Lake Louisa State Park, located near Clermont, Florida, has many acres of old-growth Orange Groves, some bordering the main road into the park. Presently, these groves are non-producing, but provide great habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Recently, some of these trees have been uprooted and stacked in piles as you can see in the photo below.
Uprooted Orange Trees. Rows and rows of them.
I wish the park’s management will allow some of the piles to remain for the wildlife seeking refuge, but I tend to believe they won’t. Better yet, why don’t they plant new trees in their place. They don’t have to replant orange trees.
This is what the field looked like on December 26, 2014 as they began uprooting the trees..
Anyway “Lets Talk Turkey”
Late one evening about one week ago, leaving the guys behind, my friend Karla and I decided to jump in the car and head out in search of a pair of American Kestrels. We had been seeing them daily, when driving in and out of the park.
The Kestrels had been hanging around some of these mangled piles of orange trees, perhaps getting ready to build a nest. They would sit on one of the tallest points of the stack, probably looking for food. I wanted to capture a photo of them.
On this particular evening we didn’t see the American Kestrel pair, I think it was too late in the day, but we did see this gorgeous couple, along with seven other females, coming out of the woods to forage before roosting for the night. They were pretty far away so my photos aren’t the best. The guys missed out!
To learn more about our Wild Turkeys go to http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/wild-turkey/.
Wild Turkey Pair
Until Next Time
Stay Frisky
Maybe she is saying, “pick me instead of her”.
I am sharing this post with Eileen, Viewing nature with Eileen for her Saturday’s Critters at http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2015/02/saturdays-critters-63.html
We left our campsite at Silver Springs State Park, River Camping Area and drove the short distance to the Springs. Our friends Karla and Larry were with us and we enjoyed a few hours of hiking. Below are some of the critters we were lucky enough to see.
Anhingas prefer freshwater habitats and often are seen perched on branches or stumps. This is exactly where we spotted this beautiful male.
Anhinga. Silvery white spots and streaks on wings and upper back.Ruby-red to scarlet eyes, long thin neck, long pointed yellowish bill, black plumage with a green gloss.During breeding season the male acquires pale, wispy plumes on upper back.
This little squirrel seemed to welcome us to Silver Springs. He jumped up on this fence and told us a story.
This Florida Red-bellied Cooter was enjoying a sunny day at the Springs.
This guy was watching us from his home near the shoreline.Way out in the river this BIG guy was sunning himself along with a friend.
A lazy day on the river.
Cypress Trees out in the river.
Almost missed these beauties; I spotted them as we were driving away heading back to camp.
Hooded Merganser, male. White head patches are fan-shaped. Black head, blackish bill, chestnut sides and white breast.Smallest native North American merganser with the largest crest. Numbers increasing, due to use of nesting boxes. His lady in the foreground.In breeding season, found on woodland ponds and rivers. Winters on fresh water. Swims under water using both feet and wings.
Looks pre-historic; did you catch him in the photo above?
Meeow is one of the calls of this beautiful, mimic, Thrush called the Gray Catbird. The meeow call is an alarm call.
Gray Catbird, eats mostly insects, spiders, berries and fruitsGray Catbird, solitary or in pairs. However, I saw up to ten togetherGray Catbird, short dark billGray Catbird, black cap and tailGray Catbird, reddish chestnut undertail covertsGray Catbird, does not repeat phrases like other eastern mimic thrushes
While camped at Lake Louisa State Park, I enjoyed watching and photographing these Gray Catbirds as they flitted around our site. There were at least ten, if not more. One morning while having coffee, we observed them eating flowers off the shrubs surrounding the site. I saw my first Gray Catbird on April 3, 1993. (All photos taken using my Canon 70D with Tamron 600m zoom lens.)
Limpkin (seen at Central Florida Fairgrounds while attending HamjCation/2015)
Its been awhile….
The last time I posted a blog was when we were still at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, Florida. We left Hobe Sound almost two weeks ago, with love in our hearts for family that live there. Another treasured visit with them and we look forward to returning next season.
Leaving Hobe Sound we traveled to Orlando to attend the 2015 HamCation event that takes place every February at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. For those of you who might not know, HamCation is an event for Amateur Ham Radio operators and enthusiasts. People attend from all over the United States and some traveling from other countries to enjoy this unique event.
This was our fifth year to attend HamCation. For four nights we parked at the Central Florida Fairgrounds along with nine other FMCA Amateur Radio Ham Club members. We weren’t alone, many, many other Ham Radio Amateur RV’ers were camped there as well.
During the day we walked around the outside flea markets and the vendors booths in several of the building designed to hold big events such as this. In the evening we enjoyed walks, happy hour and cookouts. On one occasion several of us ladies enjoyed some shopping and lunch. It was great fun seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
It made my heart happy to see hubby enjoying his hobby so much; he wore himself out touring all the fleas and vendor booths.
As far as my hobby goes, there is a big lake along one side of the fairgrounds and I was thrilled to see and photograph some of the many shore birds that enjoy this area. Also, saw a pair of nesting Red-shouldered Hawks and one day witnessed one of them swooping down and grabbing a Mourning Dove.
After HamCation us and two other coaches headed to Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont for seven nights of camping, where we enjoyed long walks, evening cookouts, a few meals out and just being together. On one occasion we visited World of Beer (WOB) where we enjoyed several tasty draft brews and a great lunch! Cheers guys! Until 2016!
Leaving Lake Louisa we headed to Silver River State Park with our wonderful friends and traveling buddies Karla and Larry and here as well, we enjoyed some hikes and a visit to Silver Springs. Karla and Larry left us today to head home and we are going to miss them.
Howard and I remain at Silver River State Park for a few more days. As I sit here, in the coach typing this blog, the sky is a dull grey, the wind is blowing a little stronger, the air is a little cooler and according to the weather service we are in for a few days of rain.
So for the next few days, being outside in the gorgeous Silver River wilderness, won’t look as inviting and we just might get a few inside items accomplished. Things like writing a blog!
I hope you enjoy these photos taken along the shore of the lake at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida.
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