Halpata Tastanaki Preserve in the Van Camper

 

A Van Camper is great for a day trip to the HTP at the Pruitt Trailhead.

You have everything you need when you finish your hike. You can make a cup of coffee and enjoy a snack out of the refrigerator....oh and go to the bathroom! And sit down to eat!

We know we'll enjoy taking it on other days trips but of course Halpata Tastanaki Preserve is one of my favorite destinations and it's close to home.

These are the first American Kestrels I've seen in awhile. 

I took pics of this one and then when I started to move down the trail, it flew and so did a second one.

So I think I caught a male and female traveling together.

We might see a Kestrel from time to time during the year, but more of them are here in the winter months.

Dragonfly

Bagworm

And don't forget to look UP!

The clouds looked like feathers and I saw a little pile of real feathers too.

There are still lots of Flycatchers at the preserve.

A view of the trail and my turn around point. 

(get a drink of water and make the turn)

Time for some relaxation in the van before heading home.

Do you enjoy day trips?

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  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Princess Pocohantas Parkway?

 Do we have time to turn at the pink elephant to explore the parkway? 

No, not this time! It's my birthday day trip! 

I wonder how many more posts I can do for my January birthday?

All of January? lol

But I had my choice of places to go and I chose to drive back out to the Gulf Coast and hike on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail.

It's become my favorite getaway now! I don't think anyone got my invitation! 

And we had weather in the 70s that day. We've had a week of colder temps so I was happy to have a beautiful day for this little trip. I mean it was only 60 when I hiked a couple of days ago! lol

I don't know how many banners I need! 

So here's some of what we saw. One of the highlights of the day was seeing a dolphin coming all the way out of the water...twice! But the photos of that didn't come out good. Too much excitement!

Cormorant

Spotted Sandpiper

A really LONG garter snake! (possibly an Eastern Ribbonsnake)

Red Admiral Butterfly (the first one we've seen)

A beautiful Eagle flying overhead....

and a Juvenile Eagle, too.

A Mockingbird (thanks Wally J. for help with the ID!), it never made a sound so I just couldn't understand a mockingbird that didn't 'mock'! 

So our plans for the day weren't exactly plan A but very close! And we'll save a trip down Princess Pocohantas Parkway for another day!

Have you had a good week?

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Sandhill Cranes Point the Way!

 We stood in the driveway to leave for a day trip to the Gulf Coast and looked up to see these Sandhill Cranes.

About 40 Sandhills pointing the way!

(The outline of this formation looks like a bird)

So let's go.

 ( beautiful scenes along the way are in my previous post)

We spotted 2 Pelicans from the bridge

and one took flight while we passed.

Let's continue across the bridge. 

Now we are at the water's edge in time to watch a Great Blue Heron fly over and perch close by.

The boat launch is popular for birds.

A kayak is ready to launch with a Great White Egret standing nearby.

He's a beauty, isn't he.

And willing to pose for pics!

A Seagull is on a little gravel bar in the water....

and other boats are enjoying a winter day in Florida with the temps in the 70s.

A few more scenes to enjoy!

I could stay all day! 

I have my camera...where's my chair! lol

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

A Drive to Florida's Nature Coast

 We drove over to the Gulf Coast a few days ago and it felt great to take a little day trip.

We had an errand to run in that direction so we drove a little farther to “The Ozello Trail” as it twists and turns through St. Martin’s Aquatic Preserve, a 23,000-acre wildlife preserve. 

It was a beautiful day but the two lane road was not busy at all so we enjoyed the sights along the way.

My hubby was driving 55 mph and I rolled my window down to take pics.

I just kept taking them hoping something would come out. 

Hoping they would not all just be a big blur!

But guess what! 

(this was one of my FAVS!)

They all turned out good so I've had a time trying to figure out which ones to share.

We're going over the bridge now so stay tuned!

I'll show some of the birds we saw in my next post!

I'm thankful to live in such a beautiful place!

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