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An hour past sunrise and lingering fog obscures the bright light we normally encounter. Damp air mutes the calls of Mourning Dove and Northern Cardinals. Along the edge of the lake a Pig Frog grunts a greeting from the cover of lily pads. Gradually, the gray veil lifts to reveal clear blue skies overhead.

Today’s venue is a county park, although at over 1200 acres it is larger than what we usually think about as a “county park”. Four lakes, each with a nice boat ramp, makes this a desirable spot for fishermen. Fortunately for us, the park is normally very sparsely visited during the week. Around the lakes are nice wooded patches and a long boardwalk winds through a wetland. We have always enjoyed visiting Hardee Lakes County Park and today is no exception.

The lakes are remnants of phosphate mining. Plentiful and relatively easy to find within a four-county area in west-central Florida, phosphorous rock has been mined here since the 1880’s. This particular spot ceased mining activity in the 1960’s and, as they have done in most instances, was subject to intense reclamation by the mining company. There are, of course, huge negative environmental impacts of almost any mining industry. The balance of the positive results, in this case, producing a large percentage of the nation’s agricultural fertilizer, will always be a subject of debate. For now, we shall enjoy what has become a lovely natural setting filled with native flora and fauna.

Our morning progressed around each lake shoreline, through the wetland and a bit of probing the forested edges. Plenty to see and hear. Breakfast before the sun broke through the fog was very pleasant as a pair of Sandhill Cranes fed and preened just a few dozen yards away. After that, it just got better.

Join us …

This Sandhill Crane pair entertained us during breakfast (ours and theirs). Feeding, preening, male showing off – same thing going on at our table.

Ubiquitous is a word invented by residents living near water in places such as Florida to describe the Red-winged Blackbird. This male sang his morning tune as the sun began to burn through the mist. Check a dozen field guides and you’re likely to find as many descriptions of his song. Gini says it’s “Per-deeeee-TA!”. Now, I hear nothing else when he sings. The female may not sing, but she has plenty of sounds and calls of her own. She may be one of the most confusing birds to identify in the field. Living proof that plain can be gloriously beautiful.

Plenty of yellow blooms this morning. We found a field filled with Mexican Pricklypoppy (Argemone mexicana). Pretty to gaze upon, painful to pick.

Here there be dragons! A male Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) shows off his blue abdomen, yellow and black racing stripe thorax and white face.

Although typically seen around the beaches, Forster’s Terns are fairly common at Florida’s inland freshwater lakes.

Aquatic plants such as Bulltongue Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia) are abundant around all the lakes.

One of our more common dragons is the Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida).

Florida + Fresh Water = Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata).

Florida + Fresh Water = Common Gallinule.

They may be common, but I usually can’t resist photographing the Carolina Desert-Chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus), especially an adorable pair such as this. This beautiful flower with the oxymoronic common name is also known as the Texas Dandelion and False Dandelion.

Master of camouflage. If it doesn’t move, it can be difficult to spot a Killdeer.

Loggerhead Shrikes find the best perches in their search for lunch. In this case, Sherrif Shrike is giving you that look ’cause you were thinking about parking in his buffet spot.

Cute kid. Petting is not recommended as, even at this tender age, there are a bunch of really sharp teeth within those surprisingly powerful jaws. Besides, she has taken care to conceal herself so well with those reeds you can’t even see her. Right? (Immature American Alligator.)

A Little Blue Heron displays breeding plumage which includes that very dark beak.

American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea). Gorgeous at any distance. Amazing intricate details up close.

It was hard to believe there seemed to be so many White-eyed Vireos as they were singing and calling everywhere we stopped. I still think it was just one bird who had been assigned to follow us around and report back to Vireo HQ on our activities. (Yes. Gini rolled her eyes, too.)

Watching a Great Egret in flight just above the lake’s surface was so fascinating.

Wing pattern, great green eyes, almost never lands. A male Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) inspected me just long enough for a quick snapshot before returning to patrolling the lake shore.

A Double-crested Cormorant found just enough tree stump on which to perch in a secluded lagoon in one of the lakes. Orange-yellow around the bill and pale neck and breast indicate this is an immature bird.

“You WILL come back for a visit!”

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the former mining pits and truly appreciate the efforts of the mining companies to reclaim the land. As we return to what used to be a regular outing schedule, Hardee Lakes County Park is high on our list for exploring natural places.

Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!