Florida Greeneyes and other oddities

 When you get out in nature you are sure to see oddities!

The Florida Greeneyes really catches your eye! And it is endemic to Florida, meaning it is only found in Florida. 

I saw this Pawpaw plant on this same hike and it was unusual with the red center. Most of them have a pale cream colored center like the petal. I think this is a Wooly Pawpaw.

This hike took place on a section of the Florida Trails that runs through the whole state of Florida. I hike several sections from different trailheads. This trailhead is located on hwy 484 in Ocala.

It's fun to see something odd or unusual!

And imagine my surprise when a vehicle was headed my way on the trail, bearing down on me!

I laughed out loud!

It was a remote control truck and the owner was happy to tell me all about it.

It was so much fun that I was beginning to wonder if I could juggle my backpack, camera, hiking stick and a remote control.

What do you think?

Two red bellied woodpeckers, getting along! 

Enjoy your odd week. Get out there and go WILD!

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

"Wildflowers and Woodpeckers"

 

I had planned a Wildflower post for April but when I looked at the photos I've taken this week, I decided to sneak the Woodpeckers in, too!

There has been terrible flooding in other parts of Florida but we haven't had any rain in our neck of the woods.

Passion flower

But the wildflowers are putting on a show in the forest!

The Passion flower is in full bloom at the hwy 484 trailhead.

And I also saw Red-headed Woodpeckers for the first time this Spring in that part of the Greenway. (Florida Trails West)

I was thrilled to see 2 of these beauties but they were quite a distance.

So I zoomed and cropped to get a better look at them.

Their heads look like velvet, don't they?

Pretty Pawpaws in the woods. 

Florida Pawpaw

They are showy and easy to spot!

And a regal Pileated Woodpecker on a pine tree. Hubby took the amazing photos of the Pileated!

It's a great time to be out in nature with so many wildflowers in bloom. And the wildflower attract butterflies.

Gulf Fritillary on Butterfly weed

There's so much beauty in the world around us and there's never been a better time to get out in nature!

Have you seen signs of Spring where you live? Our butterflies arrived before the wildflowers bloomed. They have been flitting around for a month already!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

  Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !  

It's been raining 'ducks' and 'Ibis'!

We've had some much needed rain this past week.

And we've seen some sights a little out of the ordinary, like this PawPaw bush with red petals in the center!

The Mottled Ducks I've seen in the neighborhood pond flew over for a visit.

They landed in our backyard and walked around finding worms and all kinds of edibles under our trees. Later I saw them in a retention pond nearby.

And when we were driving home from a hike, we saw a large flock of about 50 White Ibis in a retention pond in our community.

One loner....

And I'm not sure these are getting along well with others! lol

Retention ponds are necessary in Florida neighborhoods to catch rainwater run off. Much of the year they are dry (and kept mowed) but during heavy thunderstorms and rains from hurricanes they may hold water for a few days. And Florida is flat and near sea level so these retention ponds are worked into the residential planning. 

A big view of the retention pond from a distance.

I've seen a lot of pretty birds this week and this one is my favorite.

A Female Summer Tanager seen on my hike from the 49th Ave Trailhead.

She's a real beauty and a rare sighting!

What's your weather like this weekend?

After one rainy day we've had beautiful weather, some great hiking weather! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

The Loggerhead Shrike!

We hiked the Florida Trails starting at the Pruitt Trailhead ...again! 

It's getting to be one of our favorite hikes! And the Dock weed is so red and pretty along the fences and in the fields.

We saw this bird and thought at first it was some type of Flycatcher because they are so common in this area. Imagine our surprise when we got home and looked in the bird book!

It's a Loggerhead Shrike. The first time we've ever seen one!

We saw the Eastern Meadowlark again but he was a long way off. We had to ZOOOM to get this Kestrel!

 And be quick to photograph two Canada Geese flying overhead!

 

The hiking trail comes back to the horse trail for a short distance and we saw these friendly folks. That was nice!

 And now we'll finish with a song! The Paw paw is in FULL bloom! 

So everyone...altogether now...

Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

The last time I shared Paw paw pics, Jeannie from Get me to the Country had this comment, "What about picking a pawpaw from the song "Bare Necessities" from Jungle Book?" The lyrics are from her too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.