Friday, January 19, 2018

Featuring the “Ibis”

We started hike #3 at Blue Run Park in Dunnellon by walking down to the boat ramp. The water level has gone down some now. It has been high since Hurricane Irma but we are seeing differences now, in the river and the swamps. I walked down and then just happened to look to my left and saw the most beautiful Ibis, dipping into the water and not at all disturbed by my presence.

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It looks like he’s found a ‘crawdad’ here but I’m not sure.

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What a beautiful way to start a hike!

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He kept posing for us and we didn’t want to leave!

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Here he is going down, almost all the way under to ‘fish’ these shallow waters.

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It’s unusual to get this close.

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I hope we get to do hike #4 Saturday! I’ll let you know!

We had some cold overnight temps but it’s been pretty nice all week and supposed to be in the 70s this weekend.

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How’s your weather now?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

33 comments:

Sandy said...

I love it when you can catch wildlife like that. He was so pretty.
It has been so cold for longer than I can remember. IT is not all that uncommon every couple of years for it to dip into the twenties for a night or even two, but this has been for almost 2 weeks. Crazy. I hope it doesn't kill all the plants.

Arlene G said...

Warming up here today Diane. Those poor sand hill cranes got here just as the extreme cold arrived. We saw that many have flown on from here when we went by the refuge yesterday.

MadSnapper said...

to me Ibis are not in the beautiful bird class, but this one sure is, the water and trees and sunlight make him gorgeous. so are the photos so beautiful... we have flocks of these guys in our yard and trees, they make funny noises while eating there way around the yard..

eileeninmd said...

Hello, pretty views of the Ibis and the river. I like the sky reflection on the river. Great photos. Happy Friday, enjoy your day and weekend!

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful critter shot and sky reflection shot on the water is excellent!

Happy Weekend,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

It's me said...

So beautiful.....have a Nice weekend.....love Ria x ❤️

NanaDiana said...

Those are really GREAT photos, Diane. I can't believe how long he hung around so you could take pictures.
It is cold here--but 'warm' for us. It is in the high 20s/low 30s today and tomorrow but headed back to colder temps on Monday with more snow moving in. Enjoy your beautiful weather. xo Diana

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Love those first couple shots. Nice composition.

I haven't been out much. I've been fighting off a cold. Ick

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Wow what a beautiful sight and to think he let you get that close! How's our weather . . . you shouldn't ask haha! Actually it feels like summer right now -- we are supposed to hit 40 today and low 50's next week. Probably won't last but we'll take what we can get!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

What an amazing encounter with the White Ibis, especially as it was foraging successfully. I can well imagine that put you in a great mood for the rest of the walk - although I suspect you were in a great mood anyway.

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Hi Diane, I so enjoyed looking at your beautiful photos. I am so happy you are enjoying the warm temps there. It's been so cold and snowy here. I have had enough already of winter. The temps over the weekend and next week are supposed to be in the 40's and 50's and I'm so looking forward to that. Thanks too for your lovely visit to my blog. I hope you get to go one the hike this weekend.
Hugs, Julie

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

It is so exciting when you get to be so close to a wild creature just doing its part to stay alive. It does look like he caught a crawdad! What a beautiful way to start the hike indeed! Such a beautiful place to hike! I think it is so wonderful that you and your husband make these efforts to get out and see the beauty in your area. Always enjoy my visit with you :) Hugs to you today!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Our weather has warmed a little...

LOVE your fun header!

Cloudia said...

Oh thank you for light, water, reflections and the ibis!

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

Great pictures! I love those birds! Weather here has warmed...45 today and Sunday 60's but rain....I think the bitter cold is over...I hope. I can't handle extreme anything anymore! LOL! Enjoy your beautiful hiking weather and trails!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Warming up over here too Diane! Thank goodness. Love the action shots of the pretty Ibis -- a beautiful sequence. Hope you get to hike again tomorrow.

Susie said...

Diane, A wonderful hike with a great surprise. I love it. Glad your weather is so good there. today was above freezing here...34 degrees. I love that the snow is melting. Be safe and enjoy your weekend. xoxo,blessing to you, Susie

eileeninmd said...

Hi Diane, I enjoyed this hike and the Ibis. They are always nice to see, I wish I was there now too. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Betty J. Crow said...

Looks like a great place for a hike. Love the reflection. The Ibis was a nice find. Our weather has turned warmer. We had 9° last week and it will be near 70 today. Great day for a long walk.

Linda said...

Lovely wildlife photos from a great walk. We are having another little mild snap in the weather, +3 Celsius today and lovely and sunny.

Jean said...

Beautiful photos! Enjoyed them all, love the one with the reflection. Glad you were able to get out and hike. Need to do that myself today before our rain officially moves into the area (and enjoy our 50 degree weather which feels almost tropical after the way below zero wind chills we started with this week). Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

What a nice way to start your walk! So exciting to catch the Ibis eating his lunch on a beautiful, sunny day. Love the sparkles on the water - so pretty. We are damp and cool, but not freezing. Staying in the 40's, but there is fresh snow on the lower foothills overnight. The 70's sound ideal to me! Enjoy your week. xx Karen

Ricki Treleaven said...

OMGoodness you've really upped your game in photography. Your photos of the ibis are so pretty! Have you ever read the short story The Scarlet Ibis? It always makes me cry!

Kathy said...

How wonderful to get those shots of the ibis! That is such a beautiful bird.

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Beautiful pics of the ibis and the reflections.

Lea said...

Fantastic! Wonderful photos!

A Colorful World said...

Wonderful find, your ibis with a craw-dad! Lovely river photos!

Breathtaking said...

Hello Diane!:) Absolutely beautiful scenes of the water with the reflections, and the surprise encounter with the Ibis, ...imagine if you had looked to the right instead of the left,..so glad you didn't, and got to see and photograph these great images of the Ibis.:=)

Anni said...

I always enjoy reading your narratives with your photos...you draw us in, right there with you as we talk about what 'we' find!!! Awesome Diane.

And beautiful scenes along the river!!!! Great Ibis images...but, that goes without saying.

And, I want to convey my thanks to you for sharing this post with all of us birders from I'd Rather B Birdin' this week!!!

Jeanie said...

That Ibis is stunning!

Lowcarb team member said...

That third photograph is just beautiful ...
So too is the Ibis.

All the best Jan

Red Rose Alley said...

What a beautiful Ibis. Very cool pictures of him and the crawdad.

Our weather is still cold in the mornings, but warmer during the day. A lot of foggy mornings and it rained today!

love ~Sheri

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Woweee- what fabulous photos - so distinct and super composition.

I'm trying to catch up on all the fun of your blog.