A Deer by any other name?

 The name deer sounds very sweet, doesn't it? But what about rat? I saw a rat on one of my hikes this week but I'll save his photo for last. He was a very cute rat even though that name conjures up something ugly and even sinister.  Makes me wonder why I'm waiting until the end to show his photo! lol

I was walking on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway near hwy 484 when I saw all of these critters.

The deer weren't concerned about my presence in the least.

The first one I saw was eating right along the trail.

This bike stopped to watch too.

And then a little curious deer came out of the brush to get a better look at ME.

So I'll share some of his cute pics....

I must have looked a sight!

The lady in the pink cap!

What a tale he will have to share when he joins the others.

So I promised you a rat!

Florida Woodrat

I didn't get a very good photo because he was in the leaves and brush content on the task at hand. You can barely make out the little round ear and dark eye in the center of the photo.

And after a few steps I saw an Eastern Cottontail Rabbit.

He was well hidden in the tall grasses but once I took a step towards him, he headed for the safety of the woods!

It's still hot and humid but I've made a few early morning hikes. Yesterday it was 84 degrees with 84% humidity and not much breeze. That's pretty warm and sticky but I drink lots of water and come home, take a shower and spend the rest of the day in an air conditioned house so I won't complain. (well, not right this minute! lol)

Have you had any good sightings this week? 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE.

The Tortoise and the Hare

 

I've admitted to talking baby talk to the animals we meet in the forest. Now I'm naming them.

Meet Little Sooty

Isn't he tiny?

We drove over to the 49th Ave Trailhead of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway to check on the control burn/prescribed fire. They had burned a section just a few days before but it wasn't blowing smoke or even smelling bad, so we took a hike. 

Control burns are important in this part of Florida where we have forests. They reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires, and enhance the beauty of the land. They are also beneficial for the wildlife. I'll include the link HERE to learn more about them. 

The reason we called this little Gopher Tortoise, Sooty because he did have traces of soot on his underside.

He had clearly walked through the burned area.

Hubby picked him up and put him into the unburned side of the forest and away from big hiking boots and bikes riding by.

He didn't waste any time taking off in a tortoise RUN! 

RUN Sooty RUN! 

We also saw a big Cottontail Rabbit on the trail ahead of us.

 

He even had a snack while we waited!

We have time and plenty of film in the camera! lol

He watched us for awhile. 

Finally a bike came by and he scurried across.

On the side trail (limerock road) we saw this beautiful Brown Thrasher.

He made a series of calls that reminded us of a Mockingbird!

I'll show pics of the forest in a couple of weeks to show you how soon the forest recovers here in Florida. It will be green before we even get back over there!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the special mothers this weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Summertime and the living is HOT!

 It's been awfully HOT to hike (even in the mornings) but I've managed a few this past week. 

And it's been a great week for sightings!

Mr. Bunny and I stopped under the same shade tree. I pulled out my water bottle to get a drink and looked over and he was watching me! 

I'm not sure what this little bird is but he was well hidden in these leaves!

Dragonfly and Swallowtail Kite

The Palmetto Palms are in full bloom and you can smell the sweet scent and hear them buzzing with bees and insects!

I call the hill at the turnaround point, Bluebird of Happiness Hill and we always see a nice variety of birds and critters.

I even heard 2 Bobwhites calling each other at the end of my hike when I stopped to pick a few blackberries. Don't pick this one! It's not RIPE yet!

Is it blackberry season where you live? 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.  

When you venture into the WILD....

...you have a chance to see something wild!

And even your imagination can 'run wild'!

This Eastern Cottontail Rabbit rustled in the leaves right next to the trail and made me JUMP!

Not once.....but twice this week! 

He has some straw and sticks in his mouth that he was not eating so we think he was building a nest.

More cute bunnies to scare me on the trail!

I also saw these 4 deer quite a distance away on the trail ahead of me. So I zoomed in!

They were curious about me too and stopped.

And waited...

before bounding away.

It's a joy to walk in the woods but you never know what might rustle in the leaves or cross the trail in front of you! Which makes walking in the woods so WILD....and so much fun!

Swallowtail Kite 

(we're seeing them on every hike right now)

How are you doing this week? Have you been able to get outside and walk?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.