Tag Archives: carillon

More from Bok Tower Gardens

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Peter Rabbit still hanging around long after Easter.

Some different plants growing at the Bok Tower Gardens in early May. The first one is a balloon cotton bush. I would love to have one of these in a pot in my yard but they are not native to Florida. The 2nd one is a type of pitcher plant. I just recently got a hanging pitcher plant and repotted it so we’ll see how that one does.

This tiny black racer ran across the trail in seconds, before I could even get my camera up to my face to take a shot. I found him in the bushes a few minutes later. He was really skittish.

One of the big koi fish looking for a handout.

I’m not sure what these are. They were in a different pond and there was a feeding station next to. Luckily I had a few quarters so I fed them a handful of fish food while I was snapping these with my phone.

One of the many views at the top of the hill near the carillon.

Palm tree reflections in the big pond in front of the carillon.

I always snap a few shots of the carillon when I visit.

Before heading home I took a little road trip to the cow pastures to look for the wild whooping cranes. I had recently heard that one of them had disappeared and had been missing all winter. The one was still there, far out in the pasture. It was sad to see it all alone. I hope it finds a mate soon.

Back at Bok

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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

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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.

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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.

After work walk

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 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.

A walk after work

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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

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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.

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“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.

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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.

Cattails in the water.

An after work walk around the lake near the office.

Check out more pictures at Our World Tuesday  

Also, check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for 

Babies after work.

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I stopped by the lake close by work for a quick walk before the rain came down. Half way around the lake I saw this black necked stilt.

He stopped for a rest.

A few feet over in the mud, there was another stilt with 3 babies.

They must have only been a few days old.

I sat on the grass behind a tree and watched them for a few minutes. The parent started to doze off and the kids were running around exploring.

The lake was pretty dry and the babies were far out. These are all extremely cropped with my 300mm lens.

Look at those muddy feet!

The other parent flew in for a few minutes then took off again.

Then he was back again after flying half way around the lake.

Why does this parent have 6 legs?  Two of the babies were hiding underneath.

One of the babies ventured back out and started walking around again.

Then the other baby came out but stayed close to the parent.

I sat behind the tree for about half an hour and then the sun was going down behind the buildings. The joggers and dog walkers probably thought I was crazy. They didn’t realize I could see these tiny babies across the lake. I hope all 3 of them make it. There are alligators in this lake and hawks flying overhead. My plan is to check back in a few weeks.

Check out more pictures at Our World Tuesday 

Also, check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for