Winter Warmth in Florida

 We have a few cold days but we are warmer than most states in the winter. Today it is supposed to be 80 degrees and we are headed to the Pruitt Trailhead to hike the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve trails.

I know many of you feel like you've been there before but there's always something interesting to see.

Someone asked me what my most favorite trail was and this was it.

Of course there are so many directions you can take. 

And it changes from month to month....

sometimes from week to week.

Flycatcher

So these are some neat sightings from HTP in January.

Stork (not a good photo but I wanted to include him) 

We saw hundreds of Tree Swallows.

They are hard to photograph too!

Yellow-rumped Warbler aka butter-butt

We like to drive over there at least once a week and we spend 2 hours there at least when we go. 

So Vee....how about hiking HTP with me today? (She was concerned that I took all my photos from the Jeep! lol) 

I probably won't be doing this any time soon! 

Hang glider

Or go for a ride in this!

Canard

There's a small airport nearby!

American Kestrel

I'm still celebrating my birthday weekend and eating birthday brownies. 

I'll save you one to eat when we finish our hike! 

Come on down! Sunshine and brownies....and HTP! 

It's always fun to get outside and enjoy nature!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Hiking in the Sunshine State

You know...it really hasn't been that bad this summer. I always tell myself if I get too hot, I can just turn around and go back home. I've tried to hike in the evenings but the wind dies down and it feels 'close' and even more humid. I would rather be out in the sunshine and the trails I hike have shady areas along the way too. I've hiked 3 times this week. I keep a hiking journal and I use my Apple Watch for some of the info and then fill in what I've seen along the way. This week Hike #89 was 82 degrees with 81% humidity, Hike #90 was 83 degrees with 86% humidity, Hike #91 was 81 degrees with 89% humidity. The humidity is what makes it feel HOT but I had a nice breeze on 2 of these hikes. And there's always so much to see that it beats staying at home by a long shot!

We started our hike at Pruitt Trailhead by seeing this beautiful Blue Grosbeak.

He has been a regular in this area this summer.

When we got near a big live oak tree we heard quite a chatter in the branches.

I got a couple of close ups and determined it was full of Grackles.

A bird we've only seen once before at Pruitt.

And while we stood near the tree,

they started to fly....

more....

until we were seeing hundreds of them in the sky! 

Felt a little like the old Alfred Hitchcock movie, 'The Birds' with all the chatter!

No, this isn't a bird! But when we were looking in the sky we saw a hang glider too!

We ended the hike with 2 of the most beautiful Sandhill Cranes.

Have you seen lots of birds this week too? 

Enjoy your weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Have courage...look UP!

I appreciate all the words of wisdom and encouragement I'm reading on all of my favorite blogs.

(I'm thankful for good coffee and lots of good books to read!)

Thanks to all of my blog buddies for taking the time to blog a little extra to stay in touch!

We are still getting out to hike but now a few of the trails are closed. The trails we hike don't have a lot of people on them though so it's a good way for us to get outside and get some exercise. We've only seen 1 person on the trails on two of our hikes this week and the last hike, we saw 2 horses with riders. (this number isn't down, this is normal for these trails)

I'm sharing some of the views from ABOVE today!

How about going out in your hang glider this week?

Or out for a ride in your airplane?

I guess we'll stick to the trails!

(the two horses we saw yesterday)

Have you been able to get some fresh air and exercise?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!