How blue can a 'blue' bird be? The Blue Grosbeak

 

When I saw this Blue Grosbeak at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve (the Pruitt trailhead) I was very happy to see it again. I've seen it in the same location every year for several years now. And I think that any sighting of a Blue Grosbeak is cause for celebration.

This handsome male is sporting some vibrant breeding colors.

He is a deep, rich blue with a tiny black mask in front of his eyes.

He has chestnut wing bars and a black and silver beak.

The information I read stated that there is not a decline in the number of these birds. There have never been a great number.

I went back a few days later and saw it again. So I feel doubly blessed!

He was quite a distance and I zoomed as much as I could and then cropped my photos.

What a beauty!

The Jeep is always ready at the trailhead and this is a red bellied woodpecker I spotted on this hike.

And now to a wildlife sighting that gave me a 'start'! A small coyote came out of the brush and onto the trail in front of me. He was not very close but he looked at me....and I looked at him....and I don't know who jumped higher! 

He's in the lower right hand corner by the shady spot.

And now I've cropped the photo. He disappeared into the tall weeds so I kept on walking. I'm careful around wild animals but I didn't have a reason to turn around and end my hike early. He didn't appear to be a threat. And since I'm telling the story....all's well that ends well! 

Have you had some good sightings this week?

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  Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Let's take a neighborhood walk! Updated!

I love to walk over to the neighborhood pond on the days we don't hike. (with the time change it's easier to go before sunset)

I couldn't wait to see what ducks might be there and sure enough there was something unusual.

I thought it was a Scaup but Pamela said in her comment that it was a Ring-necked Duck. You know...that sounded very familiar! So I searched in my OWN blog and found a post HERE that I wrote exactly 3 years ago! And the funny thing was, I saw most of the very same ducks then at the very same location! Amazing!

If only I had a memory, it would help SO much! Thanks Pamela for helping me with this ID! 

 I tried to say this using 2 syllables like a true Southern is 'want to do' but it was driving my husband crazy so I looked up the pronunciation. It is ONE syllable and rhymes with stop or drop! (this was written when I thought it was a Scaup!)

Anyway it was fun to see a nice flock of them in the pond.

A Great White Egret was standing next to this Canada Goose

but when it flew it looked dark!

Bird ID can get tricky!

The Blue Irises were beautiful 

and there was another duck in the tall grasses.

The pond is gorgeous and lots of birds and critters use it!

But when I turned to leave, a coyote ran past! I expect to see wild critters in the woods but this was a surprise! It gave me a scare and I practically RAN all the way home! But when I did a search and read more about coyotes, they are not a threat to humans. The Humane Society says, "Coyote attacks on people are very rare. More people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes." The website is HERE. Oh and since we live on a golf course and I know we have a bottle of champagne in the fridge, we have even more things to worry about! hahahahaha!

So that was the exciting trip to the neighborhood pond! And it doesn't even count as a hike!

What's new in your corner of the world?

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Safe from the Storms

 We didn't have any damage from Hurricane Eta here in North Central Florida. Damaging winds and rain and of course tornados are always a threat but it passed through without any of that. We woke up in the middle of the night to wind, rain and leaves hitting the bedroom window but it wasn't bad.

Now we are left with much improved weather! And even more birds that usual.

We are seeing big flocks of birds fly through, some we haven't been able to identify! 

And one day we drove in to the Pruitt Trailhead and saw these Sandhill Cranes under the trees, where we expect to see them.

You've seen a photo of ME here at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

And I've taken a 'few' of sweet hubby here.

You've even seen a coyote on the trail a month or so ago.

But what do we see through the grasses before we turn the corner?

Sandhill Cranes on the trail?

Yes, they were finding all kinds of bugs and insects on the trail.

Eat them all!

Then there will be fewer to eat on me! lol

Several times I've seen them flying overhead.

Time to migrate to Florida! Come on down! 🌴

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and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Florida Hiking!

We love hiking in North Central Florida. When you head out on Halpata Tastanaki Preserve from the Pruitt Trailhead you see huge live oak trees, wet marshy areas and open areas with all kinds of vegetation. 

It's a diverse area where all kinds of birds and wildlife live. Every time we go we see a wonderful variety! We are never disappointed. 

So let's get started! 

I'll just hit some of the highlights of the day!

It's still 'warm' here in Florida so we spotted a few deer under the trees staying cool. Doesn't this photo make you want to sketch this idyllic scene?

We saw this pretty little Prairie Warbler in a tree.

It didn't stay still long enough to get many photos.

But we tried!

This Downy was a neat sighting.

And then we saw a White-eyed Vireo and got a few photos of him.

He had caught something good to eat!

Now let's go into some deep woods! Well, it's cooler here and this is where we saw an Owl once upon a time, but it's time to turn around and go back. 

This section of trail has been mowed but hubby is in front of me and there's a curve in the trail.

And he can see over the high grass along the side of the trail, a wild animal coming RIGHT TOWARD US! 

Hubby got one quick photo and then stepped out so the coyote could see us and change his path. Wild animals do not usually attack you, they avoid you! So the coyote disappeared into the tall grass on the other side of the trail and we didn't see him again. We weren't really in danger but it makes a good story. AND I must admit, we picked up our pace and felt very privileged to see something so WILD on this hike!

In this closing photo, it looks like hubby has gotten way ahead of me again! 

WAIT UP HONEY!!! 

(just ONE more butterfly pic, I promise)

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and I’d Rather B Birdin’.