Slow down? I don't think anyone has actually said that to me lately.
Common Buckeye Butterfly
Lizard on a log
Grasshopper in the pine needles
Hoverfly in the sky
They 'hover' and stay so still that if you can get your camera to focus on them, you can get a photo!
I walk at a pretty slow pace and I stop and look around at odd times.
Armadillo
It's amazing how many times I've stopped to get a drink of water and noticed something interesting in the forest.
Or if my battery gets low on my camera and I have to change it, that's a sure way to have wildlife saunter by.
One day we were hiking near Shangri-la and a bike rider stopped to say he had pulled out some crackers to have a snack and a bear poked his nose out from behind the tree. We asked him where and he pointed to a spot close by. And no....I don't think he stayed long enough to share his crackers with the bear.
Anyway, I thought I would find those photos of the small things we see when we are hiking that often get left out of a post.
Bear Scat (poop...not zoomed in!)
You may WISH I had left out more! hahaha!
Someone dropped their walking stick in the forest. I hope they came back to get it!
Happy Hiking! It's just a walk in the forest!
A chance to get out in nature and enjoy the scenery...watch where you walk!
And enjoy your day!
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42 comments:
...amen, sister!
Not a big fan of all the bugs and to zoom through all those pictures but wow an armadillo. How cool.
the walking stick is a piece of ART. love the armadillo. the weather could not be better for hiking these past few weeks. i always found things if I forgot my second battery and left it home
Well that was interesting. I am not too observant so I am always glad when you point things out, Not sure about the bear scat. Be careful out there!
Picture #2 took me forever to find the lizard. What great camouflage he has.
And fresh scat at that
Glad you didn't meet up with the bear. Y'all are brave to hike in areas like that.
Your photos are fantastic, Diane! You must have a steady hand to get the bee in flight. The armadillo was a surprise to see there. I thought they only lived in Texas...lol
Scat is something we see all the time and even have to remove from our yards--we bought a giant "pooper scooper" type gadget that helps with that.
There's so much we miss because we are in such a busy mindset. Thanks for sharing the little things you noticed in your wanderings. Funny story about the crackers and the bear! 😆
We so often miss things because we're in such a hurry. Thanks for sharing those little things you've found when not even looking on your many wanderings. So many little beauties that would go unnoticed, yet there they are in all their complex glory (except for the bear poop, although I suppose one could even see the beauty in that! lol).
We so often miss things because we're in such a hurry. Thanks for sharing those little things you've found when not even looking on your many wanderings. So many little beauties that would go unnoticed, yet there they are in all their complex glory (except for the bear poop, although I suppose one could even see the beauty in that! lol). And what a beautiful walking stick to lose!
Oh, wonderful pictures! But how did you get that armadillo to stay still long enough to get his picture? That's a great shot. And yes, I always had to watch out for the bear scat when we walked in our woods or even in our yard when we lived in Salt Springs. I kind of miss the excitement of seeing a bear walking down the road in front of us and disappearing into the woods to play hide and seek, but we did not go seeking if he was in the woods and we knew it...that's HIS territory and he'd be sure to protect it. Love the pictures. Thank you for sharing with us. Today is a beautiful day and I am at home still with a cold/laryngitis, but it is getting better. Started as an allergy to all the pollen and dryness in the air I think. We definitely need more rain!! Have a blessed week.
It's really good to stop to notice the little things along the way. Well, most of them anyway!! Haha, We once met a man on a trail (in a couple of different places, the way you do) who both times was taking pictures of poop piles. The second time he felt he needed to explain that he was taking them to send to his 9 year old grandson. We laughed and I told him we had three sons and some grandsons and understood! (He could have just said he was going to blog the pictures and I would have understood that too!). ....
Seeing thesis photos has me longing to get back to walking, as soon as my ankle heals! Agree we do need to slow down especially when out in God's creation, He has provided us with so many treasures to enjoy! Thank you for sharing.
Sue
Hello,
I love the lizard, they are cute. I would love to see a bear, they are usually scared of people and will run. Great walk with nature! The walking stick is beautiful, I am sure the person will be back looking for it too. Take care, have a happy week!
I like the photo of the Armadillo. :-) Such a unique creature indeed.
That looks to be a special walking stick, I sure hope the owner and the walking stick are reunited.
Carla
Armadillos -- one of our neighbors has a fake one that looks very real sitting up against some pottery on their porch. That was a detail that's either new or that I've just never noticed before on our bike rides.
I don't plan to buy one. We have a real armadillo that occasionally wanders across our back yard....
Well not too sure I would hang around either with a bear sighting. LOL! That walking stick looks hand crafted too. I hope whoever it belongs to goes back to get it. Great pictures as always. You are amazing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Tu paseo me parece especial, tuviste grandes encuentros y siempre interesantes. Un abrazo.
So much to see each time one goes for a walk.
So cool to see the armadillo!! I've never seen one in person.
Great photos!! All of them... even the poop. Nice to know what it looks like in case I ever see it at Tenoroc! LOL I learn from you, every post!! xo
Love the fascinating photos, Diane
How cool to see the armadillo!
Hugs and blessings!
There is much to see when one takes the time to observe. Glad the bear didn't bother you (I hate hiking and running into bears.)
What beautiful photos.
Very special to see the armadillo, we only see it in a zoo.
Good thing the bear didn't come out any further, doesn't seem like much fun to encounter a bear.
The walking stick is really beautiful, we don't have that here.
Greetings Irma
It's amazing the things you see when you stop to take notice. These are all beautiful photos.
It is always rewarding to stop and observe for a while. Years ago I owned a cottage up north and I had a favourite rock I'd sit on to watch wildlife. Once an Ovenbird walked right over my foot. Being still and quiet can have amazing results.
That bluebird in your header just pops. We never saw bluebirds near our home in south Florida, though there have been efforts to re-establish them in their historic range. Neat finds for a casual walk.
What a beautiful moth! That armadillo looks like an opossum with scales.I've never seen one before -- they're impressive!
I love your hikes and I do think that the best part of walking is seeing the little things that often go unnoticed. Great photos- as always.
Kinda scary about the bear looking for crackers...lol...I could make a joke about Florida Crackers but I won't. You have to live in FL to get it. lol. xo Diana
i completely understand what you are saying here. i walk slow, really slow and in doing so, i rarely miss anything!!
you had some awesome sightings, i enjoyed seeing the buckeye. no butterflies here right now and i miss seeing them so much!! i don't think i have ever seen an armadillo!!
I wish we had armadillos here. I would definitely slow down for that and for that pretty butterfly. hugs, Laura
I would definitely slow down for an armadillo. hugs, Laura
Another splendid forest walk with illustrations!
You are so right about what we can see if we slow down and really observe! You're also right the best moments come during battery (or lens) changes.
I wonder if the bear knows anything about the whereabouts of the owner of that walking stick?
Keep enjoying each Florida day! We intend to!
I haven't seen an armadillo in Florida in so long!
I agree. Always good to walk slow, stop and take stock now and then too.
Some wonders are often near, and you definitely happened to catch some interesting ones.
Love the Armadillo.
Slowing down is wonderful advice - I need to do more of that!
Lovely photographs and so pleased you didn't meet up with the bear!
All the best Jan
The armadillo and the grasshopper were great finds. The Bear and the bear poop would have me on my way! Wonderful shares. Thanks
bears are hungry, what happens when the crackers run out? No body wants to answer that!! Your photos are pretty amazing. LeeAnna
Wow Diane, you took such great photos on your hike. I love the butterfly, the armadillo, and i would not want to be near a bear. Be careful on your hikes Diane and I hope you always have your husband with you. Enjoy the weekend Diane.
What a pretty butterfly. Looks like Fall colors. I sure hope they go back and find their walking stick. Wouldn't that be something to see a bear poke its nose from behind the tree? Where I live, it used to be bear country, and there were many at one time. Occasionally, people will still see one. I've always thought the Armadillo was such an unusual animal. And the insects you got in flight is hard to do, good for you.
So many wonderful things in nature. Have a splendid week, Diane.
~Sheri
It is amazing what you see and photograph! Thank you for sharing. That hover bug is what I mistook for a hummingbird one time until I looked closer! LOL!
Many eyecatchers here, dear Diane (without the one of the Bear...)
Most I love the Butterfly and thinking at once on Emily
The Butterfly upon the Sky,
that doesn't know its Name
and hasn't any tax to pay
and hasn't any Home.
Is just as high as you and I,
and higher, I believe,
so soar away and never sigh
and that's the way to grieve -
__ Emily Dickinson
Thank you so much for sharing at
MosaicMonday
Have a wonder weekend, hugs by Heidrun
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