What you focus on in this photo is the beautiful melodic Eastern Meadowlark.
He's always a welcome sighting at the Pruitt trailhead of Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.
But what you might notice on closer observation is 100s of black birds in the background.
They are crows! Hundreds of them! They streamed through until I gave up trying to count them.
It's Spring and the birds are on the move. And there are birds around that I don't normally see.
I looked out at this beautiful tree and saw deer browsing. Later 3 more walked across the trail in front of me.
It's probably a good thing I don't get photos of everything I see. I walk slow enough as it is!
They weren't the least bit concerned about me from that distance.
I watched a Swallow-tailed Kite overhead.
And then spotted this American Kestrel.
He's a little ruffled by the wind.
I saw several on this hike but they usually perch too far away for a good photo.
A few more sights along the way and we'll head back to the Jeep!
Oh and here's the 'monster' of the day!
Doesn't this piece of pine bark look a little like a gator?
I hope you are enjoying the birds of Spring where you live!
38 comments:
...what, no real gators?
Your walks always look very inviting.
Hello Diane,
I enjoy your walks and all your nature sightings.
The Meadowlark is a favorite, also the Swallow-tailed Kite and Kestrel are all great sightings and photos. I see the gator! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend.
Beautiful photos. I like the deers and the kestrels. Have a nice sunday !
It's a great time to be outside in Florida!
Thank you for sharing images of your walk.
That's one 'gator whose "bark" is worse than its bite!
What a great work of nature's art! Even a gator would think that log was a gator. :)
Hello Diane :=)
If I had just seen an American Kestrel and a Swallow-tailed Kite in one outing I would be a very happy bunny. I like your deer encounter, the strange looking carved tree and bee hive, flower and the monster, all good sightings and fun too.
Enjoy your weekend Diane.
All the best
Sonjia.
Great photos!
Love the Kestrel!
Just visiting, nice blog!
Great pictures today, Diane! Loved them all. I see where you were out in one of our fields making pictures--- surprised we didn't run into each other! Ha ha just kidding! If you would've come up on the porch I have sweet tea--- un- sweet too, ha ha. LOL LOL. Have a great weekend-- it's cool and sunny here.
I love that you see the deer so close to your path!
Hoi Diane,
I often walk too slowly, according to my husband. That's because I see so much, just like you, I think. 😊 What beautiful photos on your blog! I really enjoyed them. So you also have skylarks. They are beautiful, aren't they? And yes, that thin really looks like a scary monster...
Warm Dutch hugs,
Aritha
The Kestrel and the kite are amazing sights, Diane. I have been seeing large flocks of starlings flying around here this week like your crows were.
Blackbirds are back here too. They are hungry after travelling.
Love the Meadowlark.
Happy Sunday!
You had a wonderful walk - thanks for sharing!
love seeing the hike
Another lovely walk/hike, I enjoyed seeing your photographs.
That American Kestrel is fabulous.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a good week ahead.
All the best Jan
I watched a kite flying over head here --I was in the apartment and in the morning I had heard a new bird call--later I something flew past my window and I knew it was a different bird--so jumped up and watched him fly around--by the time I thought to grab the camera--he was off and flying away!!
So we actually seen the same kind of bird--together--you over there and me over here!!!!
hugs diane--
Lots of interesting sightings on your walk. The log "gator" is quite realistic. Wouldn't want to run across that unexpectedly!
The bark does indeed look like a gator. Love the American kestrel picture.
The Kites are just beautiful. I love seeing them!! As for the Kestrels, we just installed two Kestrel houses at my work and my boss told me one of them has five eggs in it. We are all excited about that!! I always enjoy your photos and your hikes!
I love your nature pics from your hikes :) keep them coming.
Sounds like an amazing birding hike! Love the kestrel!
Beautiful photos of the deer. The bark scared me for a moment. I thought it was a real gator :)
great shots all of them :) A tree-gator :)
Love all the photos. Had to do a double take on the gator bark...lol
I enjoy your walks and all your nature observations.
The birds and deer are very beautiful, I enjoyed them.
Greetings Irma
There is wonderful nature in your photos. Enjoyed every one of them. Interesting about the crows.
Hello and thank you for another feel good post, as you lead us about! So lovely where you are! Enjoy it all!
The swallowtail is one I have not seen. I recognized the meadowlark right away, but I did not know it was an eastern. Dozens of meadowlarks arrived last week, they are calling like crazy.
Yes, I am enjoying the birds, and I've been seeing a lot of the stellar jays lately. A nice picture of the Kestrel. And it's always a pleasant surprise to see the deer. Oh, the monster of the day.....at first glance, I thought the tip looked like a bird as well. We are filled with imagination when stepping into nature.
Have a lovely week ahead, Diane.
~Sheri
Nature is beautiful…wowww ….love from me and Leaf 🍀💗🐾🍀
Lovely series of feathered friends photos and awesome deer pics too ~ Yep ~ wood did look like a gator ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Great pictures.The pine bark does look like a gator. I thought it was dead.
A flock of crows have been active here in Vermont going on 2 weeks now.
I always enjoy your walks, and all the beautiful photos you take. I guess I'm never where Meadowlarks are nearby. Last one I ever say was when I lived in Colorado.
What a delightful stroll you've taken us on, Diane!
Your encounters with nature are enchanting.
And that 'gator bark' is quite the amusing find!
Hugs and blessings
Todo precioso, un bonito reportaje. Un abrazo.
American Kestrel here is very skittish and hard to photograph, but in Cuba they are friendly and permit close approach. I always wonder at this difference in behaviour.
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