The trails of summer!

 It's very beautiful here in Florida during the summer months.

We get pop up showers (usually in the late afternoon) that keeps the grass watered and allows the flowers to flourish.

Let's take a break under this big old Live Oak Tree!

I saw the Blue Grosbeak again this week.

His silver beak really glows in the sun!

Black Swallowtail butterfly

Neat looking clouds!

A curious deer in the trees. There were 3 of them!

I'm trying to drive out to Pruitt once a week to hike on the wide open grassy trails of Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

I saw 3 Hawks and this photo is not particularly good. He's in flight in the lower part of the photo.

But look at the top corner....another hawk or a web? 

And I can see birds and wildlife every time I visit. Two vultures flew up into the limbs of this tree when I walked by and gave me a 'start'! 

I usually hike for an hour or so depending on what I see and how many photos I 'need' to take.

The sign at the trailhead had a Red-shouldered Hawk on the post when I finished my hike.

He was a real beauty! 

I drink lots of water and have apple slices and an oatmeal cookie (Keto recipe) for a snack when I'm finished.

And I feel so much better after spending time in nature!

What is your favorite snack after a walk or work out?

Happy weekend! 🌴

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

A Hiking story AND a Fishing tale!

 

Well, there are fishing tales and there are hiking stories. This may be more than one tale if you get all the way to the end.

And since it's the first time I've told it, it hasn't had a chance to grow.

I have been known to 'zaggerate' from time to time. (Southern for exaggerate)

But this really is how it went.

We drove to the Gulf Coast and when we got on the dusty road to Withlacoochee Bay Trail, we saw an Eagle.

We hiked and saw a lot of neat birds and butterflies but we'll skip right over those for now.

It's time to eat egg salad sandwiches in the Jeep.

Hardly anyone there and no one is parked near us so we are relaxing with the windows down.

A BIG bird flies onto a limb that we can see to one side of the Jeep. Another big bird flies in crying like a Hawk. 

They sit still for a few minutes and then the crying Hawk makes an aggressive move and the big bird flies right in front of the Jeep, face forward. 

And it's a Barred Owl in all it's beauty. 

The Hawk that scared it away.

I threw down my egg salad sandwich and got out to take pics of the Hawk. The Owl has flown away.

Another Hawk flies in and perches nearby.

We finish our sandwiches and get out to walk to the observation deck. At this time I could have said, "Let's get out so that we can see 100 White Pelicans overhead." 

Because that's what we saw between the Jeep and the deck.

I cropped a few photos to get a better look at them.

We also watched this fisherman catch a really big Catfish with a teeny tiny fishing rod. His son had left it in the water when his wife and son went to the store. 

So he let the Catfish swim and tire himself out and then he pulled it in.

In the water

On the bank

Catch of the day!

Amazing! A truly amazing trip to the Gulf of Mexico. (more pics to come)

The owl was huge, the two hawks were very vocal and the Catfish was the 'catch of the day'. 

No need to 'zaggerate'! 

The flock of White Pelicans may be over 100 the next time I tell it though!

I thought these were Wood Storks but Eileen said something about mistaking them for White Pelicans and now I think they ARE White Pelicans. If anyone has a positive ID, please let me know! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.   

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Winter in the 'real Florida'

 I know everyone is busy with their holiday fun but it's the perfect time for us to get out on the trails.

So here are a few of our favs from our hikes this week!

Blue Run Park 

White-eyed Vireo

We were SO excited to identify this bird...don't remember ever seeing one before. We have so many Warblers here right now that we thought it was a Warbler but then it didn't have a Warbler beak! lol

This Red-shouldered Hawk had just taken a 'dip' in the river!

Shake shake shake!!!

AAahhhh....that's better!

Little Blue Heron

And some turtles!

Use your imagination! (it's a leaf! lol)

I'm planning to do a post on Monday with some holiday decorations around my house and then I'll take a couple of weeks off. I'm wishing all of my critter and birding friends a very happy holiday! God bless you during this special time! Please try to get out in nature to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. Get some exercise...Breathe...Feel the stress drain away...and HAVE FUN!!!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Raptors soaring above!

 When we hike Halpata Tastanaki Preserve we have a wide open view above the preserve. 

So it's easy to spot big birds!

We've been seeing this immature Eagle for a couple of months.

He's probably between 1 and 2 years old considering his coloration. 

I sure hope he stays around and we get to photograph him when his head turns white. He'll be easier to spot then!

And the Kestrels are regulars here during the winter months and we usually see 3 or 4 on our hikes in that area.

They are such beautiful birds, small and graceful.

Of course the Red-shouldered Hawk and the Red-tailed Hawks are regulars year round.

We've had perfect hiking weather this week. It was even 80 degrees on one of our hikes!

Have you had a good week? Ours has been busy!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.