I could not be compared to the 'hare' though! I would have trouble keeping up with the tortoise!
But it was a beautiful summer day and I just HAD to get out on the Florida Trails. (it was around 90)
We had some rain earlier in the month but it's been dry here in North Central Florida and I've been itching to get out! Imagine my surprise when I saw this little guy on the side of the trail
A Gopher Tortoise
He was on the small side....about the size of a basketball. It's been a long time since we've seen one but those we've seen in the past were much bigger. So he's a young one!
I hope you'll look at the videos and see him munching on the new blades of grass....
and walking down the trail with me. I'm trying to keep up! heehee!
This was my very first photo...I didn't know WHAT was in the grass! lol
It's been a week of rare sightings!
Yes, that's a Wild Turkey walking on the golf course behind our house!
And I saw a Bob White family at Pruitt! It walked right in front of my car on the back road. I pulled over and took 2 photos...neither very good. But I did walk around the trees for a better look and got to see them take off in every direction. A mama, papa and 4 or 5 babies! So precious!
So take it slow! You might see something neat!
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.
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38 comments:
...most days I can keep up with the tortoise.
Hello,
It is cool to see the Gopher Tortoise, great photos. The turkey better watch out for those golf balls. Congrats on the Bobwhite family sighting. That is a great sight to see. I always slow down for the wildlife in the roads. Thank you for linking up! Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend.
That Tortoise does look like it is movin' on!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Now, that's a real nature walk. Love your pics of the turtle & turkey! How fun.
this is amazing, in all my jaunts in Florida I have never seen a gopher tortoise, the last one I saw was in Savannah GA... I love both videos, he is really getting it... would love to see him/her.... and I have never seen a turkey in the wild either.... what a great day you had. I love in the first video how he was walking and just plunked down, I think he may have heard or realized you were watching him
Some fun encounters! Now you could run circles around the tortoise; I’m the one who would be trying to catch up. He’s pretty sprightly.
I would have especially enjoyed seeing the Gopher Tortoise. Tortoises in general have difficulty coping with the spread of human development, so I imagine they are having trouble in Florida. I was reading the other day how many tortoises are killed in California by people off-roading in the desert. Pretty sad.
The tortoise is sympathetic anyway! :)
Absolutely stunning, the Gopher Tortoise is beautiful, yea, it is beautiful.
You are a dedicated hiker, getting out there in the heat we are experiencing now with such high humidity!! The turtle is interesting and the videos are fun to see! He sure stayed in the center of the pathway once he got started. Happy weekend!
I've never heard of a gopher tortoise. He's just moving right along. Looked like he was really enjoying that grass too.
Those are great pictures of the tortoise, Diane. What an interesting sight on the trail. Yes, he does look like a young one. And the turkey was a delightful sight too. I see them all the time around here, and even roam in the neighborhoods. They come in big groups, and it's hard not to stop and gaze at them. Your trail photo is pretty - the skies are blue and the grass in green. A perfect day for a walk. It's been pretty hot here, and just waiting for Fall. : )
~Sheri
I've never heard of a gopher tortoise either. He sure can move on the road and eat the graas, quite impressive turtle. Great capture and I enjoyed the videos.
Enjoy your weekend.
Enjoyed watching the videos of the tortoise. He certainly enjoyed his grass meal and he sure moves right along!!
What lovely finds, the tortoise sure is cute.
Have a lovely weekend.
You are such an inspiration. I can never seem to stay on a walking program . . . I love to walk, but not alone and I just can't find anyone that wants to be a walking partner.
Looks like a nice walk! Glad you saw some cool critters.
Love your photos and that is one interesting tortoise! I think I would have been a little confused seeing him in the grass, too! We have a lot of turtles at the lake. Our water level was so high from all the spring rain that tons of turtles were able to navigate on to docks to sun themselves. So many were as large trash can lids! They shy away from people swimming, but they can take down a duck or the babies easily. Amazing.
Jane
90 degrees is pretty hot to be out walking but then I expect you are pretty used to such temperatures. It was great for you to see that tortoise. I'd never heard of a Gopher Tortoise and of course, we have no wild tortoises here in the UK.
Beautiful pictures of this turtle.
Here they do not occur in the wild nature, they are kept in people's homes, or they are in a zoo.
I enjoyed the photos and videos.
Best regards, Irma
You definitely stopped at the right place at the right time for the quail fsmily sighting! And to have a wild turkey in your own back yard!
Love the post this week...thanks for joining us this week at I'd Rather B Birdin'.
TURTLES ARE VERY INTERESTING ANIMALS. I WATCHED YOUR VIDEOS WITH PLEASURE BECAUSE TURTLES DO NOT LIVE IN MY COUNTRY.
Hugs and Greetings.
Lucja
I've never seen a tortoise in the wild! Great post.
They are so fun to watch...
the video's are so cool, what a great sighting!!! i don't think i have ever seen nor heard of a gopher tortoise, he is a bit of a wrinkly soul!!!
amazing pictures and close ups, i enjoyed seeing the wild turkey!!
Amazing tortoise ~ lovely series of nature photos!
Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I've never heard of a gopher tortoise either. What wonderful photos, and I enjoyed the videos. This little fellow was really clipping right along, and he sure was enjoying that grass! We have lots of wild turkeys here. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
Hi Diane, I love the turtle! I see he was on the left side of the road eating the grass, and then sauntered over to the right side. Guess he thought the grass was greener on the other side!! Love, Aunt Helen
I enjoyed the videos. I just love that you share all this with us. I think it is so fascinating that tortoise live in Florida.
Wow - that is some turtle. What a week of photos you've had!
Have a nice new week.
how nice to see rare ones. :)
The urtle is quicker then one may think :)
Hello there my friend, I hope y'all had a nice nice Sunday, gettin on towards the end of August now aren't we? So glad you stopped in and so glad you and I are just "grown up girls', LOL---still loving our dolls! I will never outgrow dolls. If we haven't by now.....don't think it's gonna happen, ha ha LOL! Love your post here and that second picture of the trail---that is so so pretty and yes I would sure love to walk that and see what is about! We actually had COOL BREEZES here this morning.....it was so so enjoyable and we took a walk after church for the first time in a long time. Havent felt COOL breezes in a long time. I love the tortoise pictures!!
Tiene que ser bonito ver a los animales en su propio hábitat!! emocionante ver a esa tortuga
I fall in love everytime I see a gopher tortoise
Well done for getting out in the heat.
I did enjoy your photographs and videos.
All the best Jan
Wonderful shots of that fabulous tortoise! I think I could keep up with him!
Hello Diana,
you could make nice pictures of this turtle.
The third photo with its head is a beautiful photo!
You also show a few very nice videos.
Greetings, Helma
I love the videos. what an interesting turtle. I Love the one I see at the Denver Zoo. He is quite ancient. As kids we had box turtles. I loved my turtle. He was always so anti-mated. HUGS to you and thanks for sharing.
It's amazing how fast that turtle is walking through the grass and then on the asphalt path!
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