"Attention to Details"

 

I like to think I'm observant but I am still surprised when I work on my photos how many 'hidden details' I've missed!

Hey, Mr. Flycatcher! 

Spit out that grasshopper and eat some of these pesky gnats and mosquitoes!

And it's going to take this Osprey a long time to build a nest at this rate!

But look how interesting those wispy feathers are along the legs of this Great Blue Heron.

And this seemed like an unusual place for a mushroom to grow.

I guess it likes more light and air!

I'm going to get a little creepy now.

I took this photo thinking I was looking at a pretty plant but when I bent down to look more closely, this Green Anole jumped. I jumped too. I don't know who jumped higher! Isn't he perfectly hidden?

This poor alligator!

He has no body!

And I wasn't even sure this was an alligator until I looked at my pics!

He's trying to look like a 'knot on a log'! 

How do you like this pretty little pond at Reed Bingham State Park?

Read the small sign at the bottom! 

These ponds are for the kids....oh and the alligators!!!

Halloween Pennant

And now to dedicate this next part of my post to my dear friend, John from John's Island HERE. 

He has written me another poem dedicated to my last post and I want to share it today.

"Beneath the pines where hoofbeats roam,

Heritage Farm feels just like home.

Log cabins stand with rustic grace,

As goats and sheep patrol the place.

The Martins dart through gnats with gless,

While trails invite both you and me.

The river calls, the forest hums

Where quite peace and beauty comes.

So here's to the cabins, hooves and leaves

To Autumn dreams and golden eves!''

This is one of the true blessings of having a blog...making blog friends along the way. I know we all feel like sharing our photos with other like minded bloggers enhances our lives. John has really surprised me with these gifts of poetry. Thank you John for your thoughtfulness.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

"Batten down the hatches!"

 Our plans to take some fun day trips were put on hold. Hubby did get a lot of his garage clean out done, just in time!

We are strapping things down outside today and cooking some yummy food to eat as leftovers.

Lots of water stored, extra food and supplies on hand just in case.

Zebra Longwing - the state butterfly of Florida

Our prayers are for those on the coast of Florida. We are in Ocala for those keeping up with the track of Hurricane Ian. Please keep us in your prayers too and when this is over, I'll give you an update.

I hiked on Monday at the 49th Ave Trailhead....hike #120! I'll be anxious to get back out after this blows through! I'll miss my regulars that walk and bike the Florida trails! 

Take care and be safe!

Sweet hugs, Diane

My Happy Place UPDATED at the end

 

We found a new bench on one of our hiking trails. It's up on a plateau where some bike trails intersect so I'm sure it was put there for the mountain bikers. I hope they don't mind if I sit there and ponder from time to time.

I have to say I have lots of happy places to hang out. There are benches and picnic tables all along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. But to tell the truth, I rarely sit down. 

We found this new bench on a hike a few days ago and then I went back up there to sit and observe. I told myself I would sit there for 15 minutes but I didn't quite make it. I would rather be walking around, seeing what's around the bend.

Bike Trail Signs....and NO we don't walk on the bike trails!!!

We have the most beautiful Phlox growing along the highways right now and I parked next to a patch.

Lots of butterflies and bees!

I hope you can find your happy place. Even if you can't get out and walk, sometimes a drive in the country or a visit to a lake or river can give you a nature boost. It's important for our mental health. And you just never know what you'll see!

What do you think this is?

I've shown one before so many of you will remember what it is. They are hard to see on the ground among the leaves. 

I brought it home to photograph it with my roses.

It might be a tiny hummingbird nest! 

UPDATE...I had my doubts and they were confirmed by two of my favorite Florida blogs. Pamela sent me a link (in the comments) and Wally sent me this link in an email. It is NOT a hummingbird nest. It looks very much like one we found a few years ago. But it is the cocoon of the polyphemus moth. Thanks for all of your sweet comments and for the help in a proper ID. I'm still learning!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Do you want to walk to the Gulf of Mexico?

 OK....OK....we'll drive most of the way! It's only around 30 minutes on back roads and then 4 miles on a dirt road and then we'll walk! How about that?

Our destination is the Withlacoochee Bay Trail. 

We had been to this area before but never realized you could actually park your vehicle and walk to the Gulf of Mexico with the canal running alongside. Palm trees and Cedars lining some of the road.

And good places to pull over all along the way.

Now let's walk!

It made for some amazing views and wonderful bird sightings (I'll share those soon).

Beautiful views of the canal.

The sky was bright blue and the water a deeper shade of blue!

And then when we got to the end of the trail where the canal flows into the Gulf.....

it was breathtaking!

We packed a picnic lunch and made this a day trip.

The temperature was 73 degrees with a nice breeze. 

Doesn't get any better than that!

One of the surprises was the number of butterflies and variety we saw. Most of the wildflowers are finished blooming here but there were butterflies flitting all along the trail.

It was worth the hike, don't you think?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

One more linky party HERE! 

The Florida Scrub-Jay at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

 We were so excited to find a nice flock of Florida Scrub-Jays on the back loop at the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve near the Savannah. 

In fact I was so excited that I went back again the very next day to see if they were still there.

And they were!

The Florida Scrub-Jay is the only bird species that lives exclusively in Florida.

And it's on the federal endangered species list.

We were even more excited when we saw that at least one of the birds was banded. 

(this one was showing off!)

We didn't notice the bands on his legs until we came home and looked at our photos.

When we load our photos onto my computer, we hook it up to the big screen TV and look at the photos there. We can really zoom in and see everything up close.

The Scrub-Jays were flying back and forth across the trail so we just stood real still and watched them.

The Blazing Star is in full bloom so I'll include it here. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly loves it!

I love this time of year, don't you?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

I'll share some beauty with you today!

 

Sometimes we're asked what we are taking photos of in the woods.

Birds

(Swallowtail Kite, Red headed Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher)

Wildlife

Butterflies and dragonflies

Mushrooms

Wildflowers

The list goes on and on!

  

Just some of what we see here in North Central Florida in the summer months. 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.