Friday, October 28, 2022

A Day at the Park, Blue Run Park

 
Blue Run Park is in Dunnellon, Florida but it isn't your typical 'city' park with picnic tables and playground equipment.


It has nature trails with ponds, a trail that runs with the swamp on one side and the Rainbow River on the other side.


A park that has a big bridge overlooking the Withlacoochee River, the River that flows North!


Alligator seen from the bridge!


And ZOOMED in!


A place to launch kayaks and canoes, nature trails and paved biking and hiking trails.


A side trail with oranges ripening on the trees!


And it is one of the best places we know to see a lot of wildlife and birds. 


Red-Shouldered Hawk


Turtle taken from the bridge


Great Blue Heron on the Rainbow River


And a squirrel!

It's a popular place but never very crowded.

There's lots of space to roam!


Lizard

So I'm sharing some of our sightings from a day at the park.

Do you have a favorite place near you to get out in nature?


It's good for what ails you! Happy weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

48 comments:

Tom said...

...thanks for the gator.

Wally said...

That is really a great park to roam around in! In my opinion, the Withlacoochee and Rainbow are two of Florida's most scenic rivers.

Thank you, Diane, for sharing such terrific images of your outing!

Now, if I can just reschedule all these danged doctor appointments until next year!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Beautiful place.

The alligator issue is huge for me. As magnificent creatures they are, they scare me.

Vee said...

Sure. The cemetery. 😉 So no benches? No picnic tables?

Once again, beautiful nature photos, though I am no fan of the critters lying low in the water.

MadSnapper said...

the gator is the best of all. great shot. it is a wonderful place to wander, trees and wildlife, nothing bettere

BeachGypsy said...

Wow! What a beautiful place!! Love that pretty trail-- is that hubby up in front of you in the picture? Great pictures of the hawk! I couldn't find that gator!!-- and I am pretty good at spotting them-- love to photograph gators!! So glad you put the enlargement in. Happy weekend my friend!

Barbara said...

We enjoy Blue Run Park in Dunnellon, too. Your pictures are so good, capturing the familiar and amazing.

I always chuckle to see turtles extending their legs out from their body. It just strikes me as funny how they pose like that. Turtle Yoga, perhaps?

Cloudia said...

Love these! Thank you!

Terri D said...

What a beautiful place to get lost in nature! Reminds me a bit of my place of employment!! Thanks for sharing the park with us!! Happy weekend! xo

HappyK said...

You have to many wonderful parks to walk around it.
Love the turtle!!

HappyK said...

You have so many wonderful parks to walk around in.
Love the turtle.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Great photos of all the wild things and river! Such a nice place to spend the day. Florida has such nice parks! Love the oranges in the trees.

Irma said...

What great photos from your walk.
I love the red-shouldered hawk, the turtle and the squirrel.
Greetings Irma

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I suspect that we all have favourite places to walk. Some of mine are in parks and some just in remote country areas where I can meander for hours without another human to disturb me, no trail bikes, no dogs, no roller bladers, no buildings, no traffic noise - just me and nature. In this way I have a chance of becoming part of nature rather then imposing myself on it.

Ann said...

That park really does have it all. What a beautiful place to go

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
The park looks like a great place to see the wildlife. I am not sure if I would want to kayak with the gator. I love the Heron, turtle, squirrel and cute lizard. The Red-shouldered Hawk photo is awesome. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend.

Ed Rosack said...

Looks like a great park - I'll have to go by sometime.

Amila said...

It looks like a beautiful park. All these photos are beautiful. The photo of the Hawk is simply amazing!
Have a great weekend!

carol l mckenna said...

awesome nature shots from that beautiful trail park ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

RedPat said...

That is a fabulous trail. I love to wander along the ravines that cut through Toronto and which are quite wild with lots of trees and creatures.

Breathtaking said...

Hello Diane :=)

Your captures of all the creatures you saw are outstanding, and all taken in this wonderful park. I gasped when I first saw the Red-Shouldered Hawk image, what a beauty. The Turtle made me smile, as it seems to be pointing to something to its side. :=)) he he!! Nice shot of the Blue Heron in flight, and cute shot of the Squirrel with an unusual white sided tail. The gator and lizard are great sightings. You have a sharp vision to spot the gator.
Enjoy your weekend
All the best.

Bill said...

What a wonderful park that has a variety of wildlife to see and enjoy. Happy weekend to you.

Phil Slade said...

Hello Diane. Like you, I hate those city parks with too many people and no real wildlife. And I have to say that I'm beginning to believe the hype of alligators around every corner

Bob Bushell said...

Fantastic showing of all nature, I love them.

Mae Travels said...

That looks like a wonderful place… I enjoyed your photos.

best… mae at maefood.blogsot.com

Linda said...

Great shots! It looks like my kind of place.

Lorrie said...

You see so much wildlife on your walks, Diane, and take such great photos. Good eye for the alligator. Glad he was a ways off. The hawk is beautiful. Have a good week.

Veronica Lee said...

Such a beautiful place to spend time with Mother Nature.

I especially love the gator shot.

Hugs and blessings 💐

Shiju Sugunan said...

Beautiful place with so many things to observe. Your pics are fantastic!

italiafinlandia said...

It really looks like a wonderful place to explore nature.
My favourite critter in this post is the lizard.
Happy weekend!

Anni said...

I love anywhere out in nature. My favorite is the coast. Just listening to the waves is enough for me!
Great images, as always, Diane

Thanks for taking time to link in!!

Jeanie said...

What a lovely nature park and beautiful trails/paths to walk. You had some great sightings. Maybe that's Harry -- I think he has left town up here! Getting great flight photos is no easy trick and you nailed it!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

what a lovely place! And you truly take advantage of the beautiful areas in your neck of the woods. Good for you!

Jenn Jilks said...

Wonderful critters! That water is so BLUE!

Lowcarb team member said...

I did enjoy seeing all of your photographs, what a great park to visit.

Enjoy these last few days of October.

All the best Jan

Red Rose Alley said...

Those alligators are something. Such a pretty place to hike. And those oranges trying to ripen on the tree, what a wonderful sight. The Hawk is so lovely. And a cute little turtle trying to make his way in the great waters. I like that picture of the Blue Heron in flight. You can see his wings opening. But I can do without the squirrels. I have three in my yard every day, and I see one right now scurrying about as I look out my window, oh my. ; )

Happy November days, Diane.

~Sheri

LA Paylor said...

the hawk and turtle pics are my faves!

Creations By Cindy said...

Such beautiful scenery! Love how the colors of nature and wildlife simply brightens our lives. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Teresa said...

Me encantó tu paseo. Besos.

GreenComotion said...

Hiya-
Thanks for visiting me.
I loved all your photos of nature.
I tried not to look at the Gator :)

Nancy Chan said...

A beautiful park to enjoy. Everything is great except the gator.

handmade by amalia said...

Wow, what a place! I love that photo of the turtle enjoying himself on the rock. But how did he get there? How will he get back? I hope turtles can swim!!!
Amalia
xo

EricaSta said...

Oh, I fear the Alligators. Looking this week a new serie here in TV named TROPPO from Australia.

...but I enjoyed all the other captures.

Happy Halloween, Diane.

Thank you for sharing and being part of MosaicMonday
Hugs by Heidrun

Rainbow Evening said...

river looks clean and beautiful.
great captures of critters

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

This is such a beautiful park and you captured some magnificent shots. I am fascinated with the close up of the hawk and the blue heron in flight is just so beautiful. Thanks for sharing the photos from your walk.

Ricki Treleaven said...

Diane, I love seeing all the critters on your walks! I walk around the lake in our neighborhood every morning with our dogs. It's almost exactly a mile, but it takes us about thirty minutes to walk it because they like to bark at the waterfowl and squirrels, and they also like to sniff of every blade of grass, LOL!

NatureFootstep said...

hi, my favorites today are the Red-Shouldered Hawk and the lizard.
The hawk I have seen once but never the lizard. a nice little one. :)

Jill Harrison said...

So lovely isn't it to have this wild places to wander in not far from home. Thankyou for taking us along, enjoy the rest of your week.