The Gopher Tortoise Trail at Reed Bingham State Park

 

Thanks every one for traveling back in time to last summer.

Photos are such a great way for us to remember our trips and good times.

I spent most of my time at the lake but I just had to walk on this trail.

And it was delightful with several birdhouses right next to the trail.

I left a gnome on one of them to delight the next hiker that came along.

Warblers

Birds on the trail

They really did NOT want to yield! haha!

Brown Thrashers...I think!

Always something to see!

The beauty that surrounds! 

Do you ever leave something on the trail when you hike? 

I see quite a lot of things but I rarely take them. Sometimes I'll pick something up and leave it somewhere else. That's a lot of fun!

Love, Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Attention to detail

 Sometimes I hike. When I'm on a good trail and feel like stretching my legs and setting a good pace.

Other times I take a nature walk. 

'Attention to detail' is the ability to observe, analyze and comprehend even the most minute aspects of a situation.

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve gives you the opportunity to 'hike' and 'walk'.

I stopped under the big Live Oak tree that shades the trail about a half mile from the trailhead.

It's a good place to take a drink of water and look up into the massive branches of this tree for birds.

But this time something else caught my eye.

Then when I zoomed in with my camera I saw even more.

A perfect feather!

I thought at first it was a nest but I think it a branch that some big bird had lunch.

And if that wasn't enough to slow me down...

there were dozens of tiny frogs crossing the trail.

This one was so wet that it picked up little bits and pieces of the seashells that cover the trail.

Boy, is he going to be in trouble when he gets home.

He's so dirty and messy! 

It was a beautiful day on the preserve and perfect for a nature walk!

A blog friend asked me how long I hike. Always longer than 1 hour and up to 2 hours, depending on how much nature I stop to observe!

We survived Hurricane Helene without any damage to our house. There are lots of branches down in the back yard but so far everything looks fine. We are keeping everyone in our prayers today. It was scary to hear the high winds and rain last night at about bedtime. But it's a beautiful sunny day today! Take care and be well! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Bees a buzzin'!

 

Don't kick the bucket....

or in this case....the steel drum!

I saw bees buzzing all around this old steel drum alongside the trail at Halpata Tastanki last week.

The wild bee hive is still there and the steel drum is nearby. 

When I got around to the other side of this drum, I zoomed in and saw a hole about the size of a dime and bees going in and out.

You just never know what you'll see on a hike at the preserve.

Which trail do you want to hike?

We get to a 't' and have to decide.

It was a sunny day but it felt great to be in nature.

I spotted this deer lying down in the shade of some trees.

She turned her head to get a better look at me but decided I wasn't a threat and stayed put.

A Cardinal lit on a branch and I saw a Bobwhite fly low across the trail.

This Gulf Fritillary butterfly lit near by. I saw lots of butterflies and dragonflies but no other good photo ops.

Now we have turned back to walk to the trailhead.

I parked in the shade so that kept the Jeep cool.

And I saw a Northern Harrier swooping overhead at the end of my hike.

It was a good day and the heat and humidity has been perfect for mushrooms. I'm trying to figure out what these look like. Maybe they look like some kind of sandwich or pastry?

What do you think?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

A Tree with Character

 This was our turn around point in a hike we took at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve this week. (Pruitt trailhead)

It was very hard to turn back because there are trails taking off in every direction and they all look inviting. 

But we had been hiking for over an hour and had to be realistic. Our hike ended up taking 2 1/2 hours total and that's about our limit. I'm hoping there are leftovers in the 'fridge for dinner at this point! lol

We are hiking just about every other day now with the weather so perfect so I have a lot more photos to share.

I'll hit some of the highlights of this particular day.

I think the fall months are just as colorful as the Spring here in Florida.

The pink muhly grass is simply gorgeous.

And the brown eyed susans are in full bloom.

They spread out over the preserve with thousands of blooms.

It was amazing to see a young Bald Eagle.

 Northern Harrier

This Northern Harrier flew over us from time to time and a Hawk tried to chase it away.

 Thanks hubby for this amazing photo!!!

We were surprised to see the American Kestrel, too.

 Eastern Meadowlark.

Mockingbird

So much to see and do right now. It's hard to stay indoors!

Have you had a good week? 

I hope you've had a chance to get outside and enjoy the beauty of Autumn.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

But where are the photos?

 

Spending the morning in nature is time well spent.

Observing birds and wildlife boosts your spirit.

Photos are a bonus.

In other words, you don't always get photos of some of your best sightings. You just stand there in awe and marvel at what you've seen. It's all good! 

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

And I keep a hiking journal to write down everything I've seen (or at least what I can remember)!

Red Winged Blackbird

One of my best sightings on the hike I took at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve last week was a Barred Owl.

I saw him in a tree next to the trail. He saw me. And he flew away from me in silent mode. It was amazing!

I also missed getting good photos of two Hawks.

The very first sighting was this Mama Turkey and her 2 little ones. 

But if you've ever taken photos in the heat and humidity, you'll understand why the photos are smoky.

I saw the turkeys when I parked, grabbed my camera and jumped out. The camera lens fogged over! lol

Oh well! It was a neat sighting.

Eastern Meadowlark singing his heart out!

And now he's scratching! 

I know this is another Eastern Meadowlark.

But it's a young one or female.

There's not as much color on the breast.

And a Swallow-tailed kite flying overhead!

Red winged Blackbird

Variegated Fritillary

I didn't get photos of everything I saw.

Live Oak Tree and possibly a female blackbird with something yummy! 

But plenty to share.

And a beautiful day to be out on the trails!

Have you had a good week too?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

 I’d Rather B Birdin’, 

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !