A short walk to the neighborhood pond for 2024!

 

It's always hard to get used to writing the new year! 2024! WOW! 

Let's take a walk to the neighborhood pond. It's not far so I don't count it as a hike but we made 143 hikes on the Florida trails for 2023 so I'm happy with that! 

I walked over there in the late afternoon so the lighting was kind of funny. And the Bald Cypress trees are deciduous conifers that turn a burnt orange and then lose their leaves (or needles) at this time of year. 

Some photos look lighter and brighter than others.

And of course I saw ducks!

When I first walked up, I noticed a whole line of ducks on the bank across the pond.

And this beautiful Great Blue Heron was crouched down in the tall grasses.

Let's see how close we can get!

It was just beautiful in every direction!

Some of the ducks I have tried to ID before and finally realized they are hybrid ducks. 

But if you have a better ID, please let me know and I'll add it to the description.

There were a few Moorhens in the mix too.

And one we see in the winter months....

the Ring-necked Duck.

They are so distinct and beautiful.

It was a nice warm 70 degree afternoon.

The perfect way to begin the new year!

Happy New Year everyone!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE ! 

Let's take a neighborhood walk! Updated!

I love to walk over to the neighborhood pond on the days we don't hike. (with the time change it's easier to go before sunset)

I couldn't wait to see what ducks might be there and sure enough there was something unusual.

I thought it was a Scaup but Pamela said in her comment that it was a Ring-necked Duck. You know...that sounded very familiar! So I searched in my OWN blog and found a post HERE that I wrote exactly 3 years ago! And the funny thing was, I saw most of the very same ducks then at the very same location! Amazing!

If only I had a memory, it would help SO much! Thanks Pamela for helping me with this ID! 

 I tried to say this using 2 syllables like a true Southern is 'want to do' but it was driving my husband crazy so I looked up the pronunciation. It is ONE syllable and rhymes with stop or drop! (this was written when I thought it was a Scaup!)

Anyway it was fun to see a nice flock of them in the pond.

A Great White Egret was standing next to this Canada Goose

but when it flew it looked dark!

Bird ID can get tricky!

The Blue Irises were beautiful 

and there was another duck in the tall grasses.

The pond is gorgeous and lots of birds and critters use it!

But when I turned to leave, a coyote ran past! I expect to see wild critters in the woods but this was a surprise! It gave me a scare and I practically RAN all the way home! But when I did a search and read more about coyotes, they are not a threat to humans. The Humane Society says, "Coyote attacks on people are very rare. More people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes." The website is HERE. Oh and since we live on a golf course and I know we have a bottle of champagne in the fridge, we have even more things to worry about! hahahahaha!

So that was the exciting trip to the neighborhood pond! And it doesn't even count as a hike!

What's new in your corner of the world?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.