Happy Thanksgiving from Florida

It's just the best time of the year here in Florida!

And this week I'll share the 'yard birds' I've seen around the house!

These turkeys were hanging out on the golf course.

You can see how many leaves have fallen from the Poplar tree this week.

Their feathers are so beautiful.

But they better stay on the run to avoid the roasting pan this week!

We had a wonderful surprise when we looked out back and saw a big flock of Robins.

They usually show up on Christmas day.

But this year they were early and it sure lifted my spirits to stand outside and watch them. And isn't my neighbor's Poinsettia gorgeous!

We had a Great White Egret walk through the neighborhood.

He's across the street in these photos.

And a small flock of White Ibis even showed up for the holidays.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a blessed week.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters 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!

Sharing the Trail at the Shangri-La trailhead!

Let's drive back over to Shangri-La trailhead!

(horse trailer from the rear)

You can always count on seeing a few horse trailers and horses on the trails.

But let's see if I can find a parking space! lol

Some of the trails I hike on are shared trails but that's never been a problem.

I sometimes see a horse but it's an easy trail to step aside. And I always give the horses a wide berth. I don't want them to be nervous around me.

And the riders are always friendly when they pass.

Don't you love this horse trailer and the artwork at the top?

It's beginning to be one of my favorite hikes because of the beautiful forests with a chance to see wildlife and birds, flowers and butterflies.

Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, bull thistle

And when I left, this lone turkey wandered onto the dirt road in front of the Jeep.

So it was a chance for me to pull over in the grass and watch him wander!

I think I've learned my hiking form from him...a bit of a wander and meander!

Have you seen signs of Spring at your house this week?

It's beautiful here in Florida and I'm still hiking just about every other day which makes me happy AND healthy!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

But where are the photos?

 

Spending the morning in nature is time well spent.

Observing birds and wildlife boosts your spirit.

Photos are a bonus.

In other words, you don't always get photos of some of your best sightings. You just stand there in awe and marvel at what you've seen. It's all good! 

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

And I keep a hiking journal to write down everything I've seen (or at least what I can remember)!

Red Winged Blackbird

One of my best sightings on the hike I took at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve last week was a Barred Owl.

I saw him in a tree next to the trail. He saw me. And he flew away from me in silent mode. It was amazing!

I also missed getting good photos of two Hawks.

The very first sighting was this Mama Turkey and her 2 little ones. 

But if you've ever taken photos in the heat and humidity, you'll understand why the photos are smoky.

I saw the turkeys when I parked, grabbed my camera and jumped out. The camera lens fogged over! lol

Oh well! It was a neat sighting.

Eastern Meadowlark singing his heart out!

And now he's scratching! 

I know this is another Eastern Meadowlark.

But it's a young one or female.

There's not as much color on the breast.

And a Swallow-tailed kite flying overhead!

Red winged Blackbird

Variegated Fritillary

I didn't get photos of everything I saw.

Live Oak Tree and possibly a female blackbird with something yummy! 

But plenty to share.

And a beautiful day to be out on the trails!

Have you had a good week too?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

 I’d Rather B Birdin’, 

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

Birds, Here There and Everywhere!

 

We don't have to leave our homes to see beautiful birds here in Florida. 

This Juvenile White Ibis has been walking through our yard every day this week.

And yesterday he wandered through the flower garden with a friend. These beautiful flowers are across the street at my sweet neighbors' house. (I came back to add that.) I don't want to take credit for her gorgeous flowers! I have roses blooming in my flower beds but the Ibis in these photos were across the street! 

I was hoping they would stay in this area to get more photos of the gorgeous blooms.

We've had a few afternoon showers lately and everything is blooming like crazy.

Oh, a photo bombing Crow! lol

And of course the forest is all atwitter this week too.

I saw this beautiful male Downy Woodpecker on a hike near the Shangri-la trail.

And then on another day I saw a pretty female Downy near the hwy 484 trailhead.

It's been a good week for getting out early and enjoying a hike.

You can see that the female doesn't have a red spot on her head.

But if you need to stay inside one day...look out the window!

I stood in my courtyard here to see what was under the trees in the backyard.

A big Tom Turkey was taking a break and enjoying the cool shade of the oak trees.

Have you seen some birds at your house this week?

 Get outside and enjoy nature when you can and look for a shady place to take a break!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

  Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !