Saturday, July 23, 2016

Unusual Critters!

We see so much variety here in Florida and many times we see something we’ve never seen before!

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But first let’s start with this beautiful dragonfly.

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We were driving to a Park for a picnic and rolled down the car window for these photos!

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A few of the pretty cattails we saw too. (not on a critter! lol)

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Then later when we took a ‘short walk’ in the heat, we spotted this Broad headed Skink.

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He made quite a rustle in the grass and actually scared me. He’s much bigger than the usual lizards, anoles and skinks that we usually see and the first one of this type we’ve identified.

I’ll end with some birds we see often here in North Central Florida.

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Cattle Egret are common here.

(you can see the difference between the egret and ibis in these 2 photos)

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I still get a thrill when I see the Ibis but they are regulars around here too.

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We spotted the Ibis at the Inglis Locks.

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I know I’ve taken better bird photos than these but these were taken this past week.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

30 comments:

Snap said...

Fun series. Gorgeous dragonfly. I can't seem to get them to slow down long enough for a good shot -- just a blur! I like the skink and the egrets. Aren't the Ibis fun?! When I lived on Galveston Island we'd see the Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills ... fun!

Sam I Am...... said...

Up early in the South...the only way to get any outside work done! LOL! I've already been out and watered. It's very hot here...heat indexes in the 100's like 105-108 and 80% humidity..hard to breath in that! So, here I am the first to comment it seems. I love your nature photos as I feel like I took a little nature walk with you. Great lizard!

ann said...

A rather nice collection of critters. We don't have skinks here.it almost looks like a snake with legs. Great photos of birds.

Happy@Home said...

When we were in Florida I saw many birds that were new to me. I now think many of them were some type of egrets. I'm glad you shared the differences in the egrets and ibis with us.
Now that skink is something I have never seen. I agree with the comment above, it does look a bit like a snake with legs. I think I'd rather see the dragon flies. Ha!

Lea said...

A nice variety of critters! The dragonfly is my favorite

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Such great photos Sis! I love the dragonflies. We have some here that I see often and they are gorgeous. Guess I need to get out my camera and try taking some photos!!
hugs,
Linda

Christine said...

A wonderful array of wildlife but I would be scared of the skink not having come across anything like it before!
The ibis photos are wonderful!
Happy Saturday!

Cloudia said...

delightful Honey!

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Nice sharp image of the dragonfly. I have not seen that type of lizard in our south Florida neighborhood.

The Bear's Blog said...

Oh, I can remember the first time I ever saw a skink - we had just moved to Tallahassee and I was sitting on the front steps waiting for hubby to come home from work and out of the corner of my eye I saw this horrible thing crawling up the bricks on the house. It had the head of a snake and the body of a lizard. That was THE last time I ever sat on those steps. Thank goodness we don't have all those horrible "things" here. We don't even have skitters - not one bite since we moved here. (o:

Happy weekend dear friend. Please keep the skinks in FL.

20 North Ora said...

Dragonflies are one of my very favorite critters! When I was doing interior design, I always put a dragonfly somewhere in the décor - sort of a trademark I guess! LOL I had never heard of the ibis until I got so involved in crossword puzzles. They use them quite often.

Enjoyed your photos. Have a good weekend.

Judy

Vee said...

Skinks are so aptly named, aren't they?!

Susie said...

Diane, Great critter photos. The lizard 's head looks like a snake. I love dragonflies. You always have neat birds to show us. Blessings for a fun weekend, xoxo, Susie

Red Rose Alley said...

The Broad headed Skink is an unusual looking lizard. We don't have them around here. Lizards are so creepy to me, and once in awhile I see them during the summer months, Eeeeekkkk. We have the Great Egrets here; don't see the Cattle Egrets ever.

Your critter posts always delight me. :)

~Sheri

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

I'm with you. We do see a lot of cool critters down here.

Phil Slade said...

Living in the Northern Hemisphere I do not get to see many reptiles like skinks or lizards so it's good to see yours. Nice to compare the Cattle Egret and Ibis too,as we don't get them either in GB.

Anni said...

Excellent!!! Yep, I agree...even if the bird is a common, often seen resident in our birding areas, it's still a thrill to capture them on 'film'. There's always something different.

I too like to see dragonflies, I know they're consuming the mosquitoes!! lol

Thank you so much for sharing this with us birders at I'd Rather B Birdin'. Have a glorious week ahead.

Latane Barton said...

It was fun to learn the difference between an egret and an ibis. We don't see many near my home but I think they are more south.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Beautiful shots!

I almost gave up trying to identify your dragonfly, but I think I've got it: Great Blue Skimmer.

(Note wing markings.)
~

A Colorful World said...

Wonderful photos..so many treasures to see! Loved the dragonfly! The ibis and the skink were great too, and those beautiful cat tails!

Buttercup said...

Fabulous pictures! Especially like the beautiful dragonfly. Keep cool!

Helma said...

A wonderful blog. Dragonflies are photographed very nice and bright. I enjoy this time of the dragonflies. The lizard and the cattle egret and ibis are also wonderful to meet. I've enjoyed it.
A hug

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

I can take the dragonflies but not a skink . . . eeeewwww! I'm partial to the butterflies that are around my phlox now and I'm in a war with the squirrels who are eating my gazebo screen . . . gotta love summer!

BeachGypsy said...

Hope yall have had a good weekend my friend! Your dragonfly picture is very pretty. Last time we were down at the swamp i tried dragonfly pictures and mine turned out so so so bad!! Ha ha lol

Lowcarb team member said...

These are all great pictures you've shared, thank you.
My favourite is the dragonfly ...

All the best Jan

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Really enjoy seeing Florida the way it is when we're not there! And I really really want to see a skink! What a great critter!

Unknown said...

Wonderful photos! I love the dragonfly and the skink. Have a happy week!

NatureFootstep said...

the ibis seems very small. Or the fence is large :)

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful nature photography!

Happy Week to you ~ ^_^

eileeninmd said...

Hello, what an awesome collection of photos and critters. I love the dragonfly, skink, egret and the white ibis. I am just home from our trip to Florida. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy day and week ahead!