You just never know what you'll see when you get out on the Florida Trails and this week held a lot of surprises.
The most fun was the Sherman's Fox Squirrel we spotted on the Florida Trails (trailhead off SR 484).
He was running as fast as he could toward me until I turned to alert my hubby!
Then he stopped in his tracks to decide what to do.
Go this way....or that?
Or just run lickety split back the way you came! lol
His bushy tail earns him the name of Fox Squirrel.
He looked a little like a monkey or very small bear from a distance!
And then when we were leaving Halpata Tastanaki Preserve (Pruitt Trailhead) this Mud Turtle crossed the dirt road in front of us.
All pics were taken from my driver's window. He stopped and posed, in a safe place!
I know this sounds strange to say because we see SO many turtles here, but I don't think we have seen one like this!
It was very small and solid black.
This White Ibis is a juvenile. He flew right in front of us on the trail and then lit in a tree to watch us!
We also saw one pretty bunch of sunflowers on that trail. Just one.
And then there is this Robber Fly in the trail that we stepped around. He is a mimic bumble bee but is known as a bee killer. He had a red wasp in his grasp and did not move out of the way, so we gave him a wide berth. More info on him HERE!
You just never know what you'll see when you get out in nature.
Have you been on any nature walks this week?
38 comments:
Hello,
I do love nature walks, there is always something to see.
The Fox Squirrel is cute, great captures. I am not sure if I have ever seen the mud turtle, it is cute. Love the Juvie White Ibis. Rubber Fly is an interesting insect. Great post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your weekend!
...but fortunately, not a gator!
Great photos!
I have never seen an Ibis so I pick that as my favorite photo today!
Have a wonderful weekend!
we have spent many hours bird watching this week. we visited our towns reservoir and also the inlet. you had some strange sightings but none stranger than that robber fly!!!
have a great weekend filled with nature walks and joy!!!
We were on a hike yesterday that I've uploaded the photos to a draft post but not written about yet. Never heard of that squirrel. Thought it was a monkey.
Wow! You did see some interesting things on this hike. I have never seen a juvenile ibis before!
As you say nature has more in store for the curious observer.
No, nothing at all. That squirrel is pretty freaky. *shudder* And dare I follow the link about the fake bee? Yes, why not!
Nice set of surprises. I especially like the Fox Squirrel. I've not seen one yet.
I have never seen a squirrel like this here or anywhere. he looks like a tiny bear. amazing... the juvenile ibis is my favorite, beautiful photo. I have not seen the black type turtle either.
I never heard of a Fox Squirrel. Interesting! I do so enjoy your photos. Have a super day, hugs, Edna B.
Wow! ~ Awesome photos of critters out and about and around you ~ Xp
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Such an interesting blog post! That squirrel did, indeed, resemble a monkey's appearance in some ways.
The turtle's solid black shell -- I don't think I've seen on like this before.
And the Robber Fly was definitely a new insect to me. I did not know bees had enemies, other than bears and people who like their honey.
You are one very observant hiker!!
Such a lot of wildlife on your walks. The juvenile ibis has beautiful colouring.
Oh, wonderful photos! I LOVE the fox squirrel. They are becoming so rare...it is a real treat to get to see one up close like you did. Thank you for taking so many pictures! And I am not sure about that turtle...interesting. Florida does have a lot of different kinds of turtles. That robber bee is something else! I wonder if I could borrow him to come kill all these wasps who are taking over my back porch? We just can't keep ahead of them. They have too many hiding places. Love the flowers and everything...oh, that Ibis is beautiful! Thank you for sharing all of the above with us. You just never know what will pop out at you in nature!
That Fox Squirrel looks quite ferocious but I'm sure he isn't. I would have given him a wide berth.
Oh my gosh that squirrel. What a fun find. Love the pictures of him. That turtle is really something. I've never even heard of one like that.
Great creatures for the week! We have a small type of fox squirrel in Michigan, but yours must be another species, and very neat.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I'm still chuckling thinking about that squirrel! They are so funny when they stop immediately and look back and forth, aren't they? Oh wow, I've not seen a turtle-like that either! I always enjoy your nature photographs! What a phenomenal shot of the White Ibis!
Hope you are having a nice evening.
Nancy
I've never seen a fox squirrel.
The ibis looks amazing.
This nature walk is funny and educative. Never seen a Fox Squirrel before.
What a big fox squirrel this is, I've never seen a squirrel that big.
I also love the ibis.
Where you live you can see very different animals during a walk than what we encounter here.
Greetings Irma
When I saw that first picture I immediately thought the animal was a monkey, a very large one. You definitely have some unusual creatures and a lot of splendid birds to see on your walks on the wildside. The ibis is a corker! Have a great Sunday Diane.
Oh! that young ibis was neat to see!! and there's that very neat looking FOX SQUIRREL!!---oh my goodness, we have nothing like that here and they are so neat!! Our girls (dogs) would GO NUTS TO SEE something like that in the yard! haha LOL. Anyway, those squirrels are neat and have amazing tails. Hope your weekend is going great, gracious, i'ts awful hot here. STay inside until late in the day, venture out and maybe find a cool breeze for a short walk!
Love the squirrel, it almost looks like a small monkey. 🐿😄
A robber fly...who woulda guessed? Never heard of such a critter. Love the shot of the ibis!!
Thanks, as always, for stopping by and sharing your link with us!!
Awesome. I love the ibis and the squirrel.
I was a little worried when I first read the title of this post, LOL! The ibis photo is really cool!
Had not heard of a fox squirrel! Thank you for introducing. All lovely captures!
Great antics by the Sherman's Fox Squirrel. Lovely pics!
I like the Fox Squirrel. He is cute and looks fickle minded about where it wants to go. Lol! Beautiful and interesting critters you saw on your nature hike. I haven't been on a nature hike for a long time. On our last hike up a hill, the only critter I saw were some monkeys. We were told to just continue walking and not disturb them in case they might attack us.
Wow, I never heard of Sherman's Fox Squirrel, beauty. And the Jet black Mud Turtle, lots of lots and lots.
I have never seen a creature like that! Thank you for the introduction!
Oh I loved this virtual hike! That squirrel really does look like a miniature bear.
I'd not heard of a Fox Squirrel, nice to see your photographs.
All the best Jan
Oh, I thought that fox squirrel was a small bear at first! Then, you mentioned that they look like a bear from a distance haha. He's kind of cute. The turtle is strange looking, with its all black shell. The young White Ibis is darling, isn't he? And the bunch of yellow sunflowers are pretty. Must have been a joy to see them on the trail. That Robber Fly fascinates me every time you share pictures of it haha. Great photos, Diane.
~Sheri
Grandes avistamientos, me encantó ver esa ardilla ( que me parecía un oso ).Besos
Your photography is amazing!
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