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Field, Forest, Fun

Header Image: Sandhill Cranes Thank goodness we have venues nearby where we can travel less than ten minutes and enjoy birds, blooms and bugs! If we had to plan for a long drive, we might “accidentally” oversleep. Our unscientific research reveals that sunrise and the early birds wait for no birder. One of our current favorite patches is Tenoroc Public Use Area. It is near the city of Lakeland in central-west Florida… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american kestrel, bald eagle, common ground dove, coyote, northern parula, ornate bella moth, palm warbler, prairie warbler, red-femured spotted orbweaver, sandhill crane, spicebush swallowtail, tenoroc public use area, tufted titmouse, wild bushbean

Ups and Downs of Nature

Header Image: Prairie Warbler Autumn. In many parts of the world, seasons are marked by distinct, often visible changes. Green in spring, white in winter, bright warm days of summer and colorful leaves in autumn. In our sub-tropical environment here in central Florida, we had to invent the calendar in order to keep up with what season we were experiencing. It is now (looking over at the wall calendar) “autumn”. Gini and… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: barred yellow, blue-gray gnatcatcher, common ground dove, fiery skipper, hyacinth glider, indigo bunting, northern parula, prairie warbler, red-shouldered hawk, spicebush swallowtail, tenoroc public use area, tufted titmouse, two-striped forceptail green lynx spider

Dog Days of Summer Are Over – Siriusly

Header Image: Prothonotary Warbler It’s her fault, you know. She said: “Go birding. I have some crafting to catch up on.” I should have known to be wary. For some time now, I’ve wanted to explore part of the “Blue Loop Trail” at Tenoroc Public Use Area. According to the map, about a quarter mile from the trail head is an “overlook”. Along the way are huge oak, bay and hickory trees… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: carolina wren, downy woodpecker, golden silk spider, great crested flycatcher, northern cardinal, orchard orbweaver, prairie warbler, prothonotary warbler, raccoon, red-bellied woodpecker, spicebush swallowtail, swallow-tailed kite, tenoroc public use area

perch – and be counted! (the final chapter)

(Header Image: Sandhill Cranes) One of the interesting things about the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is that observers are assigned to a specific geographic area within which to conduct a census. In our area, we have urban, suburban and rural spots which include lakes, parks, wetlands, forests and pasture land to explore. This diversity of habitat provides great potential for seeing a good mix of species as well as large numbers… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Photography Tags: american kestrel, audubon christmas bird count, blue-headed vireo, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker, eastern meadowlark, least sandpiper, loggerhead shrike, northern cardinal, painted bunting, prairie warbler, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, savannah sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, yellow-rumped warbler

“Take Two Warblers And Call Me In The Morning”

Eight minutes. “Would it be okay if I go to the park in the morning?” “You know you don’t have to ask. Of course it would be okay.” “It’s just that I have this headache.” “You? Have a headache? That’s unusual!” “I think it’s a migration headache.” “Oh. C’mon, let’s go to bed.” She loves my witty repartee. Birders know the symptoms of the seasons, though. Each spring and autumn scores of… Read More

Category: Birds, Florida, Photography Tags: american alligator, black-and-white warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, common gallinule, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, eastern wood-pewee, green heron, lake parker park, limpkin, little blue heron, mourning dove, northern parula, pileated woodpecker, prairie warbler, red-bellied woodpecker, snowy egret, tricolored heron, white-eyed vireo, white-winged dove, yellow warbler, yellow-throated warbler

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Our Natural Places

Exploring - Naturally