Withlacoochee Bay Trail, buggy but beautiful!

 We've been anxious to drive back over to the Gulf Coast, weather permitting. It's been hot and humid and pop up showers are hard to predict. (and they usually come from the warm Gulf waters) 

So when we saw it would be low tide, we took a drive.

More chance of seeing shorebirds when there are exposed sandbars at low tide.

And the water was glassy and the views were amazing!

But there were deer flies buzzing all around. We didn't get a single bug bite but they were annoying to say the least!

Do you see the one that photobombed this photo? He was right on the lens of the camera for crying out loud!

But it was a good day for sightings!

Osprey

Tricolored Heron and Great White Egret.

Are you following me?

The Heron just wanted to hang out with the Egret! 

And here's proof that the earth is FLAT!

Don't go out too far and fall off! lol

This Swallowtail Kite might take a photo of you and post it on his blog! hahahaha! Straight out of camera with his catch of the day!

He has his camera focused right on YOU!!!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

I'll share some beauty with you today!

 

Sometimes we're asked what we are taking photos of in the woods.

Birds

(Swallowtail Kite, Red headed Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher)

Wildlife

Butterflies and dragonflies

Mushrooms

Wildflowers

The list goes on and on!

  

Just some of what we see here in North Central Florida in the summer months. 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.   

HOP IN! Maybe we'll meet an artist on the trail!

 

We hiked the Halpata Tastanaki Trail at the Pruitt trailhead last week and met a well known local artist.

We've seen him before and spoken to him but this time I asked if he had art displayed locally. And he does!

Meet John Romaine. His facebook page is HERE.

I took a photo of the huge live oak tree nearby but he may have been drawing the one across the trail.

It's a beautiful place to set up your easel and spend some time.

We've had some good hikes lately and enjoyed our time outdoors.

(Mississippi Kite, Swallowtail Kite, Cattle Egret, Hawk)

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday weekend!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.  

Some of the "new kids' in town!

 

We are seeing birds now that we don't see year round here in Florida.

The Summer Tanager was a neat sighting.

We actually saw the red male but he flew away as soon as we saw him.

The female stayed on the same branch and sang and sang!

And think she was trying to call him back.

These were sighted at limerock road trail off of hwy 200.

On another hike on 49th Ave trail I saw this pretty female!

We saw a beautiful Northern Parula this week at Blue Run Park.

Lots of Swallowtail Kites at Halpata Tastaniki Preserve.

And we even saw some Mississippi Kites in our neighborhood! (no pics of them yet!)

We see Tortoise homes everywhere we hike but it's neat when we actually see one 'at home'! 

This one is on the embankment of the 49th Ave overpass. Can you see it right in the center of the photo? 

The sunflowers are just starting to open at Cannon Farms! 

We are still hiking on all the nice days which means we are having to make ourselves take a day off now and then. But when summer comes, we won't be able to get out as much! 

Have you had a good week with nice weather?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

 

The Graceful Great Egret

I was so pleased (with my new camera) and these photos of the Great White Egret.

It's not easy to zoom in on birds that are flying high in the sky. 

I loved the way these came out just a little bit dreamy. 

Do you see the photo bombing Buzzard above? lol

Swallow-tailed Kite below!

I haven't taken many Swallow-tailed Kites lately because I have SO many photos of them already. And they are common here in Florida during the summer.

But these came out a little different with my new camera so I'm glad I zoomed in on these.

Lots of pretty mushrooms in the woods right now.

And I'm always stopping to try to get butterfly pics.

There are hundreds of dragonflies flying over the preserve now too. Hope they're eating all the pesky bugs!

It's hot in Florida right now and I can't get out every day. But then I can look outside sometimes and see a Wild Turkey walk through the yard. 

Maybe he's looking for some shade!

That keeps us entertained!

What's been entertaining you this week?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio too!

When you venture into the WILD....

...you have a chance to see something wild!

And even your imagination can 'run wild'!

This Eastern Cottontail Rabbit rustled in the leaves right next to the trail and made me JUMP!

Not once.....but twice this week! 

He has some straw and sticks in his mouth that he was not eating so we think he was building a nest.

More cute bunnies to scare me on the trail!

I also saw these 4 deer quite a distance away on the trail ahead of me. So I zoomed in!

They were curious about me too and stopped.

And waited...

before bounding away.

It's a joy to walk in the woods but you never know what might rustle in the leaves or cross the trail in front of you! Which makes walking in the woods so WILD....and so much fun!

Swallowtail Kite 

(we're seeing them on every hike right now)

How are you doing this week? Have you been able to get outside and walk?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.