Saturday, September 11, 2021

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

 
We took a hike even though it was 'warm'! The temps are not so high but the humidity is higher than the temp. And we've had a summer of few breezes! 


There's a nice long gravel drive from the highway to the trailhead and we see quite a lot from the Jeep.


And it's easy to pull over and get out if we need a better angle!


We've seen a lot of big birds on this particular tree that is such a good perch for raptors,


but never a Great Blue Heron!


Doesn't it look like the shape of a heart where his neck curves in?


Someone riding their horse,


Cattle Egrets in a tree


and even a juvenile Little Blue Heron on the fence.


One of the funniest thing we saw on the trail was this Crawdad!


What in the world is he doing on the hiking trail?


Trying to make his way to the marshland I guess. We thought maybe a bird flew over with him and accidentally dropped him. We didn't try to capture him and carry him to the water and I felt kind of guilty leaving him there. He was scooting along pretty good though so I like to think he found his way.


And to keep going with 'a favorite thing' (besides my red Jeep).... 


Here's my camera, a Canon Powershot SX 70 HS. I love it! But what I really want to show you is the camera strap. The link to it is HERE! I love having a wider and more comfortable strap and it's pretty too!

God Bless America

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

31 comments:

Lea said...

I see the Heron's heart!
And I always enjoy seeing horses and cows.
Have a wonderful weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I love the big tree in the first photo and always enjoy seeing the cattle and horses. The Cattle Egret tree is a treat to see. The crawdad on the hiking trail seems to be lost, is there a creek nearby? I am going to check out the SX70, I think my SX 60 is getting old. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thanks for the visit and comment on my blog.

Debbie said...

i'm not sure i remember pictures from here in the past!! the horses and cows must have been a nice treat....and the cattle egret tree is amazing to see!!

but the red jeep stole the show for sure. have an awesome weekend!!

Caroline said...

Beautiful photos. Here it was a rainy summer. I like your camera strap. And your red Jeep.

Phil Slade said...

I'm not sure what a crawdad is but I think it looks capable of finding some water. You didn't turn up in the jeep today after I waited in all day. So, I'm off to Greece and to hire a Jimny jeep for 2 weeks. I'll try to get a red one!

Olde Dame Holly said...

Poor little crawdad! Maybe there was a little creek nearby or a stock pond and he was headed for it? We had a lot live in the ditches that were along each block. Soggy New Orleans. I loved the photos today especially! All the Spanish Moss, so pretty! Nature's frou-frou.

MadSnapper said...

I LOVE THAT TREE, the first one, with all the fab moss and horses in the shade. worth the trip just for that tree. LOVE the camera also and it is a beautiful strap. i had no idea there are crawdads here in FL, have never seen one. we had them every where in KY, every creek was full of them, just like this guy

MadSnapper said...

I miss my DSLR because I love bokeh photos. will your camera take bokeh? i can't remember if I have seen any macro with bokeh here

Tom said...

...you had a gorgeous day in horse country! I should get one of those Hawaiian print camera straps to go along with My Aloha shirts. Take care and stay away from the gaters!

carol l mckenna said...

Oh love the variety of critters in your photographs ~ but a crawdad?Wild FL ~ LOL ~ Love the camera strap and jeep ~ Xo

Living in the moment,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Breathtaking said...

Hello Diane, :=) Seems I'm no different than anyone else, I just love your first photo with that big old tree I have never seen anything like it, nor have I seen a Crawdad before.
Love the image of all the Cattle Egrets in the tree. Your love of your little red Jeep, makes me smile. It's a good thing when you don't take things for granted, that also goes for your camera and lovely colourful camera strap It's very pretty and feminine, so glad it makes you happy and is well appreciated. Have a great weekend Diane.:=)

Ricki Treleaven said...

What an adorable camera strap! Very girly. Thanks for showing all the scenes you enjoy while hiking. I hope you have pretty weather this weekend. God bless America!

Bill said...

what a wonderful series of photos. This is the first time I ever saw a Crawdad. Interesting looking creature, hope he made it to where he was going. Have a nice weekend!

RedPat said...

Love that heron!

Ann said...

Wow, that does look like a heart on the heron.
Your camera strap is really pretty

Lowcarb team member said...

So enjoyable to see your photographs.
That was a surprise seeing a crawdad, hopefully he will have safely made it to his destination.

Enjoy your weekend.

All the best Jan

PS That is a pretty camera strap.

HappyK said...

Wow that is some camera. I make due with my phone camera.
Beautiful photos. So many birds on that one tree.
It does look like a heart on the heron.

Linda said...

I loved seeing all the critter pics today! It's finally cooling off some here in Texas! And I am LOVING it! AC still on but I intend to celebrate BIG the day I get to turn it off!

Terri D said...

Love your red jeep! Great photos. Love the cattle, especially! xo

Linda said...

You saw lots of good things! Thanks for sharing them.

Anni said...

That IS a pretty camera strap.

Visiting here with you and finding what feathered friends you see is always a great experience! Thanks for linking in with us at I'd Rather B Birdin'!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

That is weird seeing such a creature out of water. I didn't know they can do that.

Edna B said...

How interesting to see the "heart" in the heron's photo. I've found a crawdad on ground away from water too and never did find out how it got there. I have the same camera and I love it. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.

Vee said...

That is well defined heart on the heron. Love your red jeep and your pretty camera strap.

Nancy Chan said...

Great photos from your hike. I can see the heart of the Great Blue Heron. I hope the Crawdad finds its way to the marshland before another big bird picks it up.

NatureFootstep said...

it seem to be a great thing to have the jeep. Almost wish I had one. But we don´t have the same kind of nature so not as useful here. Love the horses and the cattle egrets. That is a bird I alway wanted to see on my travels as we don´t have them. The Crawdad! Never seen any on land before. Not this kind. Strange!

NatureFootstep said...

it seems good to have a Jeep. :)
Love the horses and the Cattle egrets. A favorite on my trips as we don´t have them here.
Poor crawdad. Hope it made it to the water. :)

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

I love to see the pretty photos of your hikes and so much to look at. I hope you have a nice week Diane.

Red Rose Alley said...

You have my same camera, but mine is the older version of the Canon Powershot, and I've had it for many years. It has a great zoom-in lens. I'm glad you enjoy your new camera. What a surprise to see the Crawdad on the trail. And the Egrets all together surrounding the tree is a wonderful sight. It's always fun to see the horses and cows. That's a cool picture of the Blue Heron. : )

~Sheri

Kim said...

What a gorgeous place! That big old oak tree with the Spanish moss is awesome, especially with horses grazing underneath!

Huh, what we see as an eyesore, birds see as a lovely perch! Go them! And what a great shot of that Blue Heron! Poor little crawdad. Hope he made it to the marsh before becoming someone's lunch.

And I'm putting that camera strap on my Christmas list! Lovely!

Teresa said...

Siempre preciosas tus fotografías. Besos.