Pratt's Falls County Park

A Sunny day with no classes just begs for some exploration...so my lovely wife and I headed out to see Pratt's Falls County Park.



We didn't see any personal injury lawyers, though we saw signs of them....



We heard several birds, but the full summer vegetation made seeing them a real challenge. We did find a nice little pond with some ode activity.

Onieda Shores County Park

Well, I have managed to make birding part of my "homework" for my statistics class this summer. (It's all in how you write the project proposal!) So, I headed out this morning for a few hours to Onieda Shores County Park to see what was hopping.

A couple of Great-crested Flycatchers were out.



A fledgling Blue Jay was quite photogenic (despite his parent's loud cries).



After walking a trail, that included a short slog through calf-deep water, I found a Song Sparrow singing. (Who would have thought?)



An Eastern Wood-Pewee was hawking from a fire hydrant and its sign. (A subtle reminder that they get a fair bit of snow around here--the sign sits up higher than the hydrant so you can find it in a drift, should the need arise.)



After the Pewee, I sat for a minute and listened to the frogs croaking and examined my mucked shoes.



Then back to the car and home for lunch. (You'd be making a face too, if you're sandals were full of muck and you were covered with mosquito bites!)

Hamlin Marsh Wildlife Management Area

Noticed this area the other day and was able to go spend a couple of hours birding it this morning. The area was covered with Red-winged Blackbirds. Not five minutes after I arrived 2 flew in with another bird. I was able to locate the oddball and it was a Least Bittern! I was able to watch for a few minutes before it descended into the grass beyond sight. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate it with my camera.



Walked back from the observation platform on a short trail and saw these two.





Yellow Warblers were in abundance.



This one was back-lit, but I was able to edit it enough to make him visible.



I need to bring my kayak back here.



A few damsel and dragonflies were about.



Finally, an Eastern Kingbird.

Spring is Here

Noticed an Eastern Wood-Peewee in the tree out back during dinner tonight. That led me outside after I cleaned up, to sit on the front porch and stroll about the yard. Several firsts for the year, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Common Nighthawk and Chipping Sparrow.

The highlight of the evening was an Eastern Towhee that perched up on a tree nearby and sang and sang.

E. G. Simmons County Park

Spent a couple of hours at this nice little park. This has to be the best disguise I've ever seen for anyone--sure looks like a Loggerhead Shrike to me.



One of the nice things about Florida, is you can find butterflies year-round most generally.



Great Horned Owls continue to use Osprey platforms to nest on.



Ruddy Turnstones have been practically the only shorebird I've seen this trip.



Do I need another photo of one of these guys? Probably not, but they are so photogenic.



A little odd that one of my best shots of the day was of a woodpecker--at a beach. You can't tell from the photo but she was on a tree right at the water's edge.