Blooming things at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
Critters at the gardens.
Baby moorhens are popping up everywhere now.
Yes, the botanical gardens were open during the “Stay At Home” phase. Lucky for me most people must have thought they were closed because there was only a few other people there. Lots of space to move around in.
Birds flying high.
Black bellied whistling ducks hanging low in the grass, trying to avoid the haws and eagles flying overhead.
A blue headed vireo being cute.
An osprey was sitting on a branch that crossed over the trail. I was trying to make sure he didn’t poop on me while I was trying to take his picture. I’m not sure what type of fish that was but it had a red tint to it.
A cooper’s hawk hiding in the bushes across the canal.
Butterflies along the trail in January.
The butterfly garden at the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens were full of butterflies. No surprise there but I was hoping for hummingbirds. Although the amount of butterflies there was a bit of a surprise. I haven’t being seeing many butterflies this summer in any of the gardens I’ve visited.
A female wood duck up above and her 4 juvenile babies hanging out on a rock.
It’s always fun to see the baby swans.
Across the street from the lake, in front of the library in Lakeland, there were still 2 swans sitting on nests. At least they had a good shady spot away from the crowds and a nice view of the lake.
Two butterflies together on the street. Where they mating? I’ve never seen this before.
The trail around the ponds at Possom Branch Preserve were covered in these purple flowers. The bees seemed to love them.
Little critters.
I noticed a swallow tail kite cruising high over the busy road next to the preserve.
Lots of parulas and palm warblers but not many other birds. Spring migration was pretty much over by early May.
On the way home I stopped by a small park near Possum Branch Preserve to take a peek on the boardwalk. Nothing there but I saw the above yellow billed cuckoo in the parking lot. I saw it fly into a tree and at first glance I thought it was a dove. I’m glad I stopped and paid attention. These are fairly rare here.
I also stopped by the fishing pier in Safety Harbor to see if there were any manatees. No manatees this morning but a school of sting rays swam under the pier.
Spring was already in full swing at the Largo Botanical Gardens in late March.
The butterfly garden was full of monarchs.
A few of the critters at the gardens.
More monarchs to come. The milkweed was full of caterpillars.
A starling peeking out of what was probably a former woodpecker nest.
Thanks to Ken at Rosyfinch Ramblings for the ID on the above Orange crowned warbler. A first for me.
Little birds at Hammock Park.
A small wood stork party at Possum Branch Preserve.
Typical great egret shot but I noticed after I cropped it up that he’s missing part of his upper beak.
I started out at Hammock Park, a small park in Dunedin that I had not been before. After walking around for an hour and seeing very little, I left there and stopped at Possum Branch Preserve for a walk before heading home.
Upclose with flamingos.
Butterflies buzzing around the pretty flowers.
Super sized fish.
A few of the plants at the gardens.
Sunken Gardens is a 4 acre 100-year-old botanical garden near downtown St. Petersburg and one of the oldest roadside tourist attractions in the country. The gardens are located in what was a small lake 10 feet below sea level which is where it got the name. I hadn’t been in nearly 10 years and it’s so close so I thought I’d stopped in one morning for a quick walk. Since it was the end of summer, there weren’t a lot of flowers blooming but the gardens was a tropical oasis once you got inside. A handful of flamingos live there as well. It was a great little walk but so hot. My next trip will be in the winter.
Little critters.
Cute critter. I think he was afraid I was going to steal his nut.
I’m don’t know what this bird is. Any ideas? I think it may be a juvenile.
A woodpecker chewing on this pretty flowering tree.
Pretty colors.
Crazy ducks.
It was already hot in late April when I stopped by the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. The summer rains hadn’t started but the heat had already arrived.
Tiny critters at the park.
Creepy critters at the park.
Pesky squirrels at the park (I don’t know who thought that was a “Squirrel proof” feeder. It was hanging next to the nature center.)
Pretty prothonotary warblers at the park.
Just a few things from my walk in late August.
