Happy Thanksgiving from Florida

It's just the best time of the year here in Florida!

And this week I'll share the 'yard birds' I've seen around the house!

These turkeys were hanging out on the golf course.

You can see how many leaves have fallen from the Poplar tree this week.

Their feathers are so beautiful.

But they better stay on the run to avoid the roasting pan this week!

We had a wonderful surprise when we looked out back and saw a big flock of Robins.

They usually show up on Christmas day.

But this year they were early and it sure lifted my spirits to stand outside and watch them. And isn't my neighbor's Poinsettia gorgeous!

We had a Great White Egret walk through the neighborhood.

He's across the street in these photos.

And a small flock of White Ibis even showed up for the holidays.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a blessed week.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

Sightings close to home!

 I haven't been on the trails as much this week but hopefully I'll get back out more regularly after this week. We've gotten a lot of things done around the house and in the yard so I feel good about how my time has been spent! 

But I'm going to need some trail therapy soon! The weather has improved and I can't wait!

How do you like this Great White Egret that walked through the neighborhood?

And this was a funny sight looking out the window in the back!

Off you go!

They look like they are saying I'm not very nice. They only wanted to scratch in the courtyard and make a mess! 

We have a Dove family that I see every day. 

This looks like a young one!

And the sunsets have been spectacular.

I didn't enhance these colors.

(taken from the courtyard)

It really was this vibrant!

I also ordered a new camping journal. 

The green one is from this past year and I filled it up.

The brown one will be ready when we are....which I hope is soon!

Enjoy your weekend!

I hope you have something fun planned!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

The Wood Stork at Manatee Springs State Park

 

It's always good to learn to identify the birds you see. I find it a challenge but over the years, I've learned a few!

I walked on the boardwalk at Manatee Springs State Park every day that we camped there. 

Sometimes I went more than once a day.

The lighting can be so different and also bird sightings.

I said 'hello' to a couple that I had seen a few times and I noticed his camera with a zoom lens.

One late afternoon, I was on my way back down the boardwalk and saw that he was zoomed in on something in the swamp.

 

So I stopped to look and I said, "Even living here in Florida, it's still a thrill to get to see a Wood Stork."

And they both looked at me with wide eyes and she said, "Is THAT what that is? We didn't know what that bird was." 

So it felt good to actually share that with them. And when he gets home from traveling he will have a bird ID for his photos! It made me smile. I walked on, and when I looked back, he was still taking photos!

This Great White Egret was very beautiful too.

The birds don't feel threatened by people walking on the boardwalk.

So they pose and preen.

The Suwannee River in all of it's glory! 

And my favorite Wood Stork photo!

Do you see his loose feather?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Manatee Springs State Park on the Suwannee River

 We camped at Manatee Springs State Park just before the manatees came up into the warmer waters of the Springs for the winter. I hope we can go back soon.

It was sad to see all the damage from the hurricanes back in the Fall. There were so many trees down and a lot of the camp sites were closed because of the damage. 

We saw these Blue Catfish right off of the boardwalk.

They were 3 or 4 ft long! And there were a dozen or more that we could watch!

The campsites that are open are well tended but it will take years to clear all the downed trees and debris. 

It's a wonderful campground with lots of wildlife wandering the campground and the river and springs are close enough to walk to, more than once a day.

That little white triangle is another Grebe that this one was chasing off! 

We were happy to see that the boardwalk had been repaired. It was closed in the Spring when we were there.

Comorant

Eagle overhead!

There's such a great view of the river.

A headless Little Blue Heron!

Whew! He DOES have a head after all! lol

And this Great White Egret is trying to hide in the swamp!

I love these Cypress knees!

Isn't the Suwannee River gorgeous! 

It's a beautiful place to camp or spend the day!

It's Florida in the winter time! Come on down!!!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE ! 

Reed Bingham State Park, Georgia - traveling in style!

 

We visited several State Parks in the month of December. 

And as much as we love camping in Florida, it's fun to 'spread our wings' a little and visit some of the state parks in neighboring states.

And it's much easier to travel now in this Coachmen Nova 20d Van camper. 

Our dealer, Sunshine State RVs in Gainesville, FL was the best ever! The link to Sunshine is HERE. And I'll put a link HERE if you want to look at the specs and floor plan. 

In these photos, the side door is open (screen closed) and the back is fully open with a screen pulled down.

We had the prettiest tree in the park at our campsite!

And this is the view of the lake from the window (and door)  facing the lake.

We loved our little travel trailer and Chevy truck but we thought this van would be easier for us to manage. Thanks so much to those who talked to us about the vans and answered our questions, especially my blog friend HERE! 

We spent a week at Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, Georgia last month and had a wonderful experience. A link to the website is HERE.

I keep a camping journal and I had so much good to write about this campground and not a single negative.

Even in December the trees had a lot of 'Fall' color! 

The Cypress trees were spectacular!

Snowy Egret

And I don't think I've ever seen such a variety of birds in a lake. 

Great White Egret

I went different times of the day so I got to see quite a lot!

It sure has been a wonderful experience to travel to so many state parks.

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mosaic of a few more! (not sure what the bird in the center is)

I may need at least one more post featuring Reed Bingham State Park. 

(We did go in search of the monster of the lake and found it...stay tuned!)

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !