Back at Bok

Posted on May 24, 2021 by dinajohnston

Driving into Bok Tower Gardens you wind through orange groves and you can see the top of the carillon hovering over the trees. At this point the trees were heavy with ripe oranges in early April. I wish it was closer to my home. It’s an hour and a half away but worth the drive every once in a while. The worst part is putting your life on the line driving across crazy I4 for about 45 minutes but after that it’s a nice back road drive through small towns. I like seeing the cows as I pass by and I keep an eye out for eagles cruising in the skies.

This huge beautiful arrangement greats you at the entrance of the visitor’s center.

Lots of yellow and orange blooming when I was there. I love the orange sunflowers.

Little critters were flying around.

I found a lot of amaryllis blooming near the back exit by the parking lot. It made me think it was still Christmas but the heat reminded me it was not.

This was an interesting cactus. I don’t remember ever seeing these guys sprout like this. It looked like a big asparagus growing out of it.

I was hoping for a few spring migrates at the bird feeder by the pond but all I got was catbirds and cardinals.

While sitting on the bench waiting for birds at the feeder, this guy walked right up to me. Maybe people feed them here? He looked at me for a few seconds and then went to the ground under the feeder and started digging around for seeds. I think we had a connection!

A walk after work

Posted on May 20, 2019 by dinajohnston

Baby ducks were everywhere on my walk around Carillon Park after work in late April. It looks like those baby moorhens were sitting on cotton in the first picture but that is some kind of algae growing in the lake.

There was also a limpkin trying to feed 2 little babies.

A few of the other birds on my walk. A yellowlegs, a parrot eating something high in a tree and an anhinga with a snack.

Other critters at the lake.

Lots of babies at Carillon Park.

Posted on August 4, 2018 by dinajohnston

Two very young green herons were waiting for mom to come back with food. They were standing on the boardwalk rail. As soon as they saw mom come into the bushes they hopped back on the branches and headed deep in the bush to get fed.

A common moorhen family. There were at least 6 families along the ponds.

Young grackles and their parents were along the boardwalk.

The usual birds along the boardwalk, a blue jay, an osprey eating a fish on top of one of the office buildings and one of the many anhingas.

A walk around Carillon Park after work in early May.

A walk after work

Posted on July 30, 2018 by dinajohnston

Lots of turtles at Carillon Park. The ponds have sunning boards for the turtles to hang out on.

Magnolias along the boardwalk.

An ibis taking a bath. It was so hot I wanted to jump in with him.

A few bunnies along the trail.

Colors in the fountain.

I haven’t seen a lesser yellowlegs in a long time much less at this park.

A quick walk around a park nearby work before heading home in early May.

After work walk

Posted on December 4, 2017 by dinajohnston

A lone sleepy spoonbill along the walking path.

Crazy parrots high up in the trees.

A pelican and anhinga getting ready for bed.

A green heron trying to grab one last bite before dark.

Not sure if these turtles had been napping all day or if they just climbed up to sleep for the night. There’s a fun little floating pad for them to sleep on.

This guy was relaxing.

Clouds rolling in before the sun going down. A quick walk before dark at the office park near my work right before the time change. No more walks after work until late March.

After work walk

Posted on July 12, 2017 by dinajohnston

Things from an after work walk at the office park near my office. Lots of critters in the water and along the boardwalk.

Linking to Wednesday Around the World

A walk after work

Posted on June 24, 2017 by dinajohnston

I saw this lone spoonbill at the office park lake near my work. I noticed that his eye looked a little funny and he was banded. It seemed okay, just sleepy.

Not sure what these baby mallards were trying to eat. Just like a baby, everything goes in the mouth.

A moorhen Mom with a few new babies.

Some very young grackles waiting for Mom to come back with food.

A male grackle shining in the sun.

A walk after work

Posted on May 14, 2015 by dinajohnston

A baby grackle getting his footing.

“Ha, Ha, I got weeds stuck on my beak.”

A kildeer couple at the back pond. This is the first time I’ve seen kildeer here.

Mossy turtle drying off.

Tons of bunnies along the running path.

The bell tower in the middle of an office park.

When I got closer to the bell tower, I realized there was an osprey nest on top of it.

Taking off.

Heading over the lake.

Must be looking for dinner.

I stopped by Carillon Park after work for a walk around the lakes (or just really big ponds). Tons of people jogging and dog walking. I don’t get out before dark much anymore after work so this was a treat to get out.

I’m going to look for a duck.

Posted on December 1, 2014 by dinajohnston

“I’m eating over here.” said the spoonbill.

I realized as he flew off he was banded. I could not make out the numbers on either picture.

Another palm warbler.

Yellow rumped warblers are starting to show up.

Turtle face.

Stretching out on the floating pad in the pond.

The cormorants rule the boardwalk.

A tiny turtle soaking up some sun.

Another one on a log.

Blue jay with a nut from a palm tree.

This was the first time I have walked around the trail and boardwalk at Carillon park on a Saturday morning. Since it’s so close to work I usually only go after work in the summer. It’s usually packed with joggers and walkers. It was quiet this morning and weird to be there on a Saturday since it’s surrounded by office buildings. I went looking for an albino coot that had been reported there everyday for a week. Of course, by the time I get there, he’s gone. Maybe he was just close by and will come back over before winter is over.

Check out more pictures at Our World Tuesday

Also, check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for

A walk after work in early July.

Posted on July 28, 2014 by dinajohnston

Green heron on the shoreline of the lake.

I’m assuming this cardinal can see himself in the window? He kept banging on it. Maybe he could see food inside.

Tricolored heron posing for me.

A very young grackle.

A red winged blackbird.

The black neck stilt couple were still there.

So were the babies. All three were there and just a little bit bigger than the few weeks before I saw them. They were pretty far out in the reeds.

Baby duck taking a bath.

Drying off with his siblings close by.

I saw 4 baby ducks all together without any parent around. They stayed pretty close to each other. They climbed up on the bank and settled in for the night. Hopefully, a parent found them later.