Central Ohio NatureA 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.
Another view 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 wide 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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A Celebration of Florida Birds
Posted on March 14, 2017
It’s been a while since our last post so after almost two months bumming around some of Florida’s most beautiful natural areas in sunny 70 degree weather we now find ourselves back in central Ohio looking out the window as a 25 F wind blows snow around our front yard. One way to celebrate the trip, and perhaps to feel a little warmer, is to post pictures of a few of birds seen while while hiking and paddling. Perhaps no one species expresses the diversity and beauty of nature like birds, each with their own unique appearance and behavior. Florida gives one an excellent opportunity to witness and perhaps photograph that diversity and beauty.
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For those that are curious, our stay in Florida consisted of time spent at Myakka River SP; great hiking, big gators, and great wildlife photography, Lake Kissimmee SP; great hiking, paddling, fishing, and wildlife, the Chassahowzitka River Campground; great paddling, fishing, and wildlife, and Ochlockonee River SP; great hiking, paddling, and wildlife.
Click on images for a better view.
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Salt Creek, Chassahowitzka River
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Great Blue Heron, Myakka River SP.
Limpkins, very common in Myakka River SP.
Cardinal, Myakka River SP.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Myakka River SP.
Osprey, Myakka River SP.
Osprey, Myakka River SP.
A Brown Thrasher serenaded us early every morning, Ochlockonee River SP.
Green Heron, seldom seen, Myakka River SP.
Roseate Spoonbills, Myakka River SP.
Common Moorhen, Myakka River SP.
Pileated Woodpecker, Myakka River SP.
Greater Yellowlegs, Myakka River SP.
Little Blue Heron, Myakka River SP
Sand Hill Crane, Myakka River SP.
Black-necked Stilts, Myakka River SP.
Great Egret, Myakka River SP.
Black-necked Stilt, a closer view showing eye color, Myakka River SP.
Least Sandpiper, Myakka River SP.
Great Egret, breeding plumage, Myakka River SP.
Immature Black-crowned Night Heron, Myakka River SP.
Roseate Spoonbills, Myakka River SP.
American Avocet, Myakka River SP.
Glossy Ibis, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Tri-colored Heron, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Snail Kite, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Bald Eagle, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Black-crowned Night Heron, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Snail Kite, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Eastern Phoebe, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Wood Thrush, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Carolina Wren, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Bald Eagles were almost always overhead, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Tri-colored Heron, Chassahowitzka River.
Pied-billed Grebe, Chassahowitzka River
Brown Pelican, Chassahowitzka River
Blue-winged Teal, St Marks NWR.
Vermilion Flycatcher, St Marks NWR.
Female Kingfisher, Wakulla River.
Mockingbird, Ochlockonee River State Park
Black Skimmers, Mashes Sands Beach near Ochlockonee River SP.
Palm Warbler, Ochlockonee River State Park
Pine Warbler, Ochlockonee River State Park
Red-cockaded woodpeckers, endangered, Ochlockonee River State Park
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ochlockonee River State Park
White Ibis, Myakka River SP.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Red-headed Woodpecker, one of eleven sightings that day, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Anhinga, Lake Kissimmee SP.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron, not as common as The Black-crowned, Chassahowitzka River.
Eastern Towhee, common, Ochlockonee River State Park
Laughing Gull with Least Tern, Bald Point SP.
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Along the trail, Myakka River SP.
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Given the weather we came back to we may decide to stay longer next year. There’s always something new to discover. Thanks for stopping by.
Late Summer at Prairie Oaks
Posted on September 2, 2015
The last few days we’ve spent some time at Prairie Oaks Metro Park looking for early migrating warblers that are now making their way south through central Ohio. We’ve heard them, even seen them, but their constant movement and the leaf cover have foiled most attempts at pictures. However, as is usually the case, there were plenty of other things that capture our imagination. The fact is, it’s also a great time of the year for insects, and with recent rains that includes the biting kind, the price of admission.
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Big Darby, Prairie Oaks Metro Park
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As we walked, we couldn’t help but notice the abundance of wildflowers.
Jerusalem Artichoke, (also called sunroot, sunchoke, earth apple or topinambour), is a sunflower native to eastern North America. Cultivated widely across the temperate zone for its tuber, which is used as a root vegetable tasting something like an artichoke.
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Virgin’s Bower has an attractive flower,
Virgin’s Bower
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. . . but it’s appearance after it goes to seed may be more fascinating.
Virgin’s Bower gone to seed, (Donna)
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Great Blue Lobelia
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Evening Primrose
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Daisies
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A wooded trail offered the opportunity to see fungi.
Prairie Oaks Metro Park
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. . . and it’s not long before some is seen.
Wood Ear, (Donna)
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A type of polypore, (Donna)
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Orange Mycena, (Donna)
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Along the park’s meadows we were fortunate to see a few butterflies, Monarchs and a few other suspects.
Viceroy
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A small tussock moth caterpillar levitates.
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Female Monarch
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Black Swallowtail
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Common Wood-nymph
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The water’s edge of a park pond is home to frogs and turtles.
Eastern (Northern) Cricket Frog, is one of North America’s smallest vertebrates, 0.75–1.50 in long. diet is small insects, including mosquitos. They are preyed upon by birds, fish, and other frogs. To escape predators, they are capable of leaping up to 3 feet in a single jump and are excellent swimmers. (from Wikipedia)
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Red-eared Slider. The box turtle shaped shell is interesting for an animal that spends much of it’s time in the water.
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Painted Turtle reflection.
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Along with being excellent frog and turtle habitat, it’s a great place to see dragonflies.
A pond at Prairie Oaks.
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Widow Skimmer
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Female Eastern Pondhawk.
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Halloween Pennant, (Donna).
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Halloween Pennants mating.
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Three’s a crowd.
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Common Whitetail, (Donna)
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Not far from the dragonflies . . .
Garden Spider, (Donna)
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Garden Spider, (underside)
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Another view of the Big Darby as it runs through Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
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A few birds that managed not to elude the camera’s lens.
Immature House Finch
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Red-headed Woodpecker A rare sighting but a little too far away for a great picture.
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Another view, (Donna)
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Ground squirrels beware! Across a park meadow a Red-tailed Hawk surveys it’s realm.
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Bay-breasted Warbler
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Just one more look at the river.
The Big Darby
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Thanks for stopping by.
