When God closes one door he opens ‘a new trailhead’! That’s not the way it goes? It sure felt like it to me this week. One of my favorite trailheads to Florida Trails has ‘no parking’ signs at the gate. So my hubby told me that there was another gate even closer to our house. So off I went to find it and it was ‘easy peasy’!
An easy place to park….
and after just a short distance, the trail is PAVED! YAY!
It was a beautiful day and I talked to the people that blow the leaves off the trail.
No, I didn’t get a ride!
It was 80 degrees by the time I had finished my 1 hr 40 minute hike at 11 am but it was shady for most of the hike.
And I saw flocks of pretty warblers and this beautiful Eastern Bluebird.
When I got back to my car, I took one more look around….
and saw an Eagle overhead!
That was exciting! He was flying straight into the glare of the sun so I only got a couple of photos.
But what do I need help with IDing? I took ONE photo of this bird. It was flying high overhead and I never saw it again. I knew it wasn’t a hawk or Osprey. I thought maybe it was a Mississippi Kite.
But when I showed the photo to my hubby, he said I think you finally saw your first OWL in the WILD!
What do you think? Do you see the rather flat face? I looked in my ID books AND online. I think it’s an owl!
I can’t wait to go back and hike the Florida Trails!
Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
It’s not an owl….boo hoo…or hoo hoo!
I think now it’s an American Kestrel. Thanks Lea! I have seen a Kestrel in this general area before and I think the angle of it was making it’s face look more rounded. I looked up Northern Harrier, Anni and that’s a possibility. But…since I’ve seen a Kestrel near this spot, it must be a Kestrel. I’ll see an owl one of these days…I hope…I hope!
OK! Update #2!
The experts have spoken! Phil and Anni say it looks like a Female or young Northern Harrier. Which is very exciting because it’s a bird I’ve never seen. Thanks to everyone that weighed in. I appreciate the comments….wish you could all join me in a Florida hike today! It’s supposed to be in the mid 70s with plenty of sunshine. We’re off to Blue Run Park, camera at the ready!
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.
35 comments:
Where is this place? so beautiful, im from Vietnam and I only can see this beautiful in the movies
I love the picture of the eagle! And l ook forward to learning what the other bird is! Great pictures!
Hello,
This looks like a great trail and easy walking on the paved path. Great captures of the Eagle and Bluebird. I am not sure about your last bird, it unusual to see an owl in flight during the day. Your last sky photo is beautiful, I like the cloud formations. Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend! PS, thanks also for leaving me a comment.
It sure looks like an owl!
That's a nice looking Eastern Bluebird.
lovely place to hike, so beautiful and I think your hubby is right, it does look like an owl when I zoom it up really big... wow, eagle and owl. that Easter Bluebird has ID one for me. I found it still soft and warm and dead in our back yard, no apparent thing wrong with it. no marks at all, just lying there. broke my heart when I picked it up to move it. I did not know what it was, I am not a bird watcher
Looks like a nice trail to follow. Good pic of the eagle, they are always a thrill to see.
What a treasure you live near ~ beautiful nature and feathered friends photos!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
That is a good-looking walking trail, and how wonderful to see an Eagle. Good photo of the Bluebird, too! It would be unusual to see an owl flying in the daytime, and it is difficult to judge the size, but could it possibly be a Kestrel?
Have a wonderful weekend!
What a wonderful walking place you found. Would be so great to walk it with you. : )
It sure looks like an owl to me.
Super pictures of the eagle.
Diane, What a great hike you had. Send us some of that warm weather. LOL. Can't believe I am already whining about the cold. Wonderful bird photos. Blessings for a sweet autumn weekend. xoxo, Susie
Great photos. Owls in flight look a bit freaky to me.
Some of the kite photos I found had a rounder tail and white face.It will be fun to see what you find.
Beautiful Diane! I definitely think that last one is an owl....how exciting to see an eagle. You got some great photos of him....You have some of the most beautiful hiking and walking trails! Not to mention so many wildlife sightings!
Thanks you for stopping by my blog! As you can see I am not on here as much but I do like to try and catch up every once in a while! Hope everything is well! Hugs! Linda
I'm viewing your mystery bird via my cellphone so, not getting an ideal image for now (I'm also logged in as Hootin' Anni). Anyway, it's definitely not an owl. It looks more haek-like. Perhaps a female northern harrier. They resemble an owl at times with their head/face features.
Look up northern harrier.
Diane, I agree with your hubby! He really looks like an owl. I see you have him id'd now and he's not. What a wonderful capture of the bald eagle. I love your hikes--so lovely in your neck of the woods. ♥
What a beautiful place for a hike. I would love that 80 degree weather too since it's been snowing all day here
...an eagle, a sight that I rare see, neat!
What an exciting hike! I wish I could go with you!
Thanks for taking us along on your hikes! I can't walk more than a couple of blocks these days, with my bad knees. One day, when I get them replaced... You shared some wonderful photos with us. Thank you!
An owl would be exciting. We have them here and hear them, but always at night. This fall we saw them at our pond at dusk. Exciting for sure. Great photos of the blue bird and eagle. You had a good walk.
That looks a wonderful place for walking.
It really does look like an owl, but hey I'm no expert and it seems it's a kestrel.
All of your photographs are great to see.
All the best Jan
So many great bird sightings on your hike! It seems that others have identified the bird for you, which is a good thing, since I probably would have guessed an owl, too.
Sorry it was not an owl for you, but it still seems like a wonderful set of sightings for one outing! Great shots!
It does look like an owl. I was reading through the other comments. Very interesting and I love the bluebird. I saw one here for several months which is kind of rare, but he has disappeared.
Hello! Wonderful place! Great photos!
I think that it is not an owl. Most of owls are not active in daylight.
Does it have a yellow beak?
It's a harrier Diane. Like Anni says, a female or young Northern Harrier.
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/featured_photo/bird.cfm?pix=Northern_Harrier
A Kestrel does not have the open wing tips in flight and lighter in color. I still think it's a Harrier. Great place. Wonderful images.
It's been great to go with you on a birdin' adventure this week from The Bird D'pot. Thanks for taking us along.
you have a great spot, for walking and seeing some wonderful birds!! like you, i get pretty excited, if i think i have seen something special - that i have never seen before. around here, it is same ole', same ole'!! except for winter, we do get the migrating ducks and that is fun as they seem to stay here. if i were them, i would keep going and spend the winter with you!!
it is nice to have a paved path, are bikes allowed?? all of your captures are pretty spectacular but the bluebird was a favorite. it looks like he was perched there waiting for you!!
have a wonderful sunday!!
Isn't Blogger great for finding out all sorts of information?
Nice hike. Always cool to sight an eagle. Love that last sky shot.
Beautiful photos. Birds in flight can be so tricky to capture and you did a wonderful job.
Diane, you certainly know a lot about different birds! The face in question did look a little owl-ish to me but I think the wing span is to big for an owl.
Just came back to this post and seen it was a Northern Harrier …
All the best Jan
What a fun post with the great pictures and all the cooperation and help from the birders among us. Just totally a happy post. And the weather is making me eager to get back (as you can imagine).
Post a Comment