General Coffee State Park, featuring the Yellow-crowned night heron

 

We made it to Georgia and back, traveling 500 miles to 4 State Parks!

I'll start close to the beginning of the trip with our stay at General Coffee State Park, website HERE.

It was quiet and peaceful and altogether delightful!

But let's get out on the trails and see what we can find.

On the second day (and second hike) I got off the trail and walked out to Seventeen mile River.

I stopped 'dead in my tracks' when I spotted a heron in a little ponded up area.

You can see him in the water in the center of the photo!

I zoomed in!

It was a Yellow-crowned night heron and the first one I had ever seen!

We see a lot of different herons here in Florida but this was a 'lifer' for me!

I wasn't sure at first.

But after some research, I positively IDed it!

I also was fortunate to meet a photographer that lives in Georgia and he said he had seen them there before. A few days later, he told me he had seen the one I saw too. That was special! I appreciated his knowledge and enthusiasm and hope to see him again.

The other neat sighting was the Yellow Flytrap pitcher plant. Info HERE.

We saw several plants but it was hard getting photos through the other tall plants.

This pitcher plant is listed as a conservation priority and is rare to see in the wild.

The blue irises were in bloom and they love the wet areas.

It was a beautiful campground and we loved almost everything about it. The only drawback, and that can be anywhere near the water, was the newly hatched gnats! They don't bite but they drive you crazy. They try to get in your eyes and ears and mouth if you dare to open it. But at least they don't bite! (oh I said that, I was close to crazy before, I may have crossed over! hahaha)

I have lots of photos to share! I hiked 13 hikes in 2 weeks so I took a 'few'!

It's HOT back in Florida! How's the weather where you live?

And have you ever seen a Yellow-crowned night heron?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy, Florida!

 

Even the name sounds like FUN and indeed it was one of the best experiences we've ever had camping in a Florida State Park! Website link HERE.

I can't resist the temptation to start in the middle of our May camping trip with the cutest critter we've ever seen!

I'm all set to go hiking!

And look who wants to come along!

There are White Squirrels at this park and they are very friendly.

It did not exactly follow me around,

but it did stop and pose for about a zillion photos!

OK...I'm coming!!!

A White Squirrel is a variation of the Eastern Gray Squirrel and not an albino. 

We saw a few in Asheville, NC when we lived there but that's been years ago.

So I'll include some photos of the Ochlockonee River and save my bird photos for another post.

The trail to the river was just steps from the campsite!

It was just gorgeous walking the trails along the river.

And if there was any negative about our stay there, it was the newly hatched Deer Flies!

When I stayed on the open trails and felt the wind from the river, they were not a problem.

But you know me....I want to go deep into the forest and those hikes were limited.

We had done our research to find out about the park before we left and was so pleased to see the forest of Longleaf pines!

Thanks to everyone who leaves such sweet comments. And a special thanks this week to John from John's Island. He wrote  a poem for me! Oh my! It doesn't get any more special than that! Thank you John! The poem is in my comments from last week.

Have you ever seen a white squirrel?  

And on that note, I'll step away from the computer to go on another camping adventure. We are going to 2 different State Parks in Georgia this time, General Coffee State Park and Reed Bingham!

Have a beautiful month of June and I'll catch up with you all when we get back! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Manatee Springs State Park, the real and the imagined!

 

We spent a few days at Manatee Springs State Park again this month.

That big clump of greenery in the center is poison oak!

I always see some amazing sights along the boardwalk.

And the Suwannee River is always picturesque!

I had a chance to talk to a fisherman on this particular hike and I learned something valuable!

I asked him what the fish were that we were seeing in the water....over a hundred of them!

And he told me they were Mullet. OK, I am familiar with Mullet. They love to jump high out of the water and are fun to watch. But he told me that after a boat goes through the water, stay put and watch the water. Other fish and sea life will come up to the surface. And lo and behold, it is true! And I've seen some amazing sights by taking the time to stop and watch! I even watched a Manatee come up to the surface at the Ochlockonee River a few days later.

 

Reflection of the Suwannee River

I have a good imagination so I wanted to share some photos of things I saw on this one hike, that are not what they seem....

or are they?

Do you see a Mermaid, or the leaf at the top of the photo?

A bird in the tree?

A shark in the water?

A cute sea monster?

A turtle underwater? (it really is a turtle! lol)

Logs and trees can really fool you!

Do you have a good imagination too?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Florida Spring sightings!

 

We got back from our camping trip safe and sound and very very tired! 

You would think that camping would be relaxing but I hike every day that we are out in the campgrounds. There are so many wonderful trails that you can access from your campsite so I can grab my camera and have an adventure whenever I want. 

So I have lots of photos to work on but I wanted to say 'hello' and share a few photos from adventures close to home.

I hiked a trail that has a trailhead on hwy 484 and saw the most beautiful Passion Flowers.

Most of them were still in buds but a few were opened up.

Spring is beautiful in Florida!

The butterflies love the thistle when it is in full bloom.

I have a few new ducks for the Jeep too.

They are really fun and a nice surprise when someone gives you one or leaves one on your door handle.

So what have you been up to lately? Share your news with me!

It's a rainy day today and I'm happy to stay inside and work on photos and get caught up on laundry.

 

Enjoy your day! 

And get outside in nature when you can!

Reed Bingham State Park in the Spring!

We've found so many wonderful State Parks this past year and now we are starting to travel back to our favorites!

When we camped here last December there were still Fall leaves on the trees which is not unusual for the South.

And even though we stayed in the same camp site, look at the difference a season change can make.

The tree that had been orange with color was just sporting it's Spring green leaves.

We arrived on a Sunday and the lake was buzzing! 

Doesn't it look like these Canada Geese are watching the boats fly by?

I spotted a Red Admiral butterfly on this first visit to the lake and didn't get good photos.

Of course I had hoped I would see it again but I never did.

I did get to see the Canada Geese every day I hiked.

And I walked by this Wisteria in full bloom every day too. The bees and butterflies love it!

It has a very sweet scent too!

The hillside was covered in small yellow flowers.

This is it up close.

We spent a week at Reed Bingham so I'll have more photos to share. (before we go again)

Spring time is a perfect time to camp! Do you have Spring flowers in bloom too?

And since the weather is still very Spring like, we are taking off on another camping trip. I'll be away from my computer for a couple of weeks but I'll have photos to share when I get back. Have a beautiful Spring! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Nature Friday HERE!