"Attention to Details"

 

I like to think I'm observant but I am still surprised when I work on my photos how many 'hidden details' I've missed!

Hey, Mr. Flycatcher! 

Spit out that grasshopper and eat some of these pesky gnats and mosquitoes!

And it's going to take this Osprey a long time to build a nest at this rate!

But look how interesting those wispy feathers are along the legs of this Great Blue Heron.

And this seemed like an unusual place for a mushroom to grow.

I guess it likes more light and air!

I'm going to get a little creepy now.

I took this photo thinking I was looking at a pretty plant but when I bent down to look more closely, this Green Anole jumped. I jumped too. I don't know who jumped higher! Isn't he perfectly hidden?

This poor alligator!

He has no body!

And I wasn't even sure this was an alligator until I looked at my pics!

He's trying to look like a 'knot on a log'! 

How do you like this pretty little pond at Reed Bingham State Park?

Read the small sign at the bottom! 

These ponds are for the kids....oh and the alligators!!!

Halloween Pennant

And now to dedicate this next part of my post to my dear friend, John from John's Island HERE. 

He has written me another poem dedicated to my last post and I want to share it today.

"Beneath the pines where hoofbeats roam,

Heritage Farm feels just like home.

Log cabins stand with rustic grace,

As goats and sheep patrol the place.

The Martins dart through gnats with gless,

While trails invite both you and me.

The river calls, the forest hums

Where quite peace and beauty comes.

So here's to the cabins, hooves and leaves

To Autumn dreams and golden eves!''

This is one of the true blessings of having a blog...making blog friends along the way. I know we all feel like sharing our photos with other like minded bloggers enhances our lives. John has really surprised me with these gifts of poetry. Thank you John for your thoughtfulness.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Out on a limb (or camping out)!

 

This little bluebird has perched 'out on a limb'!

And he's wondering how to get down, or maybe what's down there!

But he's content to perch.

And there are other pretty bluebirds in the woods at this time of year too.

And don't even get me started on the Warblers!

Every year I'm pleasantly surprised at how many Warblers fly into town.

This one just needs a tasty worm before going his happy way.

One more...with an attitude! 

And isn't this Flicker regal up on this old snag?

I enjoyed watching him

and taking photos from every angle.

I love seeing that dark red patch on the back of his head.

These were all taken on one hike along the Marjorie Harris Cross Florida Greenway!

How fabulous to live so close to the trailhead.

And the Long-tailed Skipper was pretty fantastic too.

We have a lot to be thankful for here in Florida in Fall.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

If I'm slow visiting everyone, I might be perched under a palm tree.....

camping at one of our beautiful State Parks! 🌴

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Great Horned Owl - time and chance!

 

We make so many decisions when we get up in the morning. I eat a good breakfast and have a cup of coffee...always! And then I check the weather. This particular morning was supposed to be a little less hot with a bit of a breeze. So I started getting ready to go for a hike. I've been starting at a trailhead near my house so that there's not much drive time to get there. And I didn't even make my bed! I sliced an apple and packed it and extra water in my little insulated bag to have after the hike. I put my water bottle, phone and extra camera battery in my backpack, grabbed my camera and I was ready to roll!

Great horned Owl

This is the firebreak I was hiking. 

A firebreak is a path that is plowed to keep a wildfire from continuing to spread. This firebreak was tilled up about a month ago so some weeds and grass have started to grow but it still serves the purpose.

Of course when I started the hike, there were stops to look at the many deer tracks on the trail and one possible bobcat track. 

There were flowers to photograph and little Warblers flitting about.

I got to a 'T' in the road and took a few steps to the right at the hummingbird tree. (I shared it last month)

And a really BIG bird flew across the trail in front of me. I thought it was a big bodied Hawk! I was so thrilled that it lit in a tree. So being the country girl (at heart) that I am, I trekked through the brambles in the forest to get a better look.

I was so glad I did! It was a Great horned owl.

Probably a young one by the looks of his 'horns'.

We had seen one of these beautiful owls at Pruitt a few years ago so I could see the difference.

All of these photos are of his back.

He swiveled his head all the way around to watch me!

It was an amazing sighting and made me really glad I didn't take the time to make my bed before I left my house.

I would have missed his flight across the trail and not even noticed him in the tree.

Time and chance. 

I hope you can get out and observe nature where you live this week!

Don't forget.....go BEFORE you do any housework!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

 

Deep in the Forest!

 Time to put on our hiking shoes and go deep into the woods!

Don't be skeeeeered!

You're in Bear Country now!

A REAL bear den!

OK! That's close enough....let's keep going!

We'll only go during the day when the monsters don't look as scary.

Because you KNOW there will be monsters in the forest!

Some real.....

others imagined!

Use your imagination!

But don't let it run WILD!

I love hiking deep into the forest BEST! 

Gnome Country! It's my favorite place to be!

We'll just stop now to watch the pretty Warblers!

Time to FLY!

Were you skeeeered? Maybe just a little? Me too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE ! 

Shangri-La Trailhead, best for "Winter hiking"

 Now that the weather has cooled off here in Florida I am enjoying some of the trails I usually avoid in the summer months. 

But as you can see by the parking area at the Shangri-La Trailhead, I have it all to myself today!

The trails are just gorgeous and easy to walk. 

The way the trails 'lie', there's not much breeze so it feels hotter and the bugs enjoy it more than I do in the summer heat! So I wait for the cooler temps with less humidity.

Some of the trails follow the old diggings and it is perfectly quiet and peaceful.

We've had some rain so the mushrooms are abundant in the forest.

I'll pop a mosaic in to try to show more of these beauties!

This one looks like it has a little skirt on!

And we've seen lots of Warblers, Flycatchers and Bluebirds this week.

I know many people have gotten a winter blast this week. We've had a few cold nights too!

Hubby took this Eastern Bluebird photo and it's one of my all time favorites now!

Enjoy your week and get outside to enjoy nature when you can!

And for those of you who are interested in the BIG announcement I made on Jan. 23rd, I'll include a link to the post HERE!

 It's going to be FUN!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !