The Wood Stork at Manatee Springs State Park

 

It's always good to learn to identify the birds you see. I find it a challenge but over the years, I've learned a few!

I walked on the boardwalk at Manatee Springs State Park every day that we camped there. 

Sometimes I went more than once a day.

The lighting can be so different and also bird sightings.

I said 'hello' to a couple that I had seen a few times and I noticed his camera with a zoom lens.

One late afternoon, I was on my way back down the boardwalk and saw that he was zoomed in on something in the swamp.

 

So I stopped to look and I said, "Even living here in Florida, it's still a thrill to get to see a Wood Stork."

And they both looked at me with wide eyes and she said, "Is THAT what that is? We didn't know what that bird was." 

So it felt good to actually share that with them. And when he gets home from traveling he will have a bird ID for his photos! It made me smile. I walked on, and when I looked back, he was still taking photos!

This Great White Egret was very beautiful too.

The birds don't feel threatened by people walking on the boardwalk.

So they pose and preen.

The Suwannee River in all of it's glory! 

And my favorite Wood Stork photo!

Do you see his loose feather?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Manatee Springs State Park on the Suwannee River

 We camped at Manatee Springs State Park just before the manatees came up into the warmer waters of the Springs for the winter. I hope we can go back soon.

It was sad to see all the damage from the hurricanes back in the Fall. There were so many trees down and a lot of the camp sites were closed because of the damage. 

We saw these Blue Catfish right off of the boardwalk.

They were 3 or 4 ft long! And there were a dozen or more that we could watch!

The campsites that are open are well tended but it will take years to clear all the downed trees and debris. 

It's a wonderful campground with lots of wildlife wandering the campground and the river and springs are close enough to walk to, more than once a day.

That little white triangle is another Grebe that this one was chasing off! 

We were happy to see that the boardwalk had been repaired. It was closed in the Spring when we were there.

Comorant

Eagle overhead!

There's such a great view of the river.

A headless Little Blue Heron!

Whew! He DOES have a head after all! lol

And this Great White Egret is trying to hide in the swamp!

I love these Cypress knees!

Isn't the Suwannee River gorgeous! 

It's a beautiful place to camp or spend the day!

It's Florida in the winter time! Come on down!!!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE ! 

Rainbow Springs State Park "Close to Home"

 

We are so fortunate to have several State Parks in this part of North Central Florida.

Rainbow Springs State Park is one of the closest to our house.

The campground is right near the Rainbow River with it's sapphire colored water.

So I walked down to the river a couple of times each day to see what birds and wildlife I might see.

It was a beautiful walk with palm trees along the path.

Anhinga

We've camped there twice now and one thing we learned is how different each experience can be, depending on where you are camped.

The first time we stayed there, we backed into our camp space and opened the back on the van up, pulled the screen down and our view from the back and from every window, was the forest.

That's my kind of camping! 

I love to be surrounded by nature.

Little Blue Heron

The next time we camped, our space had other campers close by, even behind us. It was interesting but I gave higher ratings to the secluded campsite.

This is the second campsite and it still looks beautiful!

One of the unusual sightings was the scuba diver.

You can see he has a float with a flag out front to signal that he is underwater to boats and kayaks.

It sure is fun to research State Parks in Florida and get away for a few days!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

In search of the Reed Bingham Lake monster!

 

When we travel to a new state park we both do some research (hubby even more than me). I don't need to know every thing about a new place. It's nice to have an open mind and discover some things when we get there.

I did happen to see a headline in a article about a lake monster so I was hoping I got to see it.

One day we drove across the lake to walk around the beach area and another pond of water that flows into the lake. And we got lots of surprises.

The dam was spectacular with the Cypress Trees in there end of the year, rusty orange color.

And don't you love this Great Blue Heron right on the dam.

At the swimming beach there were some beautiful Killdeer.

I thought they were another type of water bird but I believe they are Killdeer.

We parked here and started walking around.

And now starts the photos of the Reed Bingham Lake monster! 

So skip right along to the end if you don't like these photos!

Because this was definitely a monster alligator!

One of the biggest I've ever seen.

I walked down to this pretty spot but realized I was lined up with the gator across the way.

I have a lot of respect for alligators and when I first zoomed in, his eyes were closed.

And then they were open a little more.....

and a little more!

So then I decided to back up and leave! 

One more quick photo and I'm back in the van!

Another 'monster' story for my camping journal!

Reed Bingham State Park is in Adel, Georgia and the website is HERE! One of our camping trips when we went across the border of Florida into Georgia to explore!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

My Special day and a 'deer' story!

 

I thought I would interrupt the regularly scheduled blogging to have a 'special day'!

Yes, it comes around every year and this year it's a good chance to catch up on the highlights of last year.

When we are at home, I hike some of the same trails over and over. And it's amazing how different each hike can be. 

There's a small herd of deer that I am seeing in the same area. 

The Mama Deer came out onto the trail and grazed on the side of the paved trail. 

This is the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. I don't walk on the paved part very much but use it to get to other forest trails.

I stood really still and it crossed in front of me.

But it didn't go away. It stayed put watching me.

And when I didn't leave, it crossed back over.

I looked into the forest and understood why. Several young deer were hiding in the forest.

And they were waiting for Mama to give them the go ahead to cross.

It was a neat sighting and when I decided to quit taking photos of them, they bounded away.

White tailed deer

I get such enjoyment getting out in nature and I always feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a hike. I really prefer hiking deep into the forest. And I'm very thankful for the good health and trails nearby.

Last year was a challenge. But I managed 142 hikes for the year and got to hike a lot of different trails with our camping trips. I want to give my sweet hubby a big thank you for hauling me all over the place to camp at state parks and hike new trails. 

Hopefully for my birthday this year, I'll be out and about doing what I love best! 

HIKING!

My sister, my cousin...

and I'm the tall blonde! 

Happy 'special day' to all my blog buddies, family and friends!

I'll save you a chocolate birthday brownie!