I would rather HIKE!

 I spent the summer complaining. I knew I shouldn't but I did it anyway. It was too hot to hike. I had a heat rash that made it miserable to even be outside. Whine...whine...whine! hahaha!

But John took me for some evening drives to my favorite trailheads.

And each and every one gave me such a great feeling. And of course we saw things every time we got out in nature. I had to be good and not wear my hiking shoes so I would not be tempted to get out of the car and hike! 

The weather is changing. I'm improving. So I am excited about this next chapter of my life.

So here's a couple of trailheads and what we saw.

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve (hwy 200) trailhead

Of course I got out just to 'look' down the trail.

And I spotted this little lizard on the fence post.

He was happy to be photographed.

Another evening we drove to Shangri La trailhead and campground.

This tree was full of bluebirds darting around like flycatchers.

But they wouldn't stand still!

So I caught a couple on the fly! 

Do you ever complain? 

Do you have trouble 'standing still'? 

I DO!

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Slow down, You might miss something!

 

Slow down? I don't think anyone has actually said that to me lately.

Common Buckeye Butterfly

Lizard on a log

Grasshopper in the pine needles

Hoverfly in the sky

They 'hover' and stay so still that if you can get your camera to focus on them, you can get a photo!

I walk at a pretty slow pace and I stop and look around at odd times.

Armadillo

It's amazing how many times I've stopped to get a drink of water and noticed something interesting in the forest.

Or if my battery gets low on my camera and I have to change it, that's a sure way to have wildlife saunter by.

One day we were hiking near Shangri-la and a bike rider stopped to say he had pulled out some crackers to have a snack and a bear poked his nose out from behind the tree. We asked him where and he pointed to a spot close by. And no....I don't think he stayed long enough to share his crackers with the bear.

Anyway, I thought I would find those photos of the small things we see when we are hiking that often get left out of a post.

Bear Scat (poop...not zoomed in!)

You may WISH I had left out more! hahaha!

 

Someone dropped their walking stick in the forest. I hope they came back to get it!

Happy Hiking! It's just a walk in the forest!

 A chance to get out in nature and enjoy the scenery...watch where you walk!

And enjoy your day!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

A Day at the Park, Blue Run Park

 

Blue Run Park is in Dunnellon, Florida but it isn't your typical 'city' park with picnic tables and playground equipment.

It has nature trails with ponds, a trail that runs with the swamp on one side and the Rainbow River on the other side.

A park that has a big bridge overlooking the Withlacoochee River, the River that flows North!

Alligator seen from the bridge!

And ZOOMED in!

A place to launch kayaks and canoes, nature trails and paved biking and hiking trails.

A side trail with oranges ripening on the trees!

And it is one of the best places we know to see a lot of wildlife and birds. 

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Turtle taken from the bridge

Great Blue Heron on the Rainbow River

And a squirrel!

It's a popular place but never very crowded.

There's lots of space to roam!

Lizard

So I'm sharing some of our sightings from a day at the park.

Do you have a favorite place near you to get out in nature?

It's good for what ails you! Happy weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Wild animals in the Forest?

 Sometimes the small birds we see get missed in my posts. 

There are always the 'one of a kind' critters that get more attention.

Like this 'wild' bunny rabbit. He's sitting on the concrete steps that riders use to get up and down off their horses. Here at the 49th Ave Trailhead there are hiking trails, bike trails, horse trails and mountain biking trails. I've never actually seen anyone get off their horse here but then I've never seen a bunny use them either! 

We are seeing big flocks of Warblers and I don't always know the proper ID. 

I know most of the ones along this trail are pine and palm Warblers. These are Pine Warblers.

Female Common Yellowthroat

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Downy Woodpecker

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Phoebe

Black and white Warbler

Little Blue Heron

And last and maybe least.....

a lizard showing off his Dewlap. 

Did you know that is it called a Dewlap? Well, you learn something new every day!

And I learned A LOT when I posted this! My bird buddy Wally Jones helped me with the IDs! Thank you so much! That's what friends are for!!! His blog is HERE. And thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes! I'm still celebrating! 🎂

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.