Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway - Sharp-shinned Hawk

 

It's fun to look back at previous posts to find out when you first learned about a particular bird or critter.

The first time I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk (and properly identified it) was in 2019. The post was HERE.

And it was only about 2 miles from the one I saw this week!

Maybe less as the crow flies...or in this case the hawk!

I saw it at the very beginning of my hike and was lucky that it landed nearby. It's a small hawk and stands very upright.

It was breezy that day and he has a few ruffled feathers!

The Sumac is still blooming and I saw what I thought was a big wasp on one flower head.

But now I think it's a Trichopoda fly. There were other tiny wasps on the blooms too.

I saw a Northern Harrier, but in this photo he is high in the sky and impossible to pick out!

I noticed a couple of new markings on the paved part of the trail.

The heart was showing the turn for the trail I hike through the woods.

A collage of the Sumac blooms

Any monsters in the deep forest you ask?

Just a couple!

Thanks for joining me for another hot and humid hike along the Greenway.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Open trails with Big views!

 As much as I like to hike the side trails through the forest, the open trails can give you views of the sky.

Bald Eagle

Even then, you only get a glimpse of some of the big birds that fly overhead.

I was fortunate to see this Eagle a few days ago.

But only managed 2 photos before he was out of my view.

Florida Pawpaws in bloom along the trails now too!

While hiking with a friend this Northern Harrier flew across the trail and landed in a tree nearby.

Northern Harrier

But he didn't stay long! So again I only got 2 good photos.

Look at the tuft of white feathers on the back of his head!

I got ONE photo of this Sharp-shinned Hawk on the same day that I saw the Eagle.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Another beautiful Hawk that flew across the trail and stopped to observe US! 

Take your TIME....look around!

And no matter what....don't give up! 

The photo above might turn out to be your best sighting! 

Photos all taken on hikes along the Majorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’ 

 and Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Have a beautiful Spring weekend! And here's the link to the Ocala's Good Life magazine again! Did you miss reading this article? 

     

Enjoy our article in Ocala's Good Life magazine HERE.

Hiking, Morning, noon or night!

I've had to hike in the mornings this summer because of the heat but now we are getting some nicer temps and it's always fun to see if there's something out at different times of day.

On a morning hike this week I saw a beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk.

He holds his body so straight!

It's usually easy to ID him, even from a distance.

And then when I went out right after 'noon' I saw the most beautiful Fox Squirrel.

It's not the one I usually see!

It was a golden color and had less black on it's head.

Let's hope the two get together!

 He...or she is big and the tail looks like a fox tail!

And then I went out after dinner one evening. I had hoped to see some deer but instead I saw a Kestrel with some of the best markings I've ever seen.

He wasn't very close and I was losing the light...

but I was happy with the photos!

I've hiked extra this week and been on the computer less! I'll try to catch up this weekend!

Are you having some nice weather too?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

     and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

 

 

Hoppin' Down the bunny trail!

I've had some wonderful sightings this week on my hikes! 

I couldn't stop taking photos of this beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk that I saw on the Florida Trails.

He posed for the longest time in a tree near the trail.

I wasn't sure at first what it was but when I studied my photos AND my ID books I was able to make the ID.

 He flew and that gave me a good view.

 He soared!

We've seen this hawk in the same area before too.

  Oh, and one of the cutest sightings was this rabbit at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

 He stayed in the trail for the longest time. I got closer and closer to get better pics.

But hubby was behind me taking a video. So if you want to see me hoppin' down the bunny trail and smiling my happy smile at the end, view the video. 

You'll be smiling too! I promise!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

     and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Summer sightings on the Florida Trails!

Hike #76 was only about an hour long but I had some really neat sightings! It had rained that afternoon so I hiked at 7pm. There were still some clouds and the sun was getting low but  it was still 86 degrees.

As I started up the first hill, I looked ahead and saw something brown on the side of the trail.

So I stopped and zoomed in. 

This is a mother and her young one. I have seen them a couple of times on my hikes...one time the mother even snorted at me. But these were the first good pics I've gotten.

What was a little freaky was the way the mother acted. I stopped to take photos and she took a few steps TOWARD me. So then I walked forward a few more steps and stopped. And yes...she walked a few more steps in my direction! I thought, at this rate one of us is going to have to 'give'! And I'm guessing it will be ME! lol

You can see her step forward in this short video.

But after I closed the gap a little more, they decided to leave.

 She stopped in the woods and watched me though and I took one more photo.

It looks like she's daring me to follow them!!!

Then when I got down to 'bobcat holler'....the spot where I saw the Bobcat earlier this year, I spotted a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Bobcat post is HERE.

It was a beauty against the darkening sky.

I went just a little farther and then headed back to the car. I even had a few sprinkles as I walked. But you'll be glad to know....I didn't melt! 

The heat might make me melt if I go out this week though. We'll see how bad my 'cabin fever' gets!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE  

 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.