Halpata Tastanaki and the Florida Scrub Jays

 It's still hot and humid here in Florida but one day this week I just HAD to get out!

I thought I would drive over to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve (SR 200) and look for the Florida Scrub Jays!

And I found them not too far from the trailhead.

The one I got the most photos of was very dull in color.

I've never seen one so dull.

This is a photo of one I took a couple of months ago and it shows the pretty blue.

Well, I thought....I can at least walk down and see if there are persimmons on the fruit trees.

And there were quite a few.

Oh, I feel so good, I think I'll just walk down to where the trail splits and see what I can see.

It has rained some evenings and the sandy trail was like walking on velvet.

Look at all the animal tracks!

Wild Hog track

I felt great.

And I saw so many neat things.

It was partly cloudy and humid but I kept moving.

And the next thing I knew, I had a regular hike in.

Do you know how I know? Well.....I was hiking for over an hour and felt fine until I got home. And then I crashed! I didn't realize how out of shape I was after a hot summer in the house.

But I survived and now I can't wait to get back out there.

And there are always interesting things when you get out on the Florida trails. I met the nicest man at the trailhead. He was all set up with his ham radio. Well, that was a first and I really enjoyed talking to him. 

Thanks Chris for taking the time to tell me about your ham radio experiences!

Happy Hiking everyone!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

A deer trail, a deer track and a deer tail!

 

I've got them all in this one post!

Two days after I saw the majestic 8 point buck in the previous post, I saw another one!

I was about 10 miles away on a different trail and caught sight of a deer in the brush.

I got off the trail (taking my first photo while walking!) and followed a deer trail.

The buck stopped and took a few steps toward me to warn me to go no farther.

Behind him, was his whole family!

7 deer....which included this precious fawn!

What a neat sighting!

I took a close up of each of the 8 point bucks to see them side by side and they are definitely two different deer.

There goes the tail behind a tree! 

Lots of wildflowers blooming at this time of year.

The Dotted Horsemint is one of my favorites.

It has the best minty scent.

This one isn't quite as pink but it shows the dots better.

It's a beautiful time to get out in the woods here in Florida!

Come on down!

Great White Egret high in the sky!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve - Plan B

 I've learned over the years not to worry if I get a late start or change my mind about my original plan. 

Iridescent Green Beetle

There may be a reason not to go in the direction I was headed.

On this particular day, I had planned to take a hike from the trailhead near my house, beginning on hwy 484. But when I came to the hwy, the traffic was at a standstill to my left. So I turned right and drove to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

It was a beautiful day and I saw lots of birds and wildlife.

I love this new sign on the fence post.

Gray Catbird

I found out when I got home and searched online that the traffic was stopped because of a bad wreck involving 2 cars and an ambulance. It had happened less than an hour before I left my house. So I was thankful for my late start that morning.

I watched 2 Florida Scrub Jays from a distance.

I see the most variety here on the HTP preserve and it's one of the first (it's actually the second) trail we ever hiked here in this part of Florida.

Three White-tailed Deer ran across the trail right in front of me! I was happy that ONE showed up in my photo!

Dove

Flycatcher

Monster (thanks for asking, Iris! I always wonder if anyone will question my 'monsters'. This is a broken trunk of a tree about 4 ft high. It looked like a huge 'monster' bird...just for fun!)

And how about this very cute animal track!

So it turns out that Plan B was the best plan. It's great to have so many trails close by so that I have choices. I have much to be thankful for!

Are you having good weather to enjoy time outdoors?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

The Florida Scrub-Jay

 

We are so fortunate to have these beautiful birds at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

We can usually count on seeing the Florida Scrub-jays at the HTP trail entrance on Hwy 200. 

It's the state's only endemic bird, which means the Florida Scrub-jay is found nowhere else. It does not migrate and lives it's entire life cycle here in Florida and requires a sandy scrub to survive. It is federally listed as threatened and there are estimated to be between 7,700 and 9,000 birds in existence.

How exciting to see a small flock this week when I hiked. I had stopped to zoom in on something ahead when one of them flew out of the scrub onto the sandy spot nearby. I froze and just turned my camera to get some good photos.

As soon as I started walking they flew and when I turned to walk back to the car, I didn't even spot them again.

I did see some of the areas where the preserve has cleared the undergrowth to provide habitat for them.

So that was my excitement for this week.

And when you see a track in the sand THIS BIG, 

you're ready to turn back and head for the car! lol

Discover the Florida Scrub-jay

More info at the Florida State Parks HERE!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

The Florida Scrub Jay!

I finally saw this elusive bird! I was hiking a section of trail from the main Halapta Tastanaki Preserve Trailhead and saw 2 Florida Scrub Jays! 

I was so excited to see them because I haven't taken photos of them at all this year. 

To be fair though, I don't hike this trail as often any more. I would consider it even more 'wild' than any of the other trails I hike and I've had a few more scary encounters here. It's very open too so it's not great for summer time hiking. 

But I only stayed out there for a little while! (until I saw some of the biggest animal tracks I've ever seen...then I turned around! lol)

It seems like wherever you go, you see beauty though.

And a few oddities.

grasshoppers

monsters

fence lizard

walking sticks...two of them

What would scare you most? A small wild animal or a BIG wild animal track? 

(this track was 5 or 6 inches across!)

After I turned around, I have to admit to looking over my shoulder from time to time. There have been quite a few bear sightings around here lately. This track made me think of a dog track because of the configuration and the claw marks but it came out of the woods at one point, went down the trail a short distance and then back off into the woods on the other side. No human tracks on the trail with it either. 

Don't be scared though...we'll go hiking again SOON!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.