Sometimes I exaggerate!

 

I kid you not...I have been known to exaggerate or imagine that something is extraordinary when it is not.

But that's just the way I live life. I love to feel excited over every day things. And this is definitely NOT the ordinary sighting!

I watched the courtship dance of a male Northern Mockingbird and I was enthralled!

At first I wasn't sure what this crazy Mockingbird was doing.

But then I saw the female come into view and I knew....

I just knew, he was 'showing off'! 

And I realized I was in the right place at the right time to see something extra ordinary and I would not even have to exaggerate. 

During mating season the male mockingbird performs a courtship dance, leaping into the air while flapping their wings and singing. Can you believe it?

I love the surprises I witness in nature every time I walk down a trail.

And since I couldn't figure out which of these Red bellied Woodpecker photos I liked best, I made a mosaic out of them. 

I saw these beautiful butterfly weeds in full bloom and stopped to marvel yet again.

Have you witnessed something amazing this week? Are you like me? Do you ever exaggerate? 

I remember when I saw this bear and it got bigger in the telling....HERE. hahaha

Southern hugs, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

I "spotted" Bambi!

 

I finally got out on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway this week and hiked from the 49th Ave trailhead.

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

I took the heat advisory warning seriously and stayed inside quite a bit so it felt great to be out on the open trails!

It was around 80 with just a hint of a breeze so it wasn't bad and I remembered why I love the Greenway.

Beautyberry

Of course we can't stay on the paved trail!

Beautyberry Lane

Let's get out in the woods and HIKE!

I saw 3 deer and one was a young one that still had it's spots. That was a thrill.

With all the afternoon showers we had, there were mushrooms growing all through the woods.

Lots of wildflowers and butterflied flitting everywhere.

And I got to say hello to some of my bicycle friends! A group of them were near the trailhead when I finished my hike.

My time indoors has been well spent. I threw myself into some projects around the house and feel so great about all that I've accomplished. But I probably should have taken a blog break because I didn't spend time on my computer. I'm behind visiting everyone. It was enjoyable to read blogs in the evening when I was too tired to do anything else. But I haven't commented so I will catch up soon.

I also want to mention the passing of our dear friend, Vee from A Haven for Vee. She was a blog friend from the beginning and we shared a lot of good times and bad. I'm going to miss her. She always teased me that an alligator was going to walk through my front yard when I went outside. Please keep her family in your prayers.

Butterfly weed

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

"Wildflowers and Woodpeckers"

 

I had planned a Wildflower post for April but when I looked at the photos I've taken this week, I decided to sneak the Woodpeckers in, too!

There has been terrible flooding in other parts of Florida but we haven't had any rain in our neck of the woods.

Passion flower

But the wildflowers are putting on a show in the forest!

The Passion flower is in full bloom at the hwy 484 trailhead.

And I also saw Red-headed Woodpeckers for the first time this Spring in that part of the Greenway. (Florida Trails West)

I was thrilled to see 2 of these beauties but they were quite a distance.

So I zoomed and cropped to get a better look at them.

Their heads look like velvet, don't they?

Pretty Pawpaws in the woods. 

Florida Pawpaw

They are showy and easy to spot!

And a regal Pileated Woodpecker on a pine tree. Hubby took the amazing photos of the Pileated!

It's a great time to be out in nature with so many wildflowers in bloom. And the wildflower attract butterflies.

Gulf Fritillary on Butterfly weed

There's so much beauty in the world around us and there's never been a better time to get out in nature!

Have you seen signs of Spring where you live? Our butterflies arrived before the wildflowers bloomed. They have been flitting around for a month already!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

  Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Shorter Hikes, smaller birds

 

It doesn't always work out that way but we did see some pretty birds this past week on the Florida Trails.

Ovenbird

We were determined to go hiking even though the weather was in full 'summer mode'!

Red-headed Woodpeckers

The humidity was high and the breeze was low but it still felt good to get outside and explore!

Carolina Wren

We just go a little slower and keep the hikes short.

Waterthrush 

Thank you to Anni and David G. for help with the IDs! You came to my rescue AGAIN!!!

And then Autumn was announced and overnight our weather changed!

Tufted Titmouse

We are still in the 80s but there is a nice breeze and less humidity!

Northern Parula

I have so many trails on my list that we haven't been able to hike this summer. 

Kestrel in flight with the 'catch of the day'!

Does standing behind this post make me look thinner? lol

(that's a rhetorical question...don't you DARE answer it!!!)

Have you seen a change in the weather this week? 

Happy Fall from Florida! 

Join me for a hike on the Florida Trails!

Thanks to everyone who leaves sweet comments. It's a trying time for all of us and we have our own personal challenges to deal with along the way too! I'm glad we can encourage and support each other. Let's continue to keep each other in our prayers. 
Just added....And for those that criticize me for what I blog about, you're free to blog about whatever you want and so am I. Just because I don't discuss political views or religious beliefs doesn't mean I don't have strong beliefs and it certainly does not mean I don't live my life according to those beliefs. I don't plan to defend myself in every post. Enough said. 

So I'll do my best and then take a hike on the Florida Trails!

We have blueberries

and blackberries providing food for all the birds and animals in the forest.

And butterfly weed to feed the butterflies and insects!

This looks like a place the fairies might live!

And isn't this berry interesting?

I'm not sure what it is but I'll try to ID it soon.

We are seeing the Red-headed Woodpecker up on Bluebird of Happiness Hill again!

He is striking!

And a welcome sight.

We also saw the Red-bellied Woodpecker on this hike.

He's a 'regular'!

And I even saw a little Downy through the leaves!

Have a beautiful weekend! Do you have plans to get out in nature? We have a rainy forecast so I'm not sure when our next hike will be...but it will be soon!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.