It's always hard to get used to writing the new year! 2024! WOW!
Let's take a walk to the neighborhood pond. It's not far so I don't count it as a hike but we made 143 hikes on the Florida trails for 2023 so I'm happy with that!
I walked over there in the late afternoon so the lighting was kind of funny. And the Bald Cypress trees are deciduous conifers that turn a burnt orange and then lose their leaves (or needles) at this time of year.
Some photos look lighter and brighter than others.
And of course I saw ducks!
When I first walked up, I noticed a whole line of ducks on the bank across the pond.
And this beautiful Great Blue Heron was crouched down in the tall grasses.
Let's see how close we can get!
It was just beautiful in every direction!
Some of the ducks I have tried to ID before and finally realized they are hybrid ducks.
But if you have a better ID, please let me know and I'll add it to the description.
There were a few Moorhens in the mix too.
And one we see in the winter months....
the Ring-necked Duck.
They are so distinct and beautiful.
It was a nice warm 70 degree afternoon.
The perfect way to begin the new year!
Happy New Year everyone!
48 comments:
this is my favorite time of the year, cold at night, warm in daytime, a little heat here and there and I love it. I sleep so much better Dec-Feb than the other months. i like to be cold at night to huddle under a blanket. looks like all the birds are happy with our weather too...
...I hope that you will have a ducky day!
Beautiful!
I have to admit at this time of year there are some days I don't venture out at all.
your walk to the pond looks very comforting. I love to watch the ducks swim in a pond. Those are beautiful ducks too. I would love for it to stay around 70 degrees year-round.
Thank you for lowering my blood pressure with these beautiful photos! Appreciate you Aloha, happy New Year
Wonderful photos of the pond and ducks and heron! We are enjoying much of the same here at our Still Waters Pond. Today is a gorgeous day!! Very thankful to be here instead of up where it is so cold and snowy and icy! We are blessed indeed! Thank you for sharing your hikes and photos with us. They are always a treat!!! Happy New Year!
Diane, What a great hike nearby!! Loved all the wildlife you saw, and the pond views were breathtaking! It is so nice now: with the temperatures mild. Happy hiking! Love, Aunt Helen
The water fowls are wonderful to see
this walk to the lake seems very rewarding!! i see a lot of ducks at the lakes here, and a lot of them are hybrids!! i am not familiar with moorhens, it looks like it may be colorful!?!?
your ducks are beautiful as is your great blue heron. i think the scrunch up like that so they can hide in the weeds.
happy new year diane, good to get out and enjoy those wonderful temperatures!!
A lovely walk with many fine pictures!!!
Love the photo with the Ring-Necked Duck. The texture on the water is stunning. Happy New Year, Diane!
What a wonderful place to go for a walk. Loved seeing all the ducks. I would love to have 70 degree weather. It was only 28 here yesterday.
Happy New Year! You do have some great places for your walks. There is always some kind of wildlife to see. I love all the ducks and the pretty heron. The flowers are beautiful. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.
Well, that was a lovely walk!
Identifying some duck species gets tricky, especially when it comes to Mallards and Mottled Ducks. There has been so much hybridization than biologists fear the Mottled Duck may actually become extinct.
Love our winter visiting ducks. The Ring-necked is so attractive.
Terrific way to begin a New Year.
How nice to have a pond like this so close to where you live. It really is lovely and I enjoyed seeing the ducks and all!
A beautiful pond you have in the neighbourhood (just like me)! Lovely birds to see.
143 hikes and a stunning 2024 start with beautiful sightings. Happy exploring!
Happy New Year to you too. Looks like you have begun in fine style.
Dear Diane, funnily enough, the year 2024 isn't that difficult for me to write. (Maybe because my father would have turned 100 this year?...) I love your photos - you make nature seem so "awake all year round"! Everything is much quieter here, even if there is no snow. (But today I saw many birds of prey and herons and golden pheasants - unfortunately without a camera...)
I wish you and everyone you love (humans and animals) a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year with many more great trips into nature🍄🍀!
Hugs and all the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/01/rostrosen-weihnachten-2023-tiergarten.html
Happy New Year to You & Yours Diane!
Wow! 143 hikes is amazing. Congratulations!
Beautiful scenes here! I enjoyed walking with you all of 2023 and I hope to continue to see your lovely Florida birds and trees for another year. May it be good to you!
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
143 hikes, wow!
I admit, writing 2023 feels odd to me.
I had trouble to let that year go, but I had to write 2024 so often now....
Hybrid ducks are new to me. Cute.
Till January 6th here you say Happy New Year - to a good one, I might add :-)
Happy New Year!
That was many hikes in 2023!
Beautiful photos, and the ducks are so cute!
Happy New Year!
Thanks for visiting my blog. 😊
You captured lots of beauty. I love the Great Blue Heron. Thanks for sharing, have a wonderful weekend and a happy and healthy 2024.
Lovely series of nature photos ~ lovely walk and enjoyed the duck looking at the camera ~ cute ~ lol ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
What a pleasant walk and so close to home for you. I like the ducks that you saw. I may have seen more but they were all Mallards. Have a great week.
I always love your nature photos and walking outside is my go to stress reliever and I am never disappointed. Always something to see.
Always enjoy your photographs and feel as though I'm on vacation when I see them. Happy and healthy 2024 and yes, 2024 looks so odd!
Beautiful captures all!
Lovely birds! Thanks for sharing.
A lovely day for a walk, and such beautiful birds. I do enjoy herons - sometimes they look like grumpy old men.
Beautiful photos.
What a lovely place to walk to. Plenty of wildlife! Lovely photos :)
Well you did have a lovely walk.
I enjoyed your photographs.
Hope that 2024 has started well for you.
All the best Jan
Hello Diane :=)
Beautiful scenery and water fowl. The Ring-necked Ducks are my favourite. Congrats on all the hiking you did last year, it seemed odd writing last year :=),but getting used to a new year takes a while. Any way all the best for 2024 Diane, and I look forward to going along with you on your hikes this year.
Take care
Sonjia.
143 hikes is impressive, and it is so lovely to have somewhere close to home to walk around in nature. Wishing you health and lots more hikes in 2024. Yes hard to get used to writing 2024 isn't it. I hope 2024 is good to you and yours. Enjoy your week.
Hi Diane, Excellent post to start the new year! First of all, I love your new header … it is great and your slogan is perfect … discovering the REAL Florida. 😊 I enjoyed your photos. The golf course looks great! Neat bird photos … especially the Great Blue Heron. A 70 degree afternoon sounds especially good! 😊 Lastly, many thanks for your very kind words on my blog … I always look forward to your comments. Happy week ahead to you and yours! John
Ese paseo me parece precioso y una manera bonita de empezar el nuevo año. Te deseo que el nuevo año sea siempre bonito para ti. Un abrazo.
Happy New Year and Congratulations on 143 Hikes on the Florida trails.
xx oo
Carla
I always enjoy your beautiful hikes! The incredible birds you get to see are always amazing. It is hard to identify all the wildlife you are able to see, but you do a great job! Many blessings to you in this new year of 2024!
wonderful views...
have a great day
Diane, happy new year and Florida looks so nice this time of year. I enjoyed looking at the ducks and great flower photos. I hope you enjoy the rest of the week.
How beautiful! Hi Diane! I'm making the rounds, visiting with old blogger friends and I'm so glad to see all is well in your world! I have been hiking more the past two years as well, I have a great companion in my rescue dog, Kai - he doesn't even pull on leash, awesome for my aging body, LOL.
A nice walk around your neighborhood. Sometimes those are the best walks. The ring-necked duck is so handsome. The purple flowers at the end look just like the bush of flowers in Nel's front yard. So pretty and delicate.
I hope the new year brings much goodness your way, Diane.
~Sheri
Gorgeous photos!
Welcome back, glad to read you again....
....I'm very late commenting today... I'm amazed at how quickly the days fly by again in the new year.
Your post is a feast for the eyes in many ways. A very welcome change when I look out of the window here at how rainy and dreary it is here. Well... it's January, it's winter time. It's supposed to get really cold in the next few days (-10 C°) and it's supposed to snow. Thank you for your contribution to
MosaicMonday
Once again, best wishes for a healthy, happy new year 2024,
Heidrun
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