Central Ohio NatureFlorida Wrap-up
Posted on April 26, 2019
After a week at Mike Roess State Park we travelled a short distance to what has become one of our favorite parks for wildlife viewing, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. After a week there we would travel to Blackwater River State Park which was a new park for us and recommended because of the beauty of the river. We planned on being there for a week before traveling home to Ohio for what we hoped would be just a brief period of winter before spring arrived.
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Paynes Prairie is not a great paddling destination but does offer good hiking within the park and good bicycling opportunities in the park as well as on nearby roads and bike trails. The park offers great opportunities for viewing nature and is highly recommended if that is your passion. Just a short drive away the Bolen Bluff Trail, Barr Hammock Preserve, Sweetwater Wetlands Park, and the parks north entrance with a boardwalk along Alachua Sink are an added bonus. We had no problem keeping ourselves busy during our one week stay.
Remember: you can click on the images should you desire a better view.
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The Bolen Bluff Trail turned out to be a great “wildlife” trail but in our case did require use of the car to get to the trailhead.
The area contained excellent habitat for a variety of birds.
Bald Eagle
A young Sharpe-shinned Hawk with a Yellow-rumped Warbler, (Donna).
Meal time!
. . . and feathers fly.
There were also a number of Red-headed Woodpeckers looking for something to eat.
Found a bug! (Donna).
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There is no need to get into the car as we found plenty to see on park trails that can be accessed right from the campground.
On a trail not far from the campground a Barred Owl is spotted.
There is a huge expanse of wetland in the park which among other things is home to bison and wild horses.
Cloudless Sulphur on a large thistle.
Palamedes Swallowtail, (Donna).
Giant Swallowtail.
Zebra Swallowtail.
Eastern Towhee.
Pileated Woodpeckers are often seen on the park trails.
A large katydid visits our campsite.
A Northern Parula sings it’s heart out in the woods near our campsite.
Another look.
A paradise for large wading birds.
Always fascinating to watch, a Great Blue Heron stalks its next meal.
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Paynes Prairie Preserve north entrance, Alachua Sink was another excellent natural area just a short drive away.
A Live Oak casts shadows on the waters surface near Alachua sink.
Graceful and beautiful an Anhinga preening, Alachua sink.
Alachua Sink.
A very small (and cute?) Alligator enjoys the sun.
Looking across the wetland, Alachua sink area.
Immature Little Blue Heron.
Mature Little Blue Heron.
It was a real treat to see these immature Great Horned Owls, Alachua sink area.
With mom nearby.
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Finally another excellent area that is even a shorter drive is Barr Hammock Preserve. The preserve trail consists of a large loop circling what used to be farmland but which is now at least partially flooded.
Landscape.
A Tri-color Heron tidies up, (Donna).
Patterns in tree bark.
Immature White Ibis, (Donna).
Reflections
Largeflower Primrose-Willow
Little Yellow, a butterfly we don’t remember seeing before, (Donna).
American Bittern
Alligators large and small.
No hike in Florida would be complete without a turtle, Florida Cooter.
Swamp.
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Compared to other parks visited, wildlife sighting were not nearly as common at Blackwater River SP. However quality made up for quantity with a rare wildflower sighting and the pleasant surprise of a Red-cockaded Woodpecker sighting. Also the river did live up to its reputation for being a beautiful and during our one paddle a bonus was enjoying the many turtles that had taken up residence on shoreline logs. Our stay in the park was a quiet one so walking along a park road or a trail offered an equal opportunity to see wildlife.
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker’s habitat is the Southeast’s once-vast longleaf pine stands. They also occur in stands of loblolly, slash, and other pine species. The birds dig cavities in living pines and live in family groups working together to dig cavities and raise young. Due to habitat loss the species has declined drastically and was listed as Endangered in 1970.
Not far from the woodpecker, but in the brush at ground level, a Brown Thrasher made an appearance.
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Patterns in the sand, Blackwater River.
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. . . and at river’s edge:
River Jewelwings, in this case males, were a real treat to see, (Donna).
Female
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Enjoying the river’s beauty.
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In the order of carnivorous insects, Odonata, we were also fortunate to see a beautiful Green Darner one of the larger dragonflies.
Green Darner
Another view.
. . . and also a pair of mating Cypress Clubtail Dragonflies.
Cypress Clubtails
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Some low-lying areas along the trail required boardwalks.
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Dragonflies weren’t the only insects mating, a pair of Carolina Satyrs were also seen, (Donna).
A beautiful Queen butterfly, (Donna).
Dubious Tiger Moth, (Donna).
Where there are butterflies there are often wildflowers.
Yellow Butterwort, a very rare sighting for us, this carnivorous plant is a Florida threatened species.
These purple flowers (False Rosemary?) were relatively common during our hikes.
Sky-blue Lupine
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Due to weather and river flow conditions we only paddled once but it was energy well spent.
Tannins color the otherwise clear water.
A peaceful view.
The low winter sun highlights budding trees.
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The next post we will be back in Ohio in search of Ohio’s spring wildflowers but whether it’s nature in Florida or Ohio we remain amazed and enchanted.
Blackwater River
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Thanks for stopping by.
Journeying On Through Florida
Posted on April 11, 2019
After leaving Lake Kissimmee State Park we headed north, ran the Orlando metro area traffic gauntlet, and arrived at Blue Springs State Park which was a new park for us. After spending a week there we would take relatively quiet back roads further north to Mike Roess State Park. The two parks couldn’t be more different. Blue Springs is a heavily used “day use” park with a small campground near Orlando while the larger Mike Roess SP was quiet and lightly used during our stay. Part of the popularity of Blue Springs can be attributed to the Manatees that inhabit the springs during the winter months and which had started to leave while we were there due to warmer weather. When one ventured away from the campground after mid-morning parking lots were pretty much full and there were always more than enough people in the park’s general use areas. However, once on the water paddling into a secluded creek or cove things changed dramatically and the area felt like wilderness.
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The big find while hiking the parks limited trails was the endangered Scrub Jay which is a bird we’ve been in search of for some time without success. Habitat destruction appears to be the main reason for its decline.
Scrub Jay.
Another look.
Yellow Star Grass occurred periodically along the trail in single blossoms.
This Eastern Towhee was seen in the same scrub habitat as the jay, (Donna).
This Pileated Woodpecker was also seen along the trail as we searched for the Scrub Jays, (Donna).
Spiderwort.
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St Johns River near Blue Springs SP.
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The extensive wildlife seen while canoeing was the big draw at Blue Springs SP. Our favorite paddle was the eleven mile loop that incorporated Snake Creek. The creek is a true celebration of the richness and beauty of nature.
A small alligator checks us out, (Donna).
An immature Black Crowned Night Heron along Snake Creek, (Donna).
A Great Egret watches as we pass by.
St Johns River.
Florida Cooters, (Donna).
Wood Stork, (Donna).
Black Crowned Night Heron along the St Johns River.
Little Blue Heron in the thick of it.
Snake Creek provided an intimate paddling experience.
Purple Gallinule eating flower petals, St Johns River.
While paddling Snake Creek we came upon this mating pair at Turkeys. The male seemed not to be bothered by our presence.
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A Tree frog at water’s edge, (Donna)
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St Johns River.
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American Bittern along the St Johns River.
Osprey with fish.
Little Blue Heron preening.
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Although they are common, Anhingas always catch our eye.
Male Anhinga dries it’s feathers along the St Johns River.
Preening.
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St Johns river landscape.
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A Snowy Egret shows off its yellow feet, (Donna).
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Unlike Blue Springs which provided excellent opportunities to observe wildlife from the water, hiking was the best way to do so at Mike Roess SP. A plus was that there were no crowed parking lots or large numbers of people to negotiate when one left the campground. There were areas to explore around the park’s several small lakes and along one fairly long designated hiking trail. We enjoyed the park’s quiet subtle beauty.
Mike Roess SP landscape.
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Walking the shoreline of the parks small lakes was an excellent way to see insects. Some of the dragonflies and damselflies seen were new to us.
Vesper Bluet Damselfly, (Donna).
The Variable Dancer Damselfly is one we haven’t seen further north in Ohio.
Carolina Saddlebags, (Donna).
Female Faded Pennant, (Donna).
Male Faded Pennant.
Slaty Skimmer, (Donna).
The Stripe-winged Baskettail is another dragonfly we’ve not seen further north in Ohio.
The Blue Corporal often perches on the ground, (adult male).
The Buckeye is usually seen in late summer in Ohio.
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Pond reflection.
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In addition to the insects there were birds to enjoy:
Hermit Thrush.
A Hooded Merganser and a Wood Duck pose.
There was a sizable population of Ring-necked Ducks on the small park lakes.
A closer look.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Pied Billed Grebes
A White Eyed Vireo announces its presence.
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Shoreline grass.
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As well as other things:
Cricket Frog at waters edge, (Donna).
Unfortunately these lovely but uncommon little flowers that liked the park’s sandy soil remain unidentified.
A Fence Lizard shows it’s underside, (Donna).
Lichen on fallen branch.
A Gopher Tortoise enjoys some grass, (Donna).
Trees.
Pinebarren Frostweed.
A Five Lined Skink shows its beautiful tail, (Donna)
A Long Leaf Pine just starting out.
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Leaving Mike Roess we’d completed six weeks of exploring nature in Florida. As we looked forward to spending time at Paynes Prairie Preserve and Black River SP before heading north to early spring in Ohio we couldn’t help but feel incredibly blessed.
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Lily Pads
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Thanks for stopping by.
A Favorite Florida State Park
Posted on April 3, 2019
After the previous post about early spring in Ohio we thought we’d travel back in time to late January and explore the natural beauty of Florida’s Lake Kissimmee State Park. After our third visit we now consider it a cornerstone for any winter camping trip to Florida.
Live Oak
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An advantage to many of the parks we visit in Florida is that they’re not separated by great distances so it’s an easy matter to pull up stakes in one and head down the road to the next. Lake Kissimmee SP is not far from Little Manatee River, is a much larger park so there is plenty of nature to explore without ever leaving the park. The greatest variety of birds can be seen if one quietly paddles the lake shore, Zipper Canal, or Tiger Creek but birding is also very rewarding along the hiking trails. When not observing warblers, gnatcatchers, or kinglets. the trails are a great way to see the park’s many Red Headed Woodpeckers and there are rumors of Scrub Jays although that’s one we have yet to see.
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Folks sometimes ask if we’re concerned about taking expensive camera equipment in a canoe. The answer is yes, but we’ve been blessed to see many birds that we wouldn’t have otherwise and are sometimes lucky enough to get a picture so we feel it’s worth the risk. Within reason the canoe doesn’t limit the amount of equipment one can take and while you may get lucky from time to time don’t expect tack sharp “tripod” images. Where the canoe fails as a photography platform is when wind and water conditions create excessive motion or make the boat hard to control leaving little opportunity for pictures. Although some might not agree, a bonus when exploring overgrown Florida shorelines in a small boat is wondering if around the next bend one will startle a large gator. It’s an experience of “wildness” not availible in places further north. With that intro, below are some of the “canoe” birds seen during our two weeks at the park.
A favorite Lake Kissimmee perch for a group of Anhingas
A closer look at a male.
Paddling Zipper Canal between Lake Kissimmee and Rosalie Lake.
A Bald Eagle along Tiger Creek which flows from Tiger Lake to Lake Kissimmee.
A Bald Eagle peers down at a prospective meal . .
. . then dives.
Hundreds of Tree Swallows in an early morning feeding frenzy on Lake Kissimmee.
A few take a break from the hunt, (Donna).
Clouds over Lake Kissimmee.
Immature Snail Kite along the Lake Kissimmee shoreline. The kites were a real treat because during last year’s visit, which was right after a hurricane, there were none to be seen.
Mature Snail Kite with snail, (Donna).
Mature Snail Kite.
A Glossy Ibis reveals how it got it’s name, (Donna).
Rosalie Creek between Rosalie and Tiger Lakes.
Young Alligator along Tiger Creek.
Tri-color Heron along Tiger Creek, (Donna).
Black-crowned Night Heron along the Zipper Canal, (Donna).
Great Egret with fish, (Donna).
Little Blue Heron, (Donna).
Lily pads, Lake Kissimmee.
Swallow-tailed Kite over Tiger Creek. Observing them it appears that they often catch their prey in their talons and proceed to devour it on the wing.
Common Moorhen along the grassy Lake Kissimmee shoreline, (Donna).
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The hiking trails offer a different mix of birds and wildlife. The length of hike often dictates the type of equipment one decides to take along. Lugging ten pounds of camera equipment for seven or eight miles is not fun. One solution I saw this year was to modify a light weight golf cart to haul your equipment if the trail conditions and other restrictions allow.
The type of golf cart that would be easy to modify to carry a tripod and camera with long telephoto lens.
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When hiking park trails one thing that always amazes me is how different species of birds stay together or flock. One can walk for miles and not see much of anything and then all of a sudden there will be birds everywhere. Chickadees, titmouse, kinglets, gnatcatchers, and warblers are often seen together and often there will even be a blue jay in the mix. With the Live Oaks draped in Spanish Moss, the palmettos, and the pines, the landscape is enchanting so if the birds aren’t cooperating there is always something to appreciate.
Tufted Titmouse often alert us to the fact there may be warblers in the area. (Donna).
Sure enough, a Black and White Warbler makes an appearance.
Along the trail.
Blue-headed Vireo, showing tail and flight feathers.
We weren’t quiet sure what this Red-bellied Woodpecker planned to do with the acorn, (Donna).
White-eyed Vireo.
Eastern Phoebe, (Donna).
Sandhill Cranes. As common as they are we did not have the many opportunities to photograph them.
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Bald Eagle and nest on Buster Island near the Cow Camp.
The Great Crested Flycatcher showed up near our campsite. It’s the largest of the flycatchers, (Donna).
Sunlight and Spanish Moss.
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
A Northern Flicker shared the Red Headed Woodpeckers territory.
Buster Island trail.
Red-headed Woodpeckers are quite common in the park.
Yellow-rumped Warblers competed with Palm and Pine Warblers for most common status.
If Florida had a state hawk, it sound be the always vocal Red-shouldered.
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The other things:
Curious deer, (Donna).
Bark Anole.
A large Golden Silk Orb-weaver.
A Golden Silk Orb-weaver sun lit with a background of dark shade.
Fascinating fungi along the trail.
Female Band-winged Dragonlet
Yellow Milkwort is native and found throughout most of the Florida peninsula. Interestingly, the only place in the world it grows is Florida.
Grass highlighted by the winter sun.
The long burrows, up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep, of the endangered Gopher Tortoise are home to over three dozen other animal species that use them for shelter from harsh weather and predators.
Anole displaying.
The winter light often highlights the Spanish Moss and creates deep shadows.
Yellow Jessamine is a common flowering vine in January and February.
A Spiny-backed Orb-weaver suspends over the trail.
Florida Baskettail.
Oak Toad, (Donna).
Eastern Racer, (Donna).
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Lake Kissimmee SP is one place we will be returning to next year. With its long hiking trails and extensive areas to explore by canoe there is always a new adventure waiting.
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Tiger Creek
Under a clear blue sky,
with the winter sun warming skin exposed to cool morning air,
paddles rhythmically break the still surface,
as the canoe glides with anticipation along a winding creek
wrapped in sage, bulrush and lily pads.
A solitary alligator swims slowly ahead
then slides below the surface and disappears
while not far away
herons, hawks, egrets, and eagles announce their presence.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Central Ohio Nature 