While at Circle B Bar Reserve last weekend I watched this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) struggle for ten minutes to swallow a decent-sized catfish. The slippery devil wasn’t ready to go down the hatch, it even kept flopping in the bird’s throat. That has to be incredibly uncomfortable!
I’m not sure the hatched cooter eggs belong to this specific species but there were definitely a lot of Florida Red-bellied Turtles (Pseudemys nelsoni) at Circle B Bar Reserve this past weekend.
Though they are a favorite snack of alligators, these brave terrapins are known for laying their eggs in alligator nest mounds. I’m sure the choice location offers protection from pillaging by raccoons (and others). As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Intentional or not, duckweed serves as excellent turtle camouflage. I was especially impressed with the one below who went the extra mile.
Does it remind anyone else of the Carol Burnett Went with the Wind curtain skit?
I stopped by Circle B Bar Reserve out in Lakeland this weekend. I arrived at the central Florida location a bit late in the day and the throng of early visitors had already cleared out, so I pretty much had the place to myself.
It was just me and the plentiful wildlife at the 1,200+ acre nature preserve (I’ll share more about some of them later this week) but first, the scenery. Tall, puffy clouds floated above Live Oaks laden with Spanish Moss while shades of greens were layered from the aquatic plants below to the towering Bald Cypresses above.
The views reminded me of the Florida landscapes painted by the talented, self-taught Highwaymen. They captured an idealized view of the natural beauty of the state, which sadly, is rapidly disappearing (much like the Highwaymen themselves). I’m so glad that areas like Circle B have been protected!
I began the day at the southern tip of the Pinellas peninsula kayaking with friends. We were accompanied by a troop of Double-crested Cormorants who dined on the fish our boats startled. Though the gusty wind altered our route, we still had a lovely morning on the water.
I ended my day downtown at the St. Petersburg Pier practicing yoga. The event was a fundraiser for a local nonprofit and judging by the turnout, they raised a good amount of money tonight.
When I first visited here back in 2019, I not only fell in love with the gorgeous scenery but the heart of this community. So glad to call this place home!
After the sun dipped below the horizon, the moon took over the job of lighting up the sky. I loved the towering clouds…
I snapped this shot while taking shelter from the wind and rain last night. The gulf was a bit agitated but I still love that view!
What a lovely way to end the week – with a rooftop view, good friends, and a great conversation! Thanks to Katie and Natasha for picking the location, it was my first time at Level 11 and I plan on getting back up there for sunset soon. It also reminded me how much I still have to explore around here!
The days are lengthening and as the planet tilts, the sun comes into alignment with this opening in the John’s Pass bridge pier.
Please forgive my grainy photo, next time I’ll take a better camera with me. Thankfully, I’ll have a few more months to play with this view.
Talk about a coincidence, I blew out my flip flop Saturday night at the C-Key Tiki Fest. Thankfully, unlike Jimmy Buffett, I did not step on a pop top…
My friend Loretta and I drove up to Cedar Key this past weekend for the inaugural C-Key Tiki Fest. Though we were there for the music, with the wide open spaces, it was easy to see why it’s called Florida’s Nature Coast.
The festival featured Trop Rock singer-songwriters (the Jimmy Buffett inspired genre) from all over Florida as well as Nashville and points further north. I love these small, laid-back gatherings; the music is fun and there’s plenty of time to socialize and dance with fellow attendees (and musicians).
Turned out there were quite a few of us from the Tampa area and I look forward to seeing my new phriends at upcoming events. It was Loretta’s first introduction to the Parrothead lifestyle and I’m certain it won’t be her last.
The dog-bird boats, bushel baskets, and other tackle (evidence of the area’s famous fishing, clams, and oysters industries) scattered throughout the quaint village piqued my curiosity. After this brief stay, I know I’ll be back up to explore the various parks and preserves and to delve into the area’s history.
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