Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

 

We took a hike even though it was 'warm'! The temps are not so high but the humidity is higher than the temp. And we've had a summer of few breezes! 

There's a nice long gravel drive from the highway to the trailhead and we see quite a lot from the Jeep.

And it's easy to pull over and get out if we need a better angle!

We've seen a lot of big birds on this particular tree that is such a good perch for raptors,

but never a Great Blue Heron!

Doesn't it look like the shape of a heart where his neck curves in?

Someone riding their horse,

Cattle Egrets in a tree

and even a juvenile Little Blue Heron on the fence.

One of the funniest thing we saw on the trail was this Crawdad!

What in the world is he doing on the hiking trail?

Trying to make his way to the marshland I guess. We thought maybe a bird flew over with him and accidentally dropped him. We didn't try to capture him and carry him to the water and I felt kind of guilty leaving him there. He was scooting along pretty good though so I like to think he found his way.

And to keep going with 'a favorite thing' (besides my red Jeep).... 

Here's my camera, a Canon Powershot SX 70 HS. I love it! But what I really want to show you is the camera strap. The link to it is HERE! I love having a wider and more comfortable strap and it's pretty too!

God Bless America

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Learning something new!

I've read a lot about how people are taking advantage of the time they have at home to learn something new. I don't know if I've focused on that. 

But I can say, I did NOT focus on this hummingbird except for the one photo above.

I am still learning my new camera (Canon SX70 HS)and my setting was on flower (for close ups) when I took most of these. I should have changed it to mountain to zoom in from across the street. 

Look at this beautiful flowering bushes that attract the hummers and butterflies!

I am standing at my house, taking pics of the hummingbird across the street.

Don't worry, my neighbor was aware of what I was doing! hahaha!

When I changed the setting, I only got ONE more photo and he was 'away'! It's the 'in focus' photo at the beginning.

And doesn't everyone take photos of their shoe boxes? That's what I had just taken photos of in the lanai. We are in a cleaning out, throwing away, recycling and donating mood at our house right now and I was going to get rid of a shoebox. (I know! I should do better than that! hahaha)

I wear Montrails to hike in and I still wear my oldest pair when it is wet or muddy. They are the BEST shoes in the world for hiking here in Florida. 

And I got a kick out of what was written on the side of the box.

It says, Raise your right foot and repeat after me, 

"I, Diane give my word as a morally righteous Montrail consumer to always play fair with others in the great outdoors and to recycle or reuse this box."

Oh, and I guess now you'll want to see my oldest hiking shoes! 

I have a lot to be thankful for this week! How about you?

Are you blogging about something more interesting than old shoes and recycles? 

I certainly HOPE SO!!!

Updated...I wrote this post yesterday and I am so saddened to see the damage from Hurricane Laura this morning. I hope and pray everyone in it's path is safe. I have lots of family and friends in the area it is traveling so I'm watching it closely. Take care and stay safe!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Rufous-sided Towhee and Bobwhites

There are so many Towhees on the trails here in Florida but they are extremely hard to photograph. They usually stay on the ground in the underbrush. 

So I was happy to have my new camera when this one flew up into the tree and started preening.

I knew it must be a young one.....

and when I searched for a positive ID.....

I found out it was a Female Juvenile Rufous-sided Towhee.

Also called an Eastern Towhee.

Scratch scratch scratch!!!

It was entertaining to watch! And just when I thought the hike couldn't get any better, I looked up ahead and saw 2 birds on the edge of the trail.

One Bobwhite was trying to coax either a female or a young one across the road.

Come on....

it's safe now!

Run Run Run!!! 

(there's something REALLY BIG ahead, with a pink cap)

Not many Earthstars left but I found one to take with my new camera.

All pics taken on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, what I usually refer to as the Florida Trails.

I hope you've had something in nature to entertain you this week. Have your seen any new birds where you live?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Two of our most common Hawks in Florida

There are lots of Hawks here in Florida and this past week we saw two of our most common hawks right in our own neighborhood. A good opportunity to try out my new camera by zooming in on them.

This Red-tailed Hawk was in the tall Pine tree behind our house.

He called and called while I clicked away.

He had beautiful markings!

And then my hubby grabbed my camera and took these of a Red-shouldered Hawk that was perched on the roof of the house across the street.

What gorgeous rich colors!

He's a beauty too.

I'm still pointing my camera at anything that stands still and a few things that don't! lol

I thought these wildflowers looked dreamy.

And I think this is Horsemint.

Stand still! I'll take YOUR pic!!! heehee!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Fun with Photography

I'm still having fun with my new camera, even when I stay close to home. ( Canon Powershot SX70 HS)

This White Peacock butterfly was in my front yard.

I walked around the yard and took pics of my roses.

I found a few Magnolia blooms in my neighbor's tree.

I had to look straight up to the top of the tree to find them.

And I looked up in the sky to see the beautiful clouds.

We are having good weather so far. Hopefully the storm will not cause any major damage here in the US. So far, so good!

Another neighbor has a lime tree that is loaded with limes! I wonder if they would miss one...or two! lol I keep trying to catch them outside so that I can ask. They do look tempting though, don't they?

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

And of course I've taken my camera out for 2 hikes already so I have more photos to share. Butterflies are in abundance at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

Do you have many butterflies this year? 

We have lots of them in Florida right now!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio too!