Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

 

We took a hike even though it was 'warm'! The temps are not so high but the humidity is higher than the temp. And we've had a summer of few breezes! 

There's a nice long gravel drive from the highway to the trailhead and we see quite a lot from the Jeep.

And it's easy to pull over and get out if we need a better angle!

We've seen a lot of big birds on this particular tree that is such a good perch for raptors,

but never a Great Blue Heron!

Doesn't it look like the shape of a heart where his neck curves in?

Someone riding their horse,

Cattle Egrets in a tree

and even a juvenile Little Blue Heron on the fence.

One of the funniest thing we saw on the trail was this Crawdad!

What in the world is he doing on the hiking trail?

Trying to make his way to the marshland I guess. We thought maybe a bird flew over with him and accidentally dropped him. We didn't try to capture him and carry him to the water and I felt kind of guilty leaving him there. He was scooting along pretty good though so I like to think he found his way.

And to keep going with 'a favorite thing' (besides my red Jeep).... 

Here's my camera, a Canon Powershot SX 70 HS. I love it! But what I really want to show you is the camera strap. The link to it is HERE! I love having a wider and more comfortable strap and it's pretty too!

God Bless America

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Some Favorite things!

 

Of course my MOST favorite thing is hiking! 

And we managed to make TWO hikes this weekend. 

It was hot but not unbearable and we needed to get out! 

I think I'll add some favorite things to each of my posts this month. I just feel the need to share!

Have you visited Laura at Simple and Serene Living lately?

The link to her blog is HERE!

(I borrowed this image from her blog!)

She is doing a series on Healthy Habits for a Happier Life and her posts have been excellent! Be sure you go back and see each post in this series. It's been a hard year for us all and making sure we know about healthy habits that can help is much needed! Thanks Laura for being such an inspiration!

And I bought these Danish Whisks because my blog buddy at the Nutbrown Cottage HERE said they were good. 

I love them! I'm stirring and whisking and loving them SO much! (she has a link on her post for shopping)

And you all KNOW I love Etsy! And it's so nice to find a shop that has reasonable prices AND free shipping! 

Dinglehopper Things is HERE on Etsy!

This Winter journal is awesome! So many nice details. She really put a lot into it and was a joy to message too.

Have you had a good week? Mine has been especially GOOD!

Happy Labor Day! 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.   

Mostly Bees

There aren't nearly as many birds in the woods right now. I think they've flown to cooler climes! 

But there are lots of flowers in bloom and every kind of bee and wasp on the blossoms.

My Dad always said that I wake up in a new world every day. He said it with a smile on his face so I didn't really take offense. But it means a lot of different things. I wake up ready for whatever adventure the day holds for me. And I forget things! hahaha!

I actually looked up bees to try to figure out what these were!

They looked so amazing....

and exotic!

And yes, they turned out to be the very rare and unusual and exotic.....

honey bee!

And this is the shy bumblebee!

Oh hike #99 I saw these 4 Mourning Doves on a branch.

And this Warbler flew into the grass along the trail.

It was a real beauty and looked....and acted like a young one.

Do you wake up in a 'new world every day'?

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.   

Let's go for a drive!

 

We drove over to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve to see what we could see, not to hike! 

We've had a very hot August and fewer hikes as a result.

On one side of the gravel drive into HTP at the Pruitt trailhead is a horse farm. I lived in Texas for many years and still think of them as ranches but here in Florida, everyone calls them horse farms. 

Do you see a line of white birds on the fence?

We zoomed in but still didn't get very good photos.

But among the Cattle Egrets, Great White Egrets and Little Blue Herons (white juvenile stage), there was one streaked and splotched bird.

It was big and is probably a young Great Blue Heron. It really stood out, even from a distance.

There were also a few cows on the opposite side with a few Cattle Egrets.

And when we got home, a Red Shouldered Hawk flew onto the roof of the house across the street.

It was smaller than most so maybe it was a younger bird too.

Has it cooled down any where you live? 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Come Hike with me!

 I know it's August and we're in Florida but we're trying to make a few hikes before the month is over! 

Last year we reached 100 hikes at the end of August and we would love to meet that goal! Let's go over to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Country Greenway for a shady hike!

 It was 79 degrees on a morning hike this week which doesn't sound too bad. BUT, it was 97 % humidity with very little breeze! So it felt pretty warm and sticky! We weren't bothered by mosquitoes or flies though so there's that! lol

Giant Swallowtail

This butterfly is the largest one we've ever seen here in Florida!

We've had little pop up showers this month so things are blooming again as if it's Spring!

I love this new banner but I like the one I have up there right now...it's hard to decide whether to change it!

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.