This was our turn around point in a hike we took at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve this week. (Pruitt trailhead)
It was very hard to turn back because there are trails taking off in every direction and they all look inviting.
But we had been hiking for over an hour and had to be realistic. Our hike ended up taking 2 1/2 hours total and that's about our limit. I'm hoping there are leftovers in the 'fridge for dinner at this point! lol
We are hiking just about every other day now with the weather so perfect so I have a lot more photos to share.
I'll hit some of the highlights of this particular day.
I think the fall months are just as colorful as the Spring here in Florida.
The pink muhly grass is simply gorgeous.
And the brown eyed susans are in full bloom.
They spread out over the preserve with thousands of blooms.
It was amazing to see a young Bald Eagle.
Northern Harrier
This Northern Harrier flew over us from time to time and a Hawk tried to chase it away.
Thanks hubby for this amazing photo!!!
We were surprised to see the American Kestrel, too.
Eastern Meadowlark.
Mockingbird
So much to see and do right now. It's hard to stay indoors!
Have you had a good week?
I hope you've had a chance to get outside and enjoy the beauty of Autumn.
47 comments:
...the pink muhly grass is a knockout!
that pink grass is calling out to me! so beautiful. THE TREE at the beginning is so beautiful. I want it
Great bird photos and lovely flowers, grasses, and trees!
Have a blessed day!
Hello Diane :=)
What a fantastic day, and what beauties you encountered on your rather lengthy hike.I think I would be on my knees if I hiked for two and a half hours.:=) I guess you are so used to walking every day that it just felt good.The views of The fields with the pink muhly grass are stunning.The grass looks like pink plumes waving like a fan in the long grass dwarfing the Brown Eyed Susan. Great sightings of the Hawk, Harrier, and Bald Eagle too, and good action shot.
All the best
Sonjia
Oh my that muhly grass is gorgeous! Nature with a touch of fantasy plants scattered about.
Beautiful photographs all
What and interesting tree!!
The pink grass is stunning!!!
That very tree in the first pic is just stunning!
That pink grass is so pretty.
Amazing hike - love the tree, the gorgeous flowers and grass, and all the different birds. Beautiful photos! x K
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. More healing and needed than ever. Aloha!
I am always impressed by your hikes and gorgeous photos. This is the first time I've seen the pink muhly grass. I want some of it in my yard!! Wouldn't the HOA love me for that?!! Thanks for taking us along!! xo
The tree and the muhly grass are gorgeous in different ways. Lovely bits of nature from your corner of the world. I hope you found leftovers for dinner after that long hike! Have a great weekend.
Hello Diane,
Another great hike and critter post. I have seen the Muhly Grass and did not know what it was called. Thanks to you and this post now I know the name Muhly Grass. It looks pretty. Beautiful captures of the Bald Eagle, the Hawks, Kestrel, my favorite the Meadowlark and the Mockingbird. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend.
The pink grass is so pretty. Great photos of the bald eagle and the other birds. Our ravens chase away hawks here, so I rarely see one.
Lovely birds and grasses — I enjoyed your photos. I wish I could hike with you.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
The puffs of pink grasses ... must feel like walking in a dream. :)
As the baseball star and wise philosopher, Yogi Berra, said: "When you come to a fork in the road - take it." That would apply to some of our hikes like yours.
Also like yours, that time limit thing would come into play and we would be headed back to the parking lot, too.
You had some great things to share! And we appreciate it. It has been so colorful everywhere we go lately. A bit cooler in the mornings has also been very welcome.
Hope you're having a great weekend!
I see the pink muhly grass caught a lot of others' interest too. I was unfamiliar with it until we redid a front flower bed at the house we built and called The Lodge. I dedicated the bed to my Mom because some of my inheritance went to redoing it. Anyway it is a lovely accent for any garden and the woods as you found out.
that tree is really interesting -- and I LOVE the mushly grass!
I don't think I even knew there was such a thing as that Muhly grass. It is beautiful. And you saw a good assortment of birds too.
It was sunny and about 15˚C (not sure what that is in ˚F) here today and the trees were all glowing with colour.
The pink muhly grass is more beautiful than ever this year, I think. So lovely.
The vibrant colors of the fall season in Florida are beautifully depicted in your photos. The pink muhly grass and brown-eyed susans are stunning.
The tree definitely has character, it is absolutely beautiful. I've never seen pink muhly grass, very interesting. Have a great day.
Kudos to you for getting out on the trails as often as you can. I love your turn around tree. That things is huge!
Two or three hours is all the hiking I generally want to do.
Divine pink colors of FL and your bird photos are awesome ~ great hike for you and us ~ Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
A beautiful area with great birds to keep you company. The pink grass is spectacular. Reminds me a little of Prairie Smoke which has the same visual impact.
Beautiful blog, I love the America Kestrel.
what a stunning focal point that tree is!! you captured some pretty amazing aerial stunts and a nice variety of birds. with that said, i think the pink muhly grass is my favorite of all the pictures, it is so beautiful!!
I do like the tree in your first photograph and the pink grass is lovely.
We have enjoyed a few walks in between the many heavy rain showers we've been experiencing here in the UK.
Have a good week.
All the best Jan
You are so right! Everything looks so pretty there!!
I may try to hike to the back of the ranch property sometime. Last time I freaked Louis Dean out because I got lost and the sun was going down but son Dean found me!
All gorgeous captures.
Lovely to join you for a wander (well actually 2 1/2 hours is an impressive marathon!) Lovely birdwatching those pink grasses are stunning!
Have a happy week.
Wren x
As imagens estão muito lindas.
Boa semana.
The pink muhly grass is stunning, and that color is very much in fashion right now, thanks to a certain movie.
During your long walk you came across many beautiful things.
The pink plants are beautiful.
Every day we walk at least 1.5 hours, often more, we walk approximately between 7 and 10 kilometers, when we are on holiday we walk double the number of kilometers, so 20 kilometers per day.
I enjoyed your photos.
Greetings Irma
Hi Diane. That pink grass looks amazing. And you saw some great birds too in your two and a half hours. I can see what you mean about wanting to take the other trails and it's a shame there aren't circular routes that take you back to the beginning without having to turn around.
yes, the pink muhly grass looks so gorgeous....
Have a great day
Your grasses and flowers are beautiful, but I am more attracted to your selection of birds, particularly the raptors. It is wonderful to see a Harrier, as we rarely see them up here in Illinois (I know they are around, but you have to know where to go to look and I don't anymore). Eagles and Hawks we see plenty of, but the American Kestrel has become a rare site as well ... I am hearing that their population is diminishing :( Meadowlarks I see on occasion, but Mockingbirds are rarely seen or heard around me. So this was a lovely visit and I look forward to stopping again in the future.
Andrea @ From the Sol
Beautiful photos of the birds and flowers. Have a nice week.
Beautiful pictures and colors! You got some great bird pictures too. It's been real hot here so I imagine it's been even hotter there. Not the real bad summer type heat--- but hot for almost November and also pretty normal for us southern dwellers. Love the grass---it looks like PINK FOG!
Diane, another wonderful hike to see such pretty nature and the birds. I hope you have a nice week.
Me encanta esa hierba rosa y todo lo demás. Esta semana hemos salido poco, ha llovido mucho. Un abrazo.
Indeed, this tree has character. It`s a good definition, I believe for this plant, dear Diane. Involuntary I think on the little town Höhenried on the Starnberger See (= Lake). There are many trees with over 100 years old.
There are many other interestings things here to see, to read. I enjoyed your post.
Thank you for sharing and being part at
MosaicMonday.
Have a wonderful week.
Hugs by Heidrun
What a great hike!! So many wonderful birds; and the tree in the first frame was my favorite!! You encounter so many different sights on your hikes. Thank you again for sharing. Love, Aunt Helen
Ooooo, pretty pink grass. And I love that old tree too. The field of brown eyed susans is a wonderful sight. Happy November days, Diane.
~Sheri
No wonder you enjoy your hikes so much ; you see such beautiful scenery. We don't see many signs of fall here on the beach in Florida but last week before we came, Philadelphia was the epitome of fall and we enjoyed all the scenery on the drive to Florida- the trees on 95 were beautiful shades of yellows, reds, and oranges.
Diane - long time no comment! We are deep into fall/sometimes winter, and so your beautiful photos of Florida are refreshing! Joining you from Mosaic Monday this week!
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