Monday, August 02, 2004, Circle B Bar
I arrived at the parking area about 0820 and started the walk. It was threatening rain so I kept close to the truck. I walked to the marsh and in the oak hammock I saw a raccoon climbing a tree. Got several photos of it. I crossed the marsh and photo'ed a small blue heron also a tri-color heron. Re-crossed the marsh and walked toward the lake. Saw a hawk flying in the trees. Watched it a while. It was taking twigs somewhere to the north.Could not get a photo of it. As I was walking alongside a freshly mowed pasture, a county truck drove across it and stopped to talk with me. He was fussing at me for being in the Circle B last Wednesday. I explained that I had not seen the boarded entry as I had entered via the big gate. He advised that Circle B was closed due to the escape of several water buffalo from nearby. All but one had been caught and it was on Circle B. I was lucky that I did not see it or It see me. I photo'ed a large flying insect that was carrying a smaller flying insect. I think that it was lunch. I just walked out to the dock and then back to the parking area via the north trail. Still threatening rain. Hot and humid. ..........Herman

Wednesday , August 04, 2004, Street/Audubon Nature Center, Winter Haven, Fl
I had a early meeting this morning and it was threatening rain so I wanted to do a safe walk. I had wanted to visit the Audubon Center in Winter Haven and today was a good opportunity to visit. I had visited the web site and had a map to the center. It was easy to find. I arrived a little after 10 and entered the house. I talked with two volunteers present and toured the house. I then started to walk the trail around the ground and Lake Ned. The trails were short and overgrown, but interesting. There is some large bamboo in this area. I did not complete the walk as it started raining. I went back into the house and two new volunteers arrived to relieve the first two. I had an interesting talk with all the volunteers. I recommend a visit to the Audubon Center. .....Herman

Saturday, August 07, Circle B Bar
We have had a front sitting on us for about a week. This has caused morning rains as opposed to our usual afternoon storms in the summer. Today it is threatening to rain early, but I decided to risk it and walk around the marsh. I started about 0815. Also, as usual, it was hot and muggy. Overall things were very quite. The blackbirds were active in the marsh and were flying in swarms. Photo'ed some blackbird, a heron and enhinga. Also a small gator. As I got to the lake, I saw a heron on one of the floating islands of grass. The heron was eating a fish. Also photo'ed a small white egret eating something. It would swish it in the water, take it out and then swish it again. It finally eat it. I continued walking and took the north trail from the dock to the parking area. As I neared the horse path to the marsh, I saw a hawk flying north. It landed in a dead tree. I was able to photograph it. I then noticed another hawk that had been hidden by the tree trunk. I was able to get photographs of them before they flew off. Had some light sprinkles of rain during the walk. Later in the afternoon, I got nearly three inches of rain at my home. ......Herman

Monday, August 09, Gator Creek
Decided to walk Gator Creek since it had been a couple of weeks since being there. Arrived at the parking area at about 0815 and started the walk. The parking lot was empty. It was hot and humid and the mosquitos were fierce. Had to apply insect repellent several times.I saw more small birds today. The small greenish yellow ones in particular. They stayed well hidden in the leaves. Photo'ed a towhee and a titmouse. Walked on back to the pond and sat a spell. Then, walked back. Got a good photo of a spider web. Looking forward to the new trail opening in the next several months. ........... Herman

Wednesday, August 11, Circle B Bar
Arrived at the parking area about 0740 and started the walk. Another hot and humid day. Tried some scenes today with a panorama of the pond on the walk across the marsh. Walked across tha marsh and then to the lake. Got some photos of egrets, herons and what I think is a bittern. Also photo'ed some spiders. Sat a spell near the osprey nest and watched an osprey eat a fish while sitting on a tree limb in the marsh. As I left the area of the dock and started into the oak hammock a white tail eagle flew from the oak hammock and south toward the marsh. Photo'ed some butterflys and an inch worm. A bit quite today. ....... Herman

Friday, August 13, Circle B Bar
Hurricane Charley is threatening to hit Tampa and Lakeland This afternoon, but this morning it is nice. Even a bit cooler today. With an approaching hurricane the weather can get nasty quick so I promised the wife that I would keep close to the truck today. I arrived at the parking area about 0740 and started the walk. Walked to and accross the marsh, then back and through the oak hammock and return to the parking area via the north trail. Took a few scenes as there were some interesting cloud formations. Also got a black-bellied whistling duck on the wing and a couple of little blue herons. Photo'ed a Giant Swallowtail butterfly, but could not get a good angle on it. I was about half way between the lake and the parking area on the north trail when two pileated woodpeckers landed in a tree that I was standing under. Got some decent photos of one of them. I was getting a little misty rain and I hurried to the truck. I normaly write my account the day of the walk, but Charley interfered. Charley changed course, but we still got a good bit of him. Lost electricity from 7PM Friday til 7PM Sat and had a lot of debri around. I cannot complain as many fared a lot worse................... Herman

Monday, August 16, 2004, Circle B Bar
After Charley I was expecting wet conditions and it was wet. This morn it was very foggy when I left home and the fog did not lift until close til noon. I arrived at Circle B at 0800 and started the walk. Many tree limbs were down, blocking the trail in some locations. I was able to get close to the marsh before water stopped me. Tree limbs and water blocked the trail just before the marsh. Close to a dozen tri-color herons were on the trail near the marsh. I tried to continue through the oak hammock, but water blocked the trail just past the horse path. I took the horse path to the main trail and walked toward the lake. Just past the second gate water blocked the trail again. Not wanting to get my feet wet. I walked back to the parking area. The heat and humidity were oppressive today. Once during the walk, I had spread my tripod legs to take a photo when I felt my right hand get heavy. I looked down at it and saw the reason. A 2 pound mosquito had landed on my hand. It was licking the heavy coating of insect repellent from the back of my hand prior to biting me. Large mossquitos like deet. ...........Herman

Friday, August 20, 2004, Circle B Bar
Got a late start today. Had a little police activity in the neighborhood with a couple of run-a-ways and a stolen car. Got to the Circle B about 1000 and started the walk. Went to the marsh and water still blocked the causeway across the marsh. Many herons, egrets and ibis were on the flooded part of the trail. Tried the oak hammock, but it to was wet. Tried the main trail and was able to get to the lake. Just got my feet a little wet. There were many dead fish on the lake shore and the odor was bad. While walking I was moving tree limbs from the trail. Several large trees were across the trail. Once I arrived at the lake the walking was a bit easier. It was very hot and humid again and the mosquitos were swarming. I walked to the location of the osprey nest. The tree was just a stump and there was no sign of the nest or the tree. Had to climb over 3 trees to get to the nest area. I usually carry just 1 bottle of water and it was nearly empty. The heat and humidity was really getting to me today. I started back to the parking area, and had to take numerous rest stops. Was only able to get a few photos today. ..................... Herman

Sunday, August 22, 2004, Circle B Bar
Arrived today at 0800. I knew that it was wet and I brought a pair of knee high rubber boots. I planned to use them to get across the marsh or throught the oak hammock. It was still very wet at the marsh and the water was too high for the boots. I was able to get through the oak hammock although the water was too deep on the trail. I took a detour around the deep part. The rubber boots came in handy all the way to the lake. I changed back to my hiking boots at the lake. I got around or over some of the fallen trees, but was stopped by a clump of 4 to 5 trees across the trail just beyond where the osprey nest had been. on the lake side I photo'ed a bittern, enhinga, cardinal, spider, egret, wasps, a hawk and a raccoon. I met two people doing a bird count for the Audubon and while talking with them a white tail eagle flew over. On the walk back on the north trail, I photo'ed a red-bellied woodpecker, a young eagle flying and a turkey vulture. Hiking conditions were much better today. It was still hot but the humidity was much lower. ......... Herman

Wednesday, August 25, 2004, Circle B Bar
I arrived later today, about 0900. I walked to the marsh and saw that the water was much higher than it was on Sunday. I had to put the rubber boots on before getting to the horse trail at the marsh. The water was so high that I did not attempt to continue via tha oak hammock, but went down the horse trail to the north trail and toward the lake. I cut back over to the oak hammock at the first gate. The ground was still very wet. Photo'ed a bunch of ibis on the ground near the trail. The trees that had been blocking the trail had been cleared. I saw a white tail eagle fly from the trees by the lake when I arrived at the lake. I started walking between the lake and the marsh. The downed trees here had also been cleared. I was able to get about a third of the way from the lake back toward the marsh before being blocked by a large tree. I could see someone futher down the trail clearing the trees. I unfolded my chair and sat a spell. I noticed pieces of bark falling around me and looked up in a tree. A squirrell was shredding the tree limb above me. I got a photo of it. At the rate the trees are being cleared, the trail should be passable in a couple of days except for the high water. Another good day for a hike. Hot with lower humidity. .....Herman