Birds of a Feather in February?

 What do Sandhill Cranes, Tree Swallows, American Robins and Cedar Waxwings all have in common?

I see ALL of these birds just about every day right now. 

We start seeing Robins around Christmas. 

They usually show up on the golf course behind our house on Christmas day.

And this month, they are everywhere! In the trees, on the ground and using the bird bath in our courtyard! According to the info I found, they come for the abundance of food here in Florida.

Is there room for one more?  

The Cedar Waxwings usually show up for my birthday in January. They are 'hanging out' with the Robins!

Don't LAUGH! This one is enjoying the wind in his feathers! 

Tree Swallows spend the winter months here in North Central Florida. 

We talked with some bird watchers from the Audubon Society in January and they said they had counted over 500 birds at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve that day. We saw the big flocks too but couldn't determine the number. We were surprised and happy to know there were so many.

And we always see families of Sandhill Cranes at HTP.

They are such beautiful birds!

Now we are hearing the large flocks of the migratory Sandhill Cranes flying over when we hike. 

There are hundreds of them!

You can hear them squawking overhead and then the challenge is to find them in the bright blue sky!

I learned a lot by doing an online search.

Bring your camera when you visit Florida in February!

And take some pics where you live too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

Winter Warmth in Florida

 We have a few cold days but we are warmer than most states in the winter. Today it is supposed to be 80 degrees and we are headed to the Pruitt Trailhead to hike the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve trails.

I know many of you feel like you've been there before but there's always something interesting to see.

Someone asked me what my most favorite trail was and this was it.

Of course there are so many directions you can take. 

And it changes from month to month....

sometimes from week to week.

Flycatcher

So these are some neat sightings from HTP in January.

Stork (not a good photo but I wanted to include him) 

We saw hundreds of Tree Swallows.

They are hard to photograph too!

Yellow-rumped Warbler aka butter-butt

We like to drive over there at least once a week and we spend 2 hours there at least when we go. 

So Vee....how about hiking HTP with me today? (She was concerned that I took all my photos from the Jeep! lol) 

I probably won't be doing this any time soon! 

Hang glider

Or go for a ride in this!

Canard

There's a small airport nearby!

American Kestrel

I'm still celebrating my birthday weekend and eating birthday brownies. 

I'll save you one to eat when we finish our hike! 

Come on down! Sunshine and brownies....and HTP! 

It's always fun to get outside and enjoy nature!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

A really FUN post with a message at the end!

 

It's not exactly Fall weather here in Florida but there is a change in the air. The temps are 'less hot' and it's a little drier. I even had a breeze on one of my hikes this week! 

So it's time! (message at the end)

I've had some really fun sightings this week.

As much as I love just being out in nature, it sure makes it better when I see something out of the ordinary.

Don't you love this turtle?

He was at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve at the Pruitt trailhead.

I think it's a box turtle. It was about 6 or 7 inches long and had the most intricate markings on it's shell.

I actually talked to it. The sun had come out and it was getting HOT so I told it to wait up and let me get in the shade of the tree to take some pics.

How nice to have a turtle that will wait on you! lol

This deer was eating tender leaves on the plants near the trail and it stopped to look at me.

It didn't really talk to me but I used my imagination. 

I don't often get a good photo of a Swallow in flight either but this one was right over my head.

Tree swallow

 (I got a new frame for my license plate. I put red smileys to hide the info)

And for my message....I'm going to step away from the computer for a couple of weeks. I have things I need to do and places I want to go. Hopefully I'll get more 'mud on the tars' and visit some trails I haven't been to in awhile.

I'll take lots of photos and have some stories to share when I get back. 

Have some FUN while I'm gone and get out in nature when you can!

See you later alligator! Be back in a bit!

Adventure Awaits! 🚗

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.