American Oystercatcher

American Oystercatcher on the Gulf Coast

In the wake of Hurricane Michael and all its devastation, my heart goes out to all the people who lost so much.  And to the creatures, trees, forests, and wildlife habitats.  Godspeed to all in your recovery. 

Chipola Floodplain II

Chipola River Floodplain

Through the years, I spent many joyful hours exploring nature in this swath of the Florida Panhandle, and have captured many images of its beauty.  Here, I've chosen some pre-storm photos from Michael's path and want to share them in honor of what was lost, what remains, and of the resilience of the folks whose lives have been disrupted, but are rebuilding anew.  

Line of Dusk

Line of Dusk - Dune lake west of Mexico Beach

Hurricane Michael made landfall at Mexico Beach - not far from where so many of my Gulf Coast adventures date back to 1978.

Dune Sunset

Eroding Dune

Pink Sea Wash - Cape San Blas

Grayton Beach State Park, FL

Grayton Dunes

Gulf Abstract

Gulf Abstract

New Day DawnsThat's St. Vincent Island, FL in the distance across the Pass. Sunrise.

New Day Dawns - Indian Pass

Dune Lake

Dune Lake

Seashell in Sunset

Sea Shell in Sunset

Caspian Gifting

The Gift -- Least Terns

Cutting Edge

Cutting Edge - St Vincent Island

Grayton Beach State Park, FL

Grayton Dune Lake

Last Rays on Beach

Last Rays

Shell Seeker

The storm roared north between Econfina Creek and the Apalachicola River basin -- two of my favorite wild places...

Springside FoxgloveFalso Foxglove. Econfina Creek, FL

Springside Foxglove - Econfina Creek

Econfina Limerock

Early Light on Econfina Limerock

Mountain Laurel

Econfina Mountain Laurel

Cypress & Tupelohttp://www.davidmoynahan.com/blog/2013/12/portrait-of-a-river-project---success

Cypress & Tupelo - Apalachicola River Basin

Dead Lakes Cypress

Dead Lakes Cypress

Prothonotary Mouthful

Prothonotary Mouthful

Owl Creek Lighthttp://www.davidmoynahan.com/blog/2013/12/portrait-of-a-river-project---success

Owl Creek Light

Twisted Cypresshttp://www.davidmoynahan.com/blog/2013/12/portrait-of-a-river-project---success

Twisted Cypress - Apalachicola River Basin

Dead Lakes Moonrise

Dead Lakes Moonrise

Dr Seuss in the Florida Wilds

Dr. Seuss in the Florida Wilds

Oxbow_Alum_Bluff_Camp

Apalachicola Oxbow Camp

 ...Maintaining Category 4 force winds all the way to Jackson County on the FL-GA line. 

Misty Cypress Dawn

Misty Cypress Dawn - Merritts Mill Pond, Jackson County

Swimming at Jackson Blue

Plunging in at Jackson Blue Spring

Spring of the Baltzells

Spring on the Upper Chipola

Primordial Forest

Primordial Forest - Florida Caverns State Park

Luminous Underworld

Luminous Underworld - Chipola River

Maund Spring

Maund Spring - Chipola River

Silver Pond Cypress

Silver Pond Cypress - Merritts Mill Pond

Chipola FogCool misty dawn on the Chipola River.

Chipola Dawn Fog

Troubadours of TupeloOld black gum or tupelo tree on the Chipola River.

Troubadours of Tupelo - Chipola River

Chipola Ovens

Chipola Ovens

Chipola Canopy

Chipola Canopy

Blue Spring Bass

Blue Spring Bass

Florida Caverns

Florida Caverns

Indian PinksJackson Co. FL

Indian Pinks - Florida Caverns State Park

Green Heron Breakfast

Green Heron Breakfast - Jackson County

Florida Oasis

Florida Oasis - Chipola River

Deadfall Swamp

Standing in Honor at Grandmother's Grave - Florida Caverns State Park

The Storm whirled onward, wreaking havoc in Georgia and beyond.  Climate change is here and now, fueling these epic storms and other extreme phemomena in our state, country, and across the planet. A sad new reality that might have been averted, and with some political will, might still be mitigated.  There is much remaining natural beauty worth protecting.  It/we are all interconnected -- a delicate balance -- and surprisingly fragile.  May we humans have the wisdom to do what we can for the health of our Earth.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  Your comments below are greatly appreciated.