Central Ohio NatureA Spring Paddle
Posted on April 29, 2022
At a graceful 17 feet long our Sawyer Cruiser canoe left the east shore of Griggs Reservoir just above Fishinger Road like a racehorse wanting to run even though it had been several months since we wet the paddles 1000 miles south in Florida. The plan was to follow the sunlit west shore north as far as we were inclined to see what migrating birds and other wildlife we might find. The choice of the Sawyer was dictated by the trip back to our launch site which would put an increasing wind in our face. None of our other canoes does “wind in the face” better than the Sawyer.
The plus side of looking for birds from a boat is that you have a continuous wall of trees and bushes of various sizes at water’s edge in which you might find them. The disadvantage is that the action of wind and waves must be dealt with in an effort to keep the canoe in position long enough to observe or in our case also photograph a small bird flitting about. Almost all of one’s creative paddle strokes are required. So, as with most of our birding by canoe outings, I handle the boat while my wife has all the pressure of trying to get a good picture.
Our first paddle of the year in Ohio had been a little over five miles, half of which was into a sometimes brisk wind. We felt good as we hauled the boat out, but we were glad we hadn’t decided to go further. The several hours spent had been a wonderful blend of appreciating nature coupled with the satisfaction of knowing it had all been accomplished under our own power. Our whole self had been engaged in the adventure.
Thanks for stopping by.
A Record Day
Posted on September 27, 2021
Yesterday, the 26th of September, on a long walk through residential neighborhoods near our central Ohio home and then along a city park bordering our local reservoir we saw more Monarch butterflies than we’ve ever seen in one day.
If we had kept counting the final tally would have been over 30 with four seen on just one small cluster of asters. At a time when their demise is often, perhaps accurately, predicted, it was nonetheless cause for real celebration.
On what seemed like it would be an ordinary September day in our “ordinary’ part of the world we found ourselves enchanted.
Thanks for stopping by.
Embracing Autumn
Posted on October 18, 2020
On a recent hike on a rather cold but clear autumn morning a friend exclaimed how good it was to be outdoors on such a beautiful day, and that at this point in her life she is really trying to embrace autumn. She related that she was hoping to shed the, all too easy to acquire, mindset that autumn is just that beautiful but fleeting season between summer and winter. She was going to look closer, be in the moment, and appreciate. An admirable goal any time of the year, but particularly in the ever shorter days of early October when it all seems to go by quickly.
The morning sun accentuates the color across the reservoir, Griggs Reservoir Park (GRP).
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She talked about sketching, and how looking at a flower or other object in the effort to draw it really enhanced her seeing and appreciating. I couldn’t help but think of it as a meditation. Certainly photographs and words can also lead to a more intimate relationship with nature as we compose a picture or reflect on things not capable of being being expressed in a picture.
Autumn reflection, Wahkeeva NP.
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Fall warblers are sneaky. With the exception of the Yellow-rumped Warbler that stick around to enjoy poison ivy berries, warblers move through central Ohio on their way south quickly and quietly without the spring’s distinctive calls. Along with other birds that don’t have to depend on insects for food, cardinals, eastern bluebirds, and woodpeckers, some of which may be from further north, hang around all winter. Interestingly a fair number of Great Egrets, which don’t typically winter in Ohio, are still in the area. Some Great Blue Herons manage to make a living here throughout the winter but their smaller cousin the Green Heron has already left.
A Black-throated Green Warbler passes through (GRP) on it’s way south, (Donna).
Magnolia Warbler (GRP), (Donna).
Eastern Phoebe (GRP).
For obvious reasons this Eastern Phoebe won’t be in the area much longer (GRP), (Donna).
Here some tapping? Look up, it’s probably a Downy Woodpecker, (GRP).
Cheerful Carolina Chickadees keep us company year round (GRP).
Great Egrets, O’Shaughnessy NP
Eastern Bluebirds seem more common in the autumn, (GRP).
A recent arrival from the north, revving up it’s motor, this Ruby-crowned Kinglet left the branch bare a fraction of a second later, O’Shaughnessy NP.
Some days if it wasn’t for the cardinals things would be pretty dull (GRP) (Donna).
A Coopers Hawk waits patently for a meal. It’s a year round resident (GRP).
The White-throated Sparrow is a migrant from the north. Some will spend the winter in central Ohio, Wahkeeva NP.
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Autumn along the reservoir (GRP).
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The flurry of insect activity has slowed down considerably over what it was just two weeks ago. Butterflies, and especially bees, had been incredibly active during the last warm days before the occurrence of a few cold nights where the temperature hung just above freezing.
Bald-faced Hornets nest (GRP), (Donna).
Traffic jam at the entrance to the nest, (Donna)
Eastern Commas are fairly common in the fall, Stages Pond State NP.
Green bee on aster (GRP.
The Common Checkered Skipper is usually seen in late summer and fall (GRP).
A busy bee (GRP).
Monarch on aster, Stages Pond State NP.
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Autumn color (GRP).
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Chipmunks were also in on the activity.
Chipmunk (GRP), (Donna).
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I finish writing this with memories of the smell and color of the autumn woods graced by the light of the seasons low laying sun and transformed into a branched “stained glass” cathedral of yellow and gold. Outside under gray 50 F skies a light rain is falling, perhaps nature’s way of saying in a quiet voice, “Pause, give thanks, for those warm, sunny, autumn days, and for all things with which you have been blessed”.
Cathedral in the woods, Boch Hollow State NP
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Measuring Wealth
Posted on August 2, 2020
Certainly not an original thought, but most would say that if you have your health, enough resources to ensure adequate food and shelter, some leisure time when you are not dealing with “resources”, and good friends with whom you enjoy sharing life’s adventure, additional wealth is probably not going to contribute to life’s meaning or happiness. It also doesn’t hurt to have a curiosity about life as It will keep you engaged and seeking until the day your number gets called.
So what does any of this have to do with nature and where is Central Ohio Nature going with this? Well to get to the punch line without further delay, it has to do with an awareness of wealth that was experienced after a recent outing in the canoe. Of course this awareness doesn’t just drop out of the sky, it is facilitated by reading and enough research to appreciate what is being seen and experienced, good health and fitness to undertake the adventure, and last but not least, the company of a willing co-conspirator (in this case my wife) never hurts.
So what exactly contributed to the awareness of wealth on this particular day?
First, there’s the aesthetic of the canoe, it’s graceful purposeful shape, and the way the paddler and the canoe become one as they quietly move through the water with only the sound of the paddle as it brakes the water’s surface, is drawn back, and then, with droplets shed from the blade playing the stroke’s final notes, it leaves the water and returns to the beginning. A meditation; paddler, canoe, and water.
The north end of Griggs Reservoir. It’s hard to believe we are in the middle of a metropolitan area. We had the place to ourselves that day.
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Secondly, along with a good cast of supporting characters, at the north end of the reservoir in a stand of dead trees we had our first ever sighting of red-headed woodpeckers at that location.
Red-headed Woodpecker
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The supporting characters, not all of which are pictured, included osprey, juvenile spotted sandpiper, great blue heron (common), green heron, great egret, black-crowned night heron, belted kingfisher, great-crested flycatcher, wood ducks, double-crested cormorants, mallard duck, map turtle, large eastern spiny soft shell turtle, and a large snapping turtle.
Spotted Sandpiper
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Female Belted Kingfisher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Mother Wood Duck with young.
A large Eastern Spiny Softshell.
With the exception of the canoe all other photos are by my wife.
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The well connected lawyer or successful entrepreneur measures their wealth in a different way than most equally successful individuals who love nature but may have a less demanding career. The “buy in” on a wealthy street in our area may require that one to be engaged with a community of like minded individuals who have also attended prestigious institutions of higher learning. This coupled with a family legacy, and the “cross pollination” with other like minded established families may be key stepping stones to shared values and wealth which include the necessary hard to fake accoutrements, such as a large beautiful house and luxury cars, which signal one’s membership in the tribe.
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But we are all destined to travel a narrow path and are all members of a some tribe. A path taken often excludes others. There is only so much life we can live. While there are undoubtedly exceptions, one would not expect that a successful high net worth entrepreneur would consider it a worthwhile use of their limited free time to walk a wetland path learning about dragonflies. Perhaps a business ski vacation to Colorado would serve their purposes better. However, is the person with more limited resources, for whom Colorado ski vacations are a bit out of reach, but who spends their time in the company of dragonflies and thus the interconnected web of life, any less “wealthy”?
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So the challenge for us all is to increase our wealth in ways that speak to our soul. The sacrifices that an entrepreneur makes to be successful in their realm are significant. From the point of view of a lover of nature they will miss out on at lot. The wealth bestowed from time spent in nature comes from a deep sense of connectedness that transcends our own self, allowing us to no longer think it terms of boundaries but instead to embrace the whole. It is something that money cannot buy and is beyond valuing. Perhaps Thoreau said it better than anyone has since:
A Feast For The Gulls
Posted on March 29, 2020
Usually this time of the year in central Ohio we’re busy looking for the earliest spring wildflowers such as the uncommon Snow Trillium.
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But we also walk along the local reservoirs (Griggs and O’Shaughnessy Reservoir) hoping to see migrating waterfowl. Recently we weren’t disappointed when three inches of rain shocked area waterways resulting in thousands of dead or dying shad. It was a banquet for Bonaparte’s Gulls passing through the area and an excellent opportunity to observe these beautiful birds.
Immature, non-breeding and breeding Bonaparte’s Gulls.
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Bonaparte’s Gull, (Donna)
Adult breeding Bonaparte’s Gull.
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A few larger Ring-billed Gulls were also getting into the act.
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Not to miss out on the easy meal Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons were also present.
Great Egret, (Donna).
Great Blue Heron, (Donna)
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Fish die-offs, particularly shad, are not that uncommon in reservoirs. However, this is the first time we’ve happened upon such a feeding frenzy.
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We hope this post finds everyone doing well. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s Spring!
Posted on April 18, 2019
While working on a blog post pertaining to time spent in Florida earlier this year I was interrupted. However, unlike many interruptions this one was good. Spring wasn’t just knocking, it was banging on the door, calling us to come out and play. In just the last few days nature has exploded in central Ohio making it hard for my wife and I to contain our enthusiasm. Hopefully this post will convey just a little bit of the excitement.
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One of the first clues that things were changing more rapidly were the wildflowers.
Redbuds.
Virginia Bluebells, (Donna).
Another look.
White Trout Lily
Dutchman’s Breeches.
Yellow Trout Lilies, (Donna).
A closer look. (Donna).
Emerging Buckeye leaves, not a flower but beautiful in their own way.
Spring Beauties, (Donna).
Newly emerged spring fungi, Dryad’s Saddle, (Donna).
Translucent green.
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Then there were the birds, all of which seemed very busy.
From it’s nesting cavity a Red-bellied Woodpecker checks us out.
A Canada Goose on it’s nest at water’s edge. Hopefully there will be no heavy rains in the near future.
An argumentative pair of Blue Jays announce their presence. Could they be discussing nest location?
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Some behavior seemed odd.
This Canada Goose was trying a different menu item. Something we’ve never seen before.
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Other birds were just enjoying the warmer weather.
A Tufted-titmouse makes itself know with a voice much bigger than the bird.
A common but hard to photograph Carolina Chickadee is nice enough to pose.
Sunlight warms a male Mallard in breeding plumage.
Redbuds surround a female Cardinal.
A Great Blue Heron soars overhead along the Scioto River, (Donna).
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The Great Egrets in their breeding plumage continued to enchant us.
Preening.
Another look.
Striking a beautiful pose.
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But the days real excitement was generated when we spotted a newly arrived spring migrant.
This curious Yellow-throated Warbler flew down to see what I was up to.
Too cute for just one pic.
And perhaps one more.
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As if the wildflowers and birds weren’t enough, more turtles than we’ve ever seen on one log decided to get into the act.
Turtles along the Scioto River, How many do you see?
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We hope our enthusiasm rubs off on our readers and everyone gets out to witness springs transformation in their neighborhood.
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Walking in the freshness of an early spring morning
along a path lined with trees just clothed in translucent green
with the sights, sounds, and smells of nature
I am reborn.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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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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Harbingers Of Spring
Posted on March 30, 2019
After our extended stay in Florida to escape the north’s cold cloudy winter weather I realize we’re not going to get much sympathy when we say that waiting for spring in Ohio can try one’s patience. Walking through the woods we remind ourselves to value each day for the gift that it is, but with autumns now bleached and faded leaves covering a seemingly lifeless forest floor it’s hard not to want for more.
Many of Ohio’s woods lack the conifers that bring color to the early spring woods further north, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
The water was running clear but the landscape was no more colorful along the river, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
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However, taking a closer look at last years leaf litter one just might find the tiny Harbinger of Spring one of the seasons first wildflowers.
Harbinger of Spring, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Another look.
Profile, (Donna).
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The Snow Trillium is an uncommon wildflower that occurs only in very select undisturbed locations.
A nice group of three.
A group of two, (Donna)
Head on.
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Perhaps one of the prettiest plants to pop up through leaf litter in early spring is Virginia Waterleaf.
Virginia Waterleaf, Griggs Reservoir Park.
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As is often the case while making one’s way back to the trailhead, happy with the wildflowers and the day’s hike, other unexpected and wonderful things are seen.
An Eastern Towhee hides in a thicket, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
A number of Golden-crowned Kinglets showed themselves along the Scioto River below the Griggs Reservoir Dam, (Donna).
Walking along Griggs Reservoir we heard a faint tapping and just saw a tail protruding from a newly formed nesting cavity. The tapping stopped and this Downy Woodpecker turned and peered out at us.
We spotted this Blue-winged Teal in a pond adjacent to the parking lot as we were finishing a hike at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Present in smaller numbers all winter in areas where there is open water, the population of Great Blue Herons has increased as the days get longer and the weather warms.
A Great Blue Heron waits for something edible to appear.
We’ve never seen them over-winter so when Great Egrets appear along the Scioto River below the Griggs Reservoir Dam each spring in breeding plumage it’s a real treat.
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The Great Egrets are the grand finale to this post and our recent time outdoors and they left us with a true sense of spring’s wonder and magic.
Stump in the early spring woods.
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For those who expectedly seek it along a stream or wooded trail, nature speaks in a language beyond words.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Nature In Myakka River State Park
Posted on March 20, 2019
After two months in sunnier climes with limited internet access we are now back home. While still an improvement over Ohio, this winter’s trek south to Florida’s Myakka River State Park in an effort to escape the cold found us greeted by windy cool and sometimes wet weather. The wind precluded using the canoe as a means to gain access to photo opportunities away from the main park roads but we were still able to enjoy hiking even though it was often on partially flooded trails.
My wife walks under a Live Oak covered with Resurrection Ferns on one of the dryer tails.
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Every year is different. Last year the arrival of a hurricane not long before our arrival resulted in the park being completely flooded. During our stay the water receded leaving pools of stranded fish for wading birds to gorge themselves on. This occurrence offered a unique opportunity to observe and photograph various wading birds and nothing like it was in the offing this year. The consolation was that the Black Necked Stilt, a favorite bird, was more common than last year. In addition to this year’s critter pics more effort was made to capture the landscape so those shots have been made part of the mix.
The Myakka River
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As in the past Black Necked Stilts continue to charm us.
Black Necked Stilt
What ever they’re doing it’s always fascinating, (Donna).
Stilt with Lesser Yellowlegs
Walking.
Flying, (Donna).
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Flooded hammock.
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Other small wading birds were seen but American Avocets eluded us.
Least Sandpipers along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
Killdeer along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
Lesser Yellowlegs along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake, (Donna).
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The Myakka River.
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While certainly not uncommon, we always enjoy seeing the Great and Snowy Egrets. Whiter than white, a slightly overcast day seems to work best for photographing these birds.
Great Egret
Close-up.
Snowy Egret
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Standing water in low-lying areas gives rise to shadows and reflections.
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Black Crowned Night and Great Blue Herons are seen in Ohio but not the petite Tri-colored Heron.
Tri-colored Heron.
Great Blue Heron with lunch along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
Great Blue Heron.
Little Blue Heron hunting, (Donna).
A Black Crowned Heron peeks through the branches, (Donna).
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Upper Lake Myakka.
Flooded habitat.
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Roseate Spoonbills are right up there with Black Necked Stilts when it comes to interesting birds to observe.
Roseate Spoonbill preening.
Spoonbills.
My what a big mouth you have, (Donna).
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Florida hammock landscape.
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An Alligator Limpkin stare down.
The Alligator and Limpkin were so close together it’s hard to believe they weren’t aware of each other.
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Myakka River landscape.
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We were fortunate to see several Wood Storks.
A Wood Stork forages for food along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
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A canopy of branches.
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Palm Warblers were everywhere as were Black Vultures. The Barred Owl and the small Common Ground Dove were a rarer treat.
Palm Warbler.
Black Vultures were everywhere.
Scarcely a moment went by without hearing the call of a Red Shouldered Hawk.
This Barred Owl seemed so obvious once we spotted it but they’re not so easy to find.
Common Ground Dove.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is common in Florida but perhaps not quite as common there as in Ohio.
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Shadows betray this Live Oaks identity.
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Flowers, fungi, and air plants:
A lovely small flower is found looking something like a small wild rose
Another small but very noticeable flower.
There were fungi but not in the variety seen in Ohio, (Donna).
Other than as a location to live, air plants ask nothing of the tree they reside in.
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A fallen tree finds home in the flooded hammock
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Other creatures:
Our friend Teresa was surprised by the opportunity to get this quick shot of a Bobcat as it crossed the trail.
We are always surprised by the number of turtles given the number of gators.
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This years visit to the park was only six days but we managed to see quite a bit for such a short time. Because of the colder than normal weather there weren’t as many alligators in evidence and while birds were seen the higher than normal water levels and more places to forage meant they were disbursed. We’re planning a return visit next year so who knows what the future holds as every year offers different mix of weather and resultant water levels.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Central Ohio Nature 