Saturday, November 7, 2020

What you might see at Blue Run Park in Dunnellon!

 
We are driving out to Blue Run Park once a week now that the weather is nice.


It's really the best place we have for lots of neat sightings like this Tricolored Heron.


You no good, lily livered dirty scoundrel! 

You low down yellow bellied Sapsucker!


The first time I showed a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on my blog, several people said they didn't even realize that was a real bird! They thought is was something mean someone said in old Westerns! lol


But they are real and just beautiful! Can you see the little holes he is making in the first photo? AMAZING!

We were lucky to get to see a pair of them a few days ago. 

The male showed up early in our hike and then about a mile down the trail we saw a female. (these photos may all be of the male)


Here's a Downy Woodpecker we saw so that you can see the difference.


The Wood ducks have been showing themselves the last few times we've been there.


The Withlacoochee River viewed from the bridge.



We've been hiking every other day this week and I hope we can keep it up! 130 hikes so far this year!

Have you spent time outside soaking up the warmth of the sun? It makes you healthy, wealthy and wise. Well....maybe just healthy but we'll take that right now, won't we?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

41 comments:

Lea said...

Great photos!
We have Sapsuckers and Downy Woodpeckers that come to our suet feeder, but they are camera-shy. Hard to get a photo.
Love the Wood Ducks!
Have a wonderful weekend!

MadSnapper said...

Awesome photos! All of them so glad you're getting out again cuz it's brings us all these beautiful photos. I really love the lowdown lily-livered yellow-bellied sapsucker. He's beautiful and I don't think I've ever seen one plus it made me laugh out loud because when I read it I thought oh my what western has she been watching haha

Irma said...

These are beautiful photos.
Especially the woodpecker is great.
Greetings Irma

Edna B said...

I love seeing all the different birds on your walks. Those wood ducks are so beautiful. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.

Tom said...

...I like the heron and the wood ducks, now say Withlacoochee River fast 10 times!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

You got some great pictures!

Martha said...

Gorgeous photos Diane! Those Wood Ducks are so pretty. I've never seen them in person. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend :)

Arlene G said...

What a great year of hiking even in a pandemic, Diane. You Go Girl.

carol l mckenna said...

Congrats on your walking count ~ Gorgeous photos of our feathered friends ~ fun story too about the SapSucker ~ LOL ~ Happy Weekend to you and family ^_^

Live each moment with love,

A ShutterBug Explores
aka (A Creative Harbor)

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

It is a beautiful park, a nice spot for your weekly walks. You have some great parks to visit. The birds are all awesome, love the Tricolored, the Wood Ducks are beautiful. Great captures of the Sapsucker. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, stay safe! Enjoy your weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful wood duck! I've never had the pleasure of seeing a tricolor. So amazing!

Anonymous said...

Have always loved the sapsuckers, too.

Mae Travels said...

woodpeckers are fascinating and also beautiful — their internal brain protection system that lets them hammer on hard wood is amazing! Your photos are very nice.

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Barbara said...

Regarding your photo of the red-purple grass in your blog header right now, we've got a lot of that in our development, too. It is sooo pretty on this windy day, tossed about in the breeze.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...


Wood ducks are beautiful, a top favorite duck. Lovely photos.

Bill said...

Beautiful photos, love the woodpeckers. Another good hike for you, it's great exercise and you can take lots of photos to share with us. :)
Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

Jenn Jilks said...

I wish I could hike! I'd be in pain for days!
I enjoy your hikes, though!

Susie said...

Diane, I am still laughing about how you described the sap sucker. LOL Aren't those wood ducks awesome? The colors are just unbelievable. Blessings to you , xoox,love, Susie

jp@A Green Ridge said...

What a GREAT place to enjoy the outdoors and wildlife. The Wood Ducks are gorgeous and thanks to you I have now seen a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker!!!...:)jp

Terri D said...

We have been in Florida for going on 32 years and I LOVE the names of towns and rivers and creeks... like Withlacoochee! I like saying it! LOL Thanks for sharing your hikes and all the beautiful wildlife with us!

Ann said...

Beautiful photos. The only place I've ever seen a yellow bellied sapsucker was in an old western...lol

RedPat said...

The Wood Ducks are so handsome.

Jean said...

Great photos! Really enjoyed seeing the woodpeckers and the wood duck. Soak up that sun, great for vitamin D as well. Happy weekend!

HappyK said...

Great photos. Seems to be a lot of different kinds of herons!!

Small City Scenes said...

That yellow bellied Sapsucker is gorgeous. Re have red bellied sapsucker her but I have never seen a yellow one.
Happy Sunday
MB

Linda said...

Beautiful birds! The last one is stunning.

Anu said...

Hello. All these birds are great and beautiful. Wonderful photos.
Take care.

Anni said...

I try to get out daily, but with this 2nd go 'round of the pandemic rise, not so much. Your sightings are grand!! Especially the wood ducks...of which I've only seen once!!
Oh don't get me started on this crap about the stay at home rules...especially when very large crowds gather everywhere not even heeding the social distancing etc.etc.etc.

As always, Phil, I found your post and photos to be superior. I like them all, but seeing the Creeper as extraordinary...the pattern & colors are so different than the one and only one I saw here.
This week, I want to send my thanks to you for sharing your post with us birders!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Whenever I give presentations to young children they always laugh at the word sapsucker.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Be safe down there....

Kit said...

They're so beautiful!! Kit

Lowcarb team member said...

Lovely photographs and the Withlacoochee River looks lovely.

All the best Jan

Debbie said...

what a great variety of images from this hike, all beautiful!! the wood duck is gorgeous, i see he brought his mate. so far, our woodie, seems to be traveling alone and getting a lot of attention at the lake!!

i have never seen a tricolored heron that i recall, someday i must make a list!! the sapsucker is another
"new to me", what a pretty bird!! i hope you are enjoying your sunday, the weather in new jersey has been gorgeous but the hubs has been working. i did get to the farm yesterday afternoon, that was fun!!!

Crafty in the Med said...

Wonderful trekking accompanied by fabulous snapshots!! The river photo is particularly beautiful!! You are so very lucky to have these parks and nature reserves so near to you. I recognise the woodpecker and the ducks of course and the herons. The other birds and names are unknown to me which makes it all the more interesting. keep well Amanda x

Rain said...

I'm a sucker for woodpeckers (pun intended)... :) but that heron is beautiful!!

NatureFootstep said...

wow, you have some nice birds around. Loved to see the Tricolored Heron and the others. The Wood ducks are real beauties and I have never seen them :(

Sandi Magle said...

Oh, wood ducks, my favorite...they are so regal. Wonderful photos, our feeders are full of woodpeckers this year...and then the squirrels clean up underneath, lovely photos!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I am definitely putting this park on my list of places to visit (assuming we get to Florida again when it is again safe to explore and stay over night away fro the canal cottage etc.....).

Teresa said...

Me encantan los pájaros carpinteros. Besos.

Jeanie said...

All the photos are lovely but I'm especially fond of the heron (of course) and those fabulous wood ducks!

Jeannie said...

WOW! 130 hikes this year! I am impressed.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry