Yellow flowers and birds

Posted on October 2, 2023 by dinajohnston

It was mid-May and I was hoping the yellow flowers were out at Myakka River State Park. Tickseed is the official Florida state wildflower and blooms naturally in central Florida during May. The park is one of the best places to see it blooming. Huge fields of yellow as far as you can see. I was hoping to see some birds as well since migration was still going on.

I ran into some other birders when I first got there and they were heading into the swamp just off the main road to see some barred owls (you could actually see the owls from the road if you knew where to look through the trees). We couldn’t find the adults but the 2 juveniles were easy to spot. They both still had a little baby fuzz on their heads. The oldest was trying to take an early morning nap until the sun hit his face. The younger one in the bottom shot was wide awake and looking around.

We then found one of the adults. She took off quickly farther into the woods.

The thistle was also blooming.

Some black bellied whistling ducks flew overhead.

There were several limpkins feeding along the bank of the river.

I watched this great blue heron play with his food for 15 minutes before leaving.

I saw a record number for me of alligators on this trip to the park. More on them and the tickseed later.

Flappers at Circle B Bar Reserve

Posted on December 11, 2021 by dinajohnston

Some of the little birds that are often seen at Circle B Bar Reserve are the house wren and common yellowthroat.

We were looking for the yellow billed cuckoo along the trail and someone spotted this summer tanager from across the marsh. It’s the first time I’ve seen one here.

We found the pair of cuckoos but they were doing their best to hide high up in the trees.

The usual birds to find in the water here. A common moorhen taking a bath and the grebes have returned for the winter.

“Mom, pay attention. That lady is watching us.”

“She’s not going to bother us unless she’s willing to wade through alligator infested marsh”

“Okay, so we can relax. It’s been a busy morning eating bugs.”

Later I passed the black bellied whistling duck family (looks like the other parent is here) and the babies were all napping. It’s such a treat to see these babies here since the main trails are closed in the summer. This is a late family for late October.

Wide open space at Myakka State Park

Posted on November 12, 2020 by dinajohnston

One of the few animals I saw at Myakka River State Park was a deer near the big lake. She was alone and hiding in the shadow.

Closer to the water I could see some black bellied whistling ducks and black necked stilts.

A crow guarding the parking lot.

Myakka Park, just south of Sarasota, is known for having huge gators. And a lot of them although not as many as the Everglades. Timing is everything to see the big ones. They usually come out to sun themselves late in the afternoon. If it’s really hot, they’ll stay in the water most of the day. I was there early in the morning and only saw a few small ones. There is an area in the park that is off limits that has 100’s of them. The “Deep hole” is a 4 mile round trip hike out to where they are hidden but you have to have a permit to hike out there. The rangers give out 30 permits a day and I heard they are all snatched up in the first hour. I keep saying I want to get down there in the winter and hike out the hole but keep putting it off. I think this winter might be the time.

The sun was just coming up over the trees when I headed out on one trail.

This is a huge park with a lot of wide open spaces. I was out on a rare Monday off so there was hardly anyone there.

A pano with my phone of a dried up lake.

Back on Alligator Alley

Posted on January 9, 2020 by dinajohnston

Things along the trail including a snack left behind by some bird.

A great blue heron strutting along.

Alligator Alley trail was finally opened after being closed for 2 years. When Hurricane Irma came through in 2017, part of the trail was washed out. The county finally rebuilt the trail and it was great to walk down it after all that time.

The view along the lake.

The marigold were still out in late November, washing the trail in yellow.

SkyWatch Friday

Birds at Lettuce Lake Park

Posted on July 28, 2018 by dinajohnston

Usual birds at Lettuce Lake Park in north Tampa.

A rare bird you only see soaring high in the sky in the summer, two swallow-tail kites were cruising by while I was on top of the observation tower. One looked like he had something in his claws.

It looked like it was part of a duck or maybe a baby bird. These guys snatch baby birds right out of a nest. They eat while they are soaring, mostly dragonflies though.

A cute black bellied whistling duck cruised by as well.

I stopped by the teeny tiny golf ball size hummingbird nest before leaving the park. At first the almost grown baby was sitting alone on the nest. Then mom flew in to feed it.

The usual stuff at Circle B Bar Reserve

Posted on July 26, 2018 by dinajohnston

A glossy ibis showing off his colors in the sun.

The usual birds along the trail.

Nothing new on my trip to Circle B Bar Reserve in late April. Just a long beautiful walk on a Saturday morning before the heat sets in.

SkyWatch Friday

So many birds….

Posted on January 30, 2017 by dinajohnston

Black bellied whistling ducks are a rare sight to see up close. Years ago they would hang out right on the trail and the trees right on the trail would be full of them. Now you can only hear them whistling off in the distance.

A great blue heron with a snack.

The marsh has been overrun with glossy ibis.

A few Wilson’s Snipes have been seen here. This one was on Alligator Alley Trail.

dsc_8760-copy-2

dsc_8777-copy-2

It’s always fun to see the little purple clowns (gallinules).

Green herons have taken over.

Come of the birds on my recent trip to Circle B Bar Reserve.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

The usual suspects.

Posted on July 13, 2015 by dinajohnston

Posing great blue heron.

Reflection of a snowy egret.

A lone black bellied whistling duck.

A green heron hiding in the marsh.

A crow was bothering this pileated woodpecker.

Limpkin family along the trail.

My last trip to Circle B Bar Reserve in early June. At least for the summer. It’s too hot on those trails. One of the main trails is closed until September due to alligators nesting close to the trail. I’ll wait until fall migration begins in late September or early October before heading over there again.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

Typical and not so typical at Circle B Bar Reserve

Posted on February 10, 2014 by dinajohnston

Typical green heron. He was not paying attention to me.

Not so typical american bittern. They only visit in the winter and are usually really hard to find. Several other people were watching this one already.