Walking through the fog.

Posted on May 20, 2021 by dinajohnston

Some of the critters along the trail at Circle B Bar Reserve in late March including that cute little mouse in the bottom pictures. The alligators were out everywhere and making their loud mating bellow. Even if you couldn’t see them you could hear them bellowing all over the marsh.

It was a quiet morning for flying critters.

The trails were covered in fog when I got to the preserve early in the morning. There wasn’t a lot of traffic on the trails and it was a nice quiet morning. I like being here in the fog for a change of season since it makes it seem like winter even if it was mild and muggy.

The bottom two pictures are panos with my phone.

A typical January walk

Posted on March 9, 2020 by dinajohnston

Heading out on the trails, something flushed a flock of ibis across the marsh.

A perfect morning in January, cold and clear.

Morning glories along the trail.

The usual birds.

Crazy face hiding in the bushes.

Right over the trail, this osprey was eating fish.

A typical morning walk at Circle B Bar Reserve.

Two parks in one morning.

Posted on May 4, 2017 by dinajohnston

I headed out to Chesnut Park first and saw the usual critters above before heading to Philippe Park nearby.

While waiting for the baby owl to wake up I walked up the small hill that sits on the water. The small hill is a Tocabaga Indian mound and is the largest remaining mound in the Tampa Bay region. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Landmarks. The view is beautiful at the top. While standing there a juvenile eagle flew right over my head.

Cute and creepy critters.

Posted on February 18, 2017 by dinajohnston

Some little critters.

Some medium size critters.

A big critter eating a slightly smaller critter.

A few smaller critters out in the marsh.

Fun critters in the fog at Circle B Bar Reserve.

Typical things on a Florida trail.

Posted on March 14, 2016 by dinajohnston

A typical Florida swamp scene (cattle egret looking at a great egret).

A limpkin posing in the moss.

A Carolina wren stops by.

A cormorant flapping his wings.

Another limpkin in the moss. Looks like he was grabbing moss for his nest.

This guy was just cruising down the trail, not caring that he was heading right for me. He kept getting closer and I finally got up and moved back (was sitting on the trail to take his picture). I don’t want this guy to get too close. They are cute but still creepy.

All from Circle B Bar Reserve in early February.

Quiet Saturday morning at Fort Desoto

Posted on July 9, 2015 by dinajohnston

Pretty pelican floating by.

A cormorant sleeping on the top of the light post.

Dolphins were cruising by the pier.

This osprey did not want to share his meal. After a closer look, I didn’t want it anyway.

Climbing a tree.

Great egret getting a snack.

It was a windy morning. The storm clouds had not moved in yet so the kiteboarders were out taking advantage of the wind. The park is pretty limited on wildlife sightings for the summer. Other than the usual laughing gull and reddish egret, there’s not much around the beach except tourists. When is summer over????

Another raccoon sighting

Posted on January 10, 2015 by dinajohnston

These guys have gotten way too tame. I was walking down the trail at Circle B Bar Reserve when I saw this raccoon head towards me. I thought for sure he would leave the trail when he saw me but he just kept on walking right down the middle of the trail. We both kept getting closer and he still didn’t hide. I sat down on the trail and was taking the above shots. These are all cropped. When he reached a certain point I stood up and moved over to the side. We walked right by. I was holding my monopod out in front in case he lunged for me. I wasn’t about to go off the trail into the alligator infested water. I don’t know whether people are feeding them or they just don’t mind us being there.

It was Raccoon day at the preserve

Posted on December 13, 2014 by dinajohnston

We saw them walking down the trail and then we lost them. Looking around, we heard some shaking high up in the tree. Looked up and saw this staring at us.

“Yeh, I’m mean. See my teeth?”

“You don’t believe me? How about this?”

“What about if I growl?”

“I’m sorry. Did I upset you?”

“I’m really just chewing on an acorn.”

“These are yummy.”

Later, we saw another one all alone wandering down the trail.

He was much smaller and all alone. He got pretty close before he veered off into the bushes.

It was also armadillo day. We saw three different ones. I rarely see them here.

Instead of going to the mall for Black Friday on the day after Thanksgiving, we headed to the Black “mask” Friday at Circle B Bar Reserve. Pam’s husband, Craig, came up with that name for the day since we saw so many raccoons that day. It was a beautiful fun trip and way better than fighting the crowds at the mall. Who still goes to the mall these days anyway? Shop on-line.

Dina's Wildlife Adventures

Tag Archives: raccoon