Friday, May 07, 2004, Circle B Bar

Today I arrived at Circle B Bar about 0800. No other cars were in the car park and no one had signed the log book. Today is the second day that I have used a tripod in liu of a mono-pod and the camera's stabilization feature. The tripod is more trouble, but the photos are sharper.

As I was walking in on the north trail, two pilated woodpeckers were in the oak trees, but no photo opportunity was presented. Prior to reaching the open space near the lake a bald eagle flew from the trees and over the lake. Once again I was too slow to get a photo. The lake was calm today and many large alligators (8 to 10 feet) were prowling the shore. I saw the red-shouldered hawk that has a nest in a cypress tree just off the trail near the osprey nest. One osprey was in the nest with it's wings partially extended to shield the chick from the sun. The chick was active and I was able to get a fairly good photograph. The osprey flew and returned to the nest once. I unfolded my chair and had a good rest while watching the osprey's and whatever wandered nearby. I also saw many Black-bellied Whistling-ducks on the marsh. I had not seen any here preveiously. One very nice sight was a flock of roseate spoonbill's flying overhead. The pink and white in the bright sun made a good sight. Unfortunatly the view overhead was very restricted and the view was brief. I was once again visited by a raccoon that I have seen several times. And I got several photos of it. As I was walking out from the lake a pair of bald eagles flew from a tree on the shore, circled the area and flew to the west. When I arrived at the parking area I saw the pair of pilated woodpeckers flying about in the oak trees. They stayed well hidden. Cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, red-bellied woodpeckers, herons, egrets and ibis were present as usual.........................Herman

Monday, May 10, 2004, Circle B Bar

Today a good friend walked the Circle B Bar with me. We arrived at 0750 and started on the trail. It appeared that, once again, we were the only ones on the site. Just a short distance on the trail we saw a small yellow rat snake. It was not skittish and we took several photos. As we neared the dock area we spotted a raccoon in the oak hammock, but it disappeared up a tree. As we got to the lake, we spotted a large young eagle in a tree. We were able to get fairly close and took several photos. An adult with a white tail was also in this area. We continued on the trail to the osprey nest. Just prior to arriving at the osprey nest we saw an auult eagle in a tree across the marsh. The young eagle flew into the same tree and the adult flew. The pair appeared to be the same ones we had seen on the lake side earlier. The juvenile was nearly black. An osprey was in the nest with the chick. I checked the hawk's nest, but did not see the hawk. We photographed a small painted turtle that was on the trail. Some black-bellied whistling-ducks were still in the marsh. In the lake we saw a large gator attack a smaller gator, but both appeared to swim off unhurt. We did not continue around the marsh, but walked back out the same way that we entered. We were able to photo a white egret and a blue heron. Also a long, but small black water snake. As we neared the dock a hawk flew from the trees over the trail. We were a bit tired and walked out, just stopping to rest a couple of times. Near the parking area we saw a hawk, fly out of the oak trees. It was a bit quite this morning.Herman

Friday, May 14, 2004, Tenoroc Fish Management Area

Today, I walked the trails at Tenoroc Fish Management Area northeast of Lakeland in the Combee area. Tenoroc charges $3 to use the area, but it is worth it. There are two trails at Tenoroc. The first loop is 2.25 miles long and the second is 2.9 miles long. A .25 mile trail connects the two loops. You must walk the first loop to get to the second one. One disappointment was the lack of views of the lakes. The trails wind between the lakes, but there are very few views of the water. However, the trails offer many different environments. There is open pasture, tall grass, pine, oak, palmetto, tall berms at treetop level and low depressions with ferns. A good mix in a small area. Many water birds are flying overhead indicating the proximity of water, but as I mentioned very few water views. I could also hear bull gators bellowing. They sound like an outboard motor. Most of the walk is very easy over hard packed dirt/grass roadway, but in some areas if the trail were not marked, it would be hard to locate. It took me five hours to finish the 5.9 miles. This included numerous short rest stops. A couple of steep inclines were more difficult, but not too hard. On a hot (90+), sunshiny day a cool breeze was welcome. At one area on the back side of the second trail, I sat and watched a group of cardinals for about 15 minutes. They were a bright red. In the wooded areas I saw very few animals. The sky with the flying waterbirds and the scenery were very worth the walk. While driving out from the parking area, I was treated to a good view of an osprey with an advanced chick in the nest on a low utility pole. The other osprey was sitting on a fence post beside the road. .........Herman

Wednesday, May 19, 2004, Circle B Bar

I arrived at 0800 and signed the log sheet. It was cool and partly cloudy. Once again it appeared that I had the area to myself. As I walked the main trail into Circle B Bar I could hear many birds in the trees, but due to the leaves they were difficult to see. When the trail branched to the south, I took the south route and crossed the causeway over the marsh. Not many birds on the marsh. It is now very dry and the grass has grown high. I sat a spell at the wood bridge on the south side of the causeway and watch a rosette spoonbill feeding in the marsh outside the reserve. A black crowned night heron, a glossy ibis, a white ibis and several ducks were feeding with the spoonbill. Red winged blackbirds were also common in this area. I saw a hawk across the marsh and watched him with binoculars. He caught what appeared to be a snake. He was too far off to make out much detail. As I was walking toward Lake Hancock I saw one of the largest great blue herons that I have ever seen. It was huge. When I arrived at the osprey nest, the adult was on the nest with the chick. The chick is developing well. Observed a few cardinals in this area. Walking around the trail loop, I took the route through the oak hammock. Saw a very small downey woodpecker in an oak tree. Sighted no eagles today..............Herman

Saturday, May 22, 2004, Circle B Bar

I arrived at the parking area at just after 8AM and started the walk. A short distance on the trail, another walker overtook me. He had a spotting scope. We walked and talked. He was looking for a white-face ibis that had been spotted in the marsh. We crossed the marsh and as we arrived at the bridge, we saw a large number of wading birds in the pond southwest of the bridge. There were many white and glossy ibis, white egret, mottled duck, heron, wood duck, and rosette spoonbill. I took numerous photos at this location. The other walker did not find the white-face ibis and he left. Two ladies arrived and I pointed the spoonbill out to them. I continued walking towards the lake. Saw and photographed a small brown rabbit. I have not seen many rabbit at Circle B Bar. The bull gators were were rumbling. Some sounded large. I met a lady with a bicyle, we talked a bit and then walked on. I arrived at the osprey nest and the adult osprey flew around several times. Got a few good photos with wings spred. The chick is starting to develop distinctive colors. Another walker walked up and we talked a bit. I had talked with him before. Showed him where a red-shouldered hawk has a nest next to the trail. I sat a spell then walked toward the dock. Saw some pilated woodpeckers, but could not get a photo. Saw and photographed a red-shouldered hawk sitting on a tree in the marsh and an osprey also sitting in a tree. From the dock I walked through the oak hammock. Saw two fox squirrrels and photographed one of them. Also saw some very small downey woodpeckers. I was running out of electrons for the camera. Had failed to recharge the batteries the night before, so I just sat and watched some cardinals. Got back to the parking area about 12:15..........Herman

Monday, May 24, 2004, Gator Creek

On Monday May 24th at about 0830 hrs a friend and I arrived at Gator Creek. We first walked the north loop, then the north leg of the south loop to Gator Creek.There is a pond there. It was very quite today. Saw and photographed a eastern towhee on the north loop. At the pond we were watching several small (18 inch) gators. Watched one as he ate a turtle. We then saw a large (about 8 feet) gator, up on all fours and moving fast over a dry part of the creek. As it slid into the water, we decided that it was time to leave. We walked out to the parking area. A good walk, but not many animals.............Herman

Wednesday, May 26, 2004, Circle B Bar

Today I took an afternoon walk. I arrived at Circle B Bar a little after noon. It was hot! As I walked toward the marsh, I saw red-bellied wookpecker and cardinals. The marsh is very dry and few birds were in it. I crossed the marsh and sat for a while near the old bridge. There were a few ibis and duck in this area. I continued walking toward Lake Hancock. I suprised a raccoon that was foraging along the side of the trail. It disappeared into the brush. Took a few photos of great blue and lesser blue herons. Watched the crows that were everywhere. Got a good photo of two large turtles on a log with a small (4 foot) gator resting its head on one of the turtles. Will post that photo this weekend. Sat a spell at the osprey nest and looked for the hawk in the hawk nest. Could just make out the head through the moss. Could not tell if it was adult or young. Got a photo of it. Continued walking and took a break at the dock and a ways into the oak hammock. Nearing the trail to the marsh, I saw a pileated woodpecker and got a photo, but from a good long distance. I continued walking, but the heat was starting to wear me down. Got back to my truck and ran tha AC full blast. No more afternoon walks until summer is over. I'm getting too old....................Herman

Friday, May 28, 2004, Circle B Bar

I arrived at the Circle B Bar and signed the log at 7:50 AM. It had not gotten hot yet. The walk in was pleasant. I did not cross the marsh today. Walked the oak hammock trail. A pileated woodpecker played hide and seek with me where the trail forks to the marsh or oak hammock. He won. I did not get a good photo. Did get a silhouette at the top of a tree, but from a long distance.It was very quite today. Walked on out to the osprey nest. The chick was sitting up and was visible. The adult was on a limb above the nest. Checked the hawk nest, but no hawk was present. Walking out I got a photo of a fox squirrel on a tree. Saw an eagle from a distance. I was sitting at the edge of the clearing near the dock and watching two osprey flying circles overhead. Twice, they flew close together. One inverted and they locked talons and fell for several seconds. This was a sight.......Herman

Monday, May 31, 2004 Memorial Day, Circle B Bar

I arrived at the parking area just before 8:00. There was another car already parked. As I was starting on the trail, several cars pulled in. They inquired as to what to see. I offered some suggestions. We then started walking. At the fork for the marsh or oak hammock they went via the marsh. I sat a spell in the oak hammock hoping to see a pileated woodpecker which I had been seeing in this area. The woodpecker did not show and I started walking via the marsh. Not a lot of activity. On the south side of the marsh in a small pond I photographed several Killdeer. Many people were walking today. They could be scarring the birds off. I met a known walker and he advised that the young hawk in the nest near the osprey nest was out on a limb. When I arrived at the hawk nest, I could see a little movement, but could not tell what it was. I watched the ospreys a while and returned to the hawk nest. I could see and hear the young hawk. I photographed it. The adult hawk flew into the nest. I was able to photograph both of them. I continued walking. Near the boat dock, I photographed a very small gray bird that was flitting about in the hanging moss. I am trying to identify it. I sat a spell in the open area near the dock. A raccoon started walking toward me. I photographed him as he got closer. When he was about eight feet away, I talked to him to let him know that I was there. He took to the high grass. I continued walking out. Met several groups of people walking in. I was glad that I was finished for the day as it was getting very hot......................Herman