We've hiked quite a bit this week because of the beautiful weather.
Ibis
And there are SO many birds and critters around right now.
I thought I would just share the entry from my hiking journal and then show a few photos.
#129 Blue Run Park to the bridge, beyond to the pond
74 degrees 52% humidity, 1 hr 42 min, 2.2 miles
Gorgeous! Perfect sun and some clouds! Good day!
Large Swamp Gator, head out of water, mouth OPEN, all sizes of teeth!
Tricolor Heron, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Green Heron, Hawk, 4 Kingfishers, 3 Kingfishers chasing each other-neat, turtles, Grebes, Moorhen, Warblers, Cardinal, Wren.
Hawk on ground near our home.
Large Purple Aster in full bloom! Bumblebee preening on the trail. Stinkbug on flower.
Driving back on the hwy near a Dunnellon airport, small plane flew RIGHT in front of us, scared us both!
Yes, we walk slow when we go to Blue Run because there's so much to see! And I write in my journal after every hike which is a fun way to keep up with what we are seeing from year to year.
Here's a few of the birds and critters we managed to photograph!
Red shouldered Hawk
Anhinga
Green Heron
Tricolored Heron
Purple Asters on the Withlacoochee River
Purple Asters
Bumblebee on trail
Swamp Gator
I warned you that his mouth was open showing his teeth!
Turtle soup?
Banana Trees
It's perfect hiking weather in Florida! Come on down!
44 comments:
Great photos. (Although I wouldn't like seeing an alligator.)
Great photos!
Love the birds! Pretty wildflowers!
The Gator gave me the shivers, no wait, maybe the shivers was because it is cold here in north Mississippi this morning! But I have just fixed myself a cup of hot tea that will warm me up.
Have a wonderful weekend!
I haven't seen an alligator - yet. This trip anyway.
Hello,
Oh my, look at those teeth, the gator is waiting for food to hop in it's big mouth. Love the Green Heron, Tricolored and the Anhinga. Nice shot of the Red-shouldered Hawk. The turtle is cute, I hope it stays safe. It is a great idea to write about your hikes in the journal, a nice memory keeper. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Seems like a perfect walk to me. Not too hot with lots of sun and shade when it's required. Not over strenuous and not too far. Plenty of birds and photo opportunities. That's a great one of the dentist's nightmare! Have a lovely weekend Diane.
wild clapping for the gator shot. wow and wow. super shot. i read all the things you saw and that is pretty amazing, we are loving this weather
Beautiful Ibis photo!
So many incredible nature pictures. I wish i could be there !
Amazing photos! I like your header with the beautiful butterfly. Enjoy your weekend.
...these are fabulous!!! The Ibis and its reflection is the winner for me.
Hello Diane,:=)You certainly saw a lot of creatures, My word, the one of the open mouthed Aligator is fantastic. Do you think he's smiling for a photo shot!:=)) I enjoyed looking at all your images. The Anhinga, Hawk, the Herons, Turtles, Bee, and pretty flowers are all perfect shots. What a splendid walk you had, with great results.:=)
Enjoy your weekend!:=)
That sounds like perfect weather for hiking! You saw such a variety of creatures.
Our black squirrels are Eastern Grey Squirrels with black fur. The black is the recessive gene for them but it has come to outnumber the greys in most parts of the city. The grey ones usually seem to have bushier tails.
Love these windows into Florida you give me. I remember vacations there and how much we enjoyed seeing everything at the Everglades. The birdlife you capture is wonderful! I remember seeing a turtle with a half-diamond indentation in its shell and I couldn't help but think it had a lucky escape from a gator! I really enjoyed that photo of the asters on the river.
wow! ~ the gator almost looks like he is 'posing' for you ~ awesome nature shots, our feathered friends and bumblebee and great hike for you Xo
Living in the moment,
A ShutterBug Explores.
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Wow! That gator is very impressive, but I really like the Green Heron.
Beautiful Alligators series, and the Turtle, loveable.
I enjoy all your photos but that second one is absolutely gorgeous. I would be a little freaked out seeing that swamp gator.
Wonderful photos. You sure do see a terrific amount of wild life on your hikes. Amazing!
Absolutely beautiful photographs of our amazing Florida!! Thanks for sharing!
the highlight image today; the beautifful reflection shot of the Ibis. :)
Well you sure hit the jackpot with lots of great wildlife this week! Amazing!! So much fun to see all those beautiful creatures and flowers, etc. God's Creation is always so amazing! I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Delightful nature on display, well captured!
Beautiful reflection shots! Love the gator and turtle.
My latest post:
https://craniumbolts.blogspot.com/2021/11/birding-scene-at-kasavanahalli.html
What a delightful park! Thank you for sharing.
Oh yes!! 74° is soooo much better than snow, isn't it?
Exceptional bird photos. And that gator. Oh my.
Thanks for sharing your post this weekend!
What a wonderful series of photos.
The Red shouldered Hawk and the Tricolored Heron are my favorite.
Greetings Irma
Popped over to wish you Happy Thanksgiving. What a wonderful collection of pictures! That alligator looks hungry, be careful!
We are headed to Fla. at least the panhandle. We are going to relax a few days on our way east at a condo on the beach on 30A. I know it won’t be beach weather but wanted to show hubby the area. I had met my two daughters there once and he didn’t get to go.
Enjoy your beautiful weather and again Happy Thanksgiving. Janey
Someday, I will see an ibis. Meanwhile, I'm thrilled to enjoy them through your eyes!
Your photos are stunning. I especially love the ibis. xo Laura
People talk about our bears and coyotes, but your gators are quite something!
WoW-zers so many beautiful pictures and such a great variety of critters!! NOW, we must talk about that gator, is that safe?? i really enjoyed seeing the ibis...or is that 2 ibis?? what an awesome capture and a wonderful reflection!! enjoy the rest of your weekend!!
Lovely captures from your hike, and the swamp sounds wild with the alligator's presence, and as well a great place for bird watching! Have a wonderful week
I so love the beautiful pictures of the wildlife from your hike. You have certainly captured nature’s essence in all its glory and the bird captures (and the alligator) are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your adventure!
Love the Ibis reflection in the first photo..Perfect..Nice series with GAtors and Turtles..Nice photography..Not so sure I would want to be that close..Have a HAppy Thanksgiving..
Sehr schöne Naturaufnahmen...
Danke fürs Teilen.
LG. Karin M.
Regarding the toothy gator photo: I'm hoping/assuming you zoomed in to take that shot. Please don't tell me you were as close to him as it looks! With that said, it's very impressive!
Alligators were supposedly near or in the ponds of a plantation we were on but luckily, we didn't see a one! Lovely places to explore, what beautiful captures you have.
Your photos are spectacular and I love learning the names of all the birds that you encounter. The alligator is kinda big and scary looking
*shudder* That was gruesome. 🐊
Howdy there girlfriend! Hope your weekend was great, the weather here was so nice! We got out as much as we could and spent ALL DAY TODAY outside. Lots of great pictures on this post, I liked them all but YOU KNOW I LOVE THAT GATOR ONE the best! He sure looks to be a LARGE ONE judging by his tail, teeth, head/face and his bumps/spine on his back. Are y'all getting ready for Thanksgiving? PS---those pretty asters hanging into the water....so so pretty!
Beautiful photos. Wish I could join you in your hike. The alligator is scary.
Pleased you were able to do a lot of hiking, your photographs are lovely to see.
All the best Jan
That is the sweetest picture of the Ibis and its reflection in the water. I think it should be in a magazine! Please keep that one always. The Tricolored Heron is pretty also. And the picture of the Purple Asters on the river is so lovely. That Swamp Gator, Yikes! You are a brave hiker haha.
~Sheri
Love all the flora and fauna!
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