiful day for a morning drive with the top down. I should have driven the convertible car this morning!

Seen while cycling - Santsimodo?

Alex and I ran across this Christmas display near South Miami City Hall.

Come on, look at it with an eye toward amusement: Santa is not climbing to a chimney, he is climbing a tower (clock tower) that rings bells to mark time.  We have named this display Santismodo after the fictional character in The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.

Just for fun.  Enjoy.

Chickens - from "free range" to far ranging here in Palmetto Bay.

A little humor today (you just have to laugh) - as the ever increasing population of chickens and roosters have come home to roost here in Palmetto Bay.  A reader sent me this photo on Sunday, 10-13-2024.  

Apparently this lil chicken heard that McDonalds was serving Chicken, but I think she misunderstands the term serving in this particular instance. She'll make that mistake only once.

Loose chickens (or should I refer to them as really free range) are now found often at Coral Reef and Palmetto Bay Parks, surrounding homes and now local businesses.  I am told that you can find them at the bank on the corner of 184 & US1 as well as neighboring Big Lots, but I have not verified.

Yes, that is right, more feral chickens here in Leanne's Palmetto Bay. The population has exploded since Leanne's Chicken Ordinance. This chicken looks like she is ready for the fryer; giving up, fatigued from the false promises of the vice mayor & council. If only it could vote.

Far ranging chickens and roosters - classing up Palmetto Bay.

Prior RELATED POSTS:

October 7, 2024, Update - Roosters taking root in Palmetto Bay

August 14, 2024, Reader submissions - Chickens & Roosters multiplying at Coral Reef Park - non-native species appear to be thriving.

August 1, 2024, Chickens can be raised properly in Palmetto Bay - It was done. That was before Ordinance 2023-12.

July 22, 2024, Coral Reef Park and the Mangowood community have a morning wake up alarm. feral chickens in Leanne's Palmetto Bay. Seen today at McDonalds at 183 St. Looks like she is ready for the fryer; giving up, fatigued from the false promises of the vice mayor & council. If only it could vote

An outstanding idea - an ideal subject for the Nature Postings Photogenic Nature Workshop - Palmetto Bay's free range chickens & roosters

This is why I put things out on the blog.  I get some great responses.  

One reader suggested that readers and "photo contributors" of the blog should enter the Nature Postings Photogenic Nature Workshop - set for Saturday, August 31, 2024

The following info is provided by official Palmetto Bay sources: This workshop provides the perfect setting for amateur photographers, professionals, and families to experience nature behind the lenses of a camera. Open to all skill levels and ages. All participants will be required to bring their own camera or phone. $10 per person. Register here.

Registration remains open - hurry and register - please don't chicken out!

A new exercise opportunity for Coral Reef Park - here now : "The ROCKY II Chicken Chase"

For the fitness buffs - Palmetto Bay is supplying the chickens - all you have to do is chase them!

Also see PRIOR RELATED POST - Monday, July 22, 2024, Coral Reef Park and the Mangowood community have a morning wake up alarm.

I'm told that there are many to choose from - see photos posted below - supplied by readers (Please send more)

Also coming soon - reader submitted photos of Roosters who have come home to roost in other areas of Palmetto Bay (please mail photos to me at eugeneflinn@bellsouth.net)

Photos of the day - Wanna buy a courthouse?

Wanna buy a courthouse? Be the first to privatize the Civil court system.  Turnkey ready.  Historic elevator doors.  Mold and prone to basement flooding.

What a way to go – a FOR SALE sign on the steps. Usually other properties are “sold on the courthouse steps.” Appreciate the irony.

This is the current Miami-Dade County Courthouse, formerly known as the Dade County Courthouse.  The building is a historic courthouse and “skyscraper” (for its time) located at 73 West Flagler Street in Miami, Florida. This building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1989.

It was constructed over four years (1925–28). The building is 361 feet tall with 28 floors (give or take, based upon any undocumented settlement).  This building was once famous for the seasonable buzzards.  The Courthouse was the tallest building in both the city of Miami and state of Florida in its heyday.

A new courthouse is nearly completed nearby. It is time to offload this building.  I’m sure this will be an “as is” sale.

Just for fun - I like to take "Bike Leaning Against --- " photos.  Here are two from a May 2023 ride from home in Palmetto Bay to downtown Miami and back.  A great ride by the way.

Photo of the Day – the tortoise and the hare warming up

Are they getting ready to settle the score? Miami’s own (formerly of Miami) Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld takes a remarkable photo of local wildlife on a quiet morning at Ellington Park on Merritt Island – what were the odds to snap a photo of this tortoise and this hare? And inquiring minds want to know if they in fact were getting ready to race?

Photo credit: Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld

When its too deep to ride through

JUST FOR FUN - a replay of the 9-25-2021 gravel adventure.

Who from Palmetto Bay wants to join in?

Dora and Malcolm featured in carrying their bikes through thigh deep water - gravel riding Saturday, 9/25/2021

National Dog Day - August 26, 2022 - Photos of some of our loyal family members

A furry friend is a life long commitment (for them as well as you). They are not a short term fancy or a photo op. 

Here are some photos of our current family guards - Lil Timmy and Bailey.  Enjoy.

Photo of the day. Lucky dog cyclist - the lead dog

This pampered pooch has a great seat providing a great view. Love the googles.

Photo permission granted

#32: Enjoy the little things. 

Seen along Old Cutler Road - Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Get out and ride. Sometimes you you into some great sights and interaction through slowing down and travelling by bicycle.

2021 Year in review - photos - 01 - gravel biking.

I am kicking off the year in review with some photos of the 2021 gravel biking adventures - a great socially distanced activity (no drafting). The pictures tell the story. No cycling travels this year, it was all local - south of Black Point, east Everglades, parts in and near Everglades National Park, in and around Shark Valley and the Tamiami canal / Levee areas.

I am looking forward to the gravel riding adventures in 2022!

Nov 18, 2021 Update to POD of 9/20/2021. Non-native grass planted, appears to be no requirement to replace the lost canopy. More trees lost to the ax.

The tree loss extends beyond the SW 136th Street MEGA sidewalk project. 82nd avenue is joining the streets undergoing tree diets.  It now appears as if no trees ever stood on the Northeast corner of SW 152 Street and 82nd Avenue. But there were - the Oaks were at least 50 years old. They survive many storms, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992, but they could not survive the chain saw. 

I posted the question on 9/20/2021: when will these oaks be replaced? How many others have been removed in Palmetto Bay? We now have our answer as to replacement: The policy appears to be that lost trees are not being replaced, instead, non-native lawns are being planted where the trees once stood. This is more maintenance; including mowing and fertilizing. Less shade, no replacement of trees.

Palmetto Bay officials appear unconcerned. It is as if they really do not care to remain a Tree City USA community? The pictures speak for themselves. And take note, the big stately Oaks were in the public right of way. They can be, they should be, replaced.

Where is the tree maintenance / replanting program that Palmetto Bay once took pride in? 

Answer? There are new policies at play that reflect the current priorities (or lack of) for this current mayor and council.

For background, see prior related post of Monday, September 20, 2021, POD. Monday, 9/20/2021. Time to grind some stumps and sweep more issues under the rug.

Photos from the prior post documenting what once stood there:

Morning ride - Photos of the Day

Saturday, 11-13-2021, what a gorgeous day! Who is out enjoying our South Florida weather? A morning 36.5 mile ride to the Grove and back. It should not take a court order to get you out of your home on a day like today.

The ay was flat smooth. Shore birds doing their thing, staying just out of reach. The water was clear, so you could see some fish close to shore doing their thing.