Manatee Springs State Park for the Manatees!

 We were anxious to get back to Manatee Springs State Park while the Manatees were in the Springs. In the winter months hundreds of these gentle giants come into the Springs where it is 72 degrees year round to escape the colder water of the Suwannee River. The park ranger said there were around 50 here and I got to see about a dozen.

This is the best photo! HaHa! They are a challenge to photograph.

But on the first day there, I walked down to the water's edge and there was a baby (a big baby) that I could have reached out and touched, but of course I didn't! I just stood there and watched it in awe. They are about 60 lbs at birth and this one was about 4 ft long.

This is a pool of water where they congregate.

An adult coming up for air!

I'll need more than one post to share photos of this trip so there will be more to come.

And as if seeing West Indian Manatees isn't exciting enough....

I watched a Limpkin on the nest!

Crazy flying photo!

I heard 2 of them crying out to each other and they are LOUD. You feel like you've landed in Jurassic park when you hear them call! 

It flew up onto a branch and I was snapping pics as fast as I could.

And then it settled onto it's nest with just it's head peeking out.

Again, I was able to point it out to a few people on the boardwalk so that was rewarding too.

It was a real highlight of the trip.

I saw lots of Comorants. 

Cormorants on a log

And several Warblers.

I think this is a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

It's common but still very nice to spot!

So that's one walk down the 800 ft boardwalk! 

I have a lot of photos to share but I plan to step away from the computer for a couple of weeks for a new adventure. We have internet when we camp but I don't spend much time on the computer! Have a beautiful Spring. 

Be back soon! 🌴

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Nature Friday HERE!

Hiking to Josef's Table

 

Are you ready to hike? Cap, hiking stick, backpack with water (and emergency items), camera, comfortable clothing, hiking shoes and phone?

OK, let's park at the trailhead and take off down this trail.

The first bird sighting was this flock of wild turkeys!

Now we'll turn onto the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway for a short distance on the paved trail.

We'll turn onto a horse trail and then onto the Florida Trail down...down...down...into the diggings.

There are a lot of really good articles (and books) written about the canal diggings but my sweet hubby helped me with some of the pertinent information.

"When I talk about the "canal diggings" I'm referring to a canal that was proposed in 1935 as a 30-foot deep, 150-foot bottom width, Ship Canal for commercial traffic to have a shortcut from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico across Florida from Jacksonville to Yankeetown.

Concerns about salt water intrusion into the fresh water aquifer caused proponents to adjust the canal to a 12-foot depth thus allowing only barge traffic and the name changed to the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

After many starts and stops, construction resumed in 1964 only to be stopped for good in 1971 due to efforts led by environmental activist, Marjorie Harris Carr.

About one third of the canal did get completed, some at each terminus, but the remainder includes long stretches of earth having been dug out and piled up along the sides. Over the ensuing decades the forest has reclaimed this ground.

Today, the 110-mile long, 70,000 acre Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway (renamed in 1998) is a state park that provides over 300 miles of hiking and biking trails on the remnants of the Cross Florida Barge Canal."

Above written by sweet hubby

Now we are in the diggings!

Be alert! 

Doesn't this old root look like a serpent?

And what if you come across your knight in shining armor?

It could happen if you are paying attention!

At first I thought it was an Army man but he has a shield and a spear! 

And there are some amazing rock formations down in the diggings too.

You can hear and see woodpeckers in the forest.

Yellow bellied Sapsucker

Red bellied Woodpecker peeking out from behind a pine tree.

Finally we reach Josef's table. It's up ahead!

It's a little longer hike than I normally make but the weather was fine and I felt good. 

I love it deep in the woods. The pine needles under the trees soften the trail and it is a quiet you can't find anywhere else!

We did it! Thanks for coming with me today. 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Nature Friday HERE!

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center

 Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center is a State Park in White Springs, Florida with a very nice campground.

 

It's perfect for a day trip or a longer camping trip. 

Every park we visit has unique features and things we love about it. 

This one was perfect for walking. 

There were a lot of beautiful historical buildings to photograph

and hiking trails too.

A thatched roof hut in the background on this trail.

And a good trail to hike right down to the Suwannee River.

There's also a big gazebo for relaxing and watching the river.

You could see how far the water had flooded this river looking at the bank.

The biggest surprise I think was the music from the bell in this tower. It has a 97 bell carillon and the beautiful songs can be heard all the way to the campground. 

There's more information HERE about the park and culture center.

I don't want to skip over the fact that there was still a lot of damage to this park from the hurricanes that came through last Fall. Most of the buildings were closed and there were trees down everywhere.

It was sad to see the damage and it takes years to repair and rebuild the State Parks. 

I saw a lot of birds but didn't get many photos.

Carolina Titmouse

We sure enjoyed our stay there and I walked down to the river several times.

White Springs, Florida is off the beaten path but well worth traveling the backroads to spend time there!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve in the Van Camper

 

A Van Camper is great for a day trip to the HTP at the Pruitt Trailhead.

You have everything you need when you finish your hike. You can make a cup of coffee and enjoy a snack out of the refrigerator....oh and go to the bathroom! And sit down to eat!

We know we'll enjoy taking it on other days trips but of course Halpata Tastanaki Preserve is one of my favorite destinations and it's close to home.

These are the first American Kestrels I've seen in awhile. 

I took pics of this one and then when I started to move down the trail, it flew and so did a second one.

So I think I caught a male and female traveling together.

We might see a Kestrel from time to time during the year, but more of them are here in the winter months.

Dragonfly

Bagworm

And don't forget to look UP!

The clouds looked like feathers and I saw a little pile of real feathers too.

There are still lots of Flycatchers at the preserve.

A view of the trail and my turn around point. 

(get a drink of water and make the turn)

Time for some relaxation in the van before heading home.

Do you enjoy day trips?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !