Hiking the Sink Trail Loop at Manatee Springs State Park

 

I'll start with a photo from the Springs because that's where I ended up!

Pied billed Grebe (the best Grebe pic I've ever taken)

You all know I love to hike in the forest.

And they did a great job of opening up the trail after the terrible devastation of the hurricanes last Fall.

But I was not enjoying myself so I turned around. It was hard to do but I looked around at all the damage and knew I needed to walk away.

Little Blue Heron (juvenile)

And some of my bird photos turned out so good from my walk on the boardwalk.

Little Blue Heron

I even saw some 'interesting' alligators!

Two of them, having a little chat.

I think they were getting to know each other in hopes of being friendly. 

And one swimming along the river. And don't worry, I zoomed in on them. I was not close!

I also saw a beautiful Anhinga.

One more.

And a Great Blue Heron flew by.

I don't usually get good 'in flight' photos but I was pleased with these.

He was more charcoal gray than white! The sun made him look white.

I even got some decent photos of this Grass Carp.

Thanks to my son, D for help with the ID!

It was a beautiful day at a beautiful place.

But there's nothing wrong with changing your mind when you are not feeling comfortable in your surroundings. For one thing, there was some wind and I didn't want limbs to fall on my head.

I'd rather take my chances with the gators across the way!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Nature Friday HERE!

Rainbow Springs State Park "Close to Home"

 

We are so fortunate to have several State Parks in this part of North Central Florida.

Rainbow Springs State Park is one of the closest to our house.

The campground is right near the Rainbow River with it's sapphire colored water.

So I walked down to the river a couple of times each day to see what birds and wildlife I might see.

It was a beautiful walk with palm trees along the path.

Anhinga

We've camped there twice now and one thing we learned is how different each experience can be, depending on where you are camped.

The first time we stayed there, we backed into our camp space and opened the back on the van up, pulled the screen down and our view from the back and from every window, was the forest.

That's my kind of camping! 

I love to be surrounded by nature.

Little Blue Heron

The next time we camped, our space had other campers close by, even behind us. It was interesting but I gave higher ratings to the secluded campsite.

This is the second campsite and it still looks beautiful!

One of the unusual sightings was the scuba diver.

You can see he has a float with a flag out front to signal that he is underwater to boats and kayaks.

It sure is fun to research State Parks in Florida and get away for a few days!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Florida Manatee Facts

 I don't claim to be an expert on 'all things Florida'. I just wander around this beautiful state (mostly in North Central Florida), taking photos and then pouring over identification books and searching online to educate myself on what I've seen.

But it is very nice when you see something and find out, you did indeed see what you thought you saw! 

I'll give you a nice link HERE to read facts and information on the Manatees.

Most of the websites I found that give more details are newspaper articles that let you view it one time and then asked for you to subscribe. So I won't give those links.

So what did we think we were seeing? 

It looked like a Manatee had beached itself. 

It swam to the shallow waters and was on the sand, with a lot of the body exposed.

What was it doing? From what I read and can understand....it was mating season.

The female can be pursued by a mating herd and she may try to beach herself to get away from them all. 

They splish and splash and push to release her from the sand and then they do what manatees do and then they all swim away as fast as the eye can follow! So that's what we saw.

We thought at first the one manatee that was beached was in trouble. And the others were trying to help. OK! That's one way to put it. I think it all ended up just fine but it was an interesting sight to witness. I read in some of the newspapers that people will call to report a manatee in distress when this happens. We watched until everyone was back in the water though so we weren't worried. 

This all took place on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail looking out into the Gulf of Mexico.

When you could look away....

an Anhinga and 2 Ibis were flying overhead!

Amazing!

White Ibis

Do you have a good weekend planned?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

Tsala Apopka Outfall Canal

 Ready for an adventure?

We'll drive out to the dam....but only this once!

So look around and take all the photos you want because this will be the only time you get to go! 

The road was rough. ROUGH? There has to be a better word for it! 

Little Blue Heron, Anhinga

But for all locals, DON'T GO! Even with a high profile, 4 wheel drive vehicle it is a challenge.

Alligator and Stork

And there are birds and a monster gator to see but you can see those things in other places that are easier to get to. I was at least glad that we didn't meet anyone on the road. MEET ANYONE? NO WONDER!

Monster Gator

Stork flying away! lol

But before you think I went on a back road far far away. It was not far away and people lived on that road. But it was not maintained and there were holes big enough to bury the Jeep. I was driving, hubby was helping as in.....stay on the gas and ease through....don't stop....climb out of it.....get through the next hole....over the next hill....hug the right.....go off into the ditch on the left....through mud and muck and vegetation....no place to turn around....KEEP GOING!!!

ATV in distance, this was the only wide spot in the road!

We met one big truck with a trailer load of ATVs (driven by a lady) and one ATV (driven by a little girl). 

Osprey

Stay CALM....HOLD ON!

Osprey

Sandhill Cranes

So these are some of the neat things we saw when we were back there. 

Jeep, Colored Pencil 

Am I glad we went....well of course! 

Will we go again? Short answer...NO! 

My sons will be proud of me. I DROVE that Jeep! 

One gorgeous flower....just ONE!

Get out there and do something exciting this week!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.