Sunday, July 04, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got a bit of a late start today. The wife told me to get out of the house so she could clean. It was about 0830 and hot and humid. I walked through to the marsh. Photographed a red-bellied woodpecker in a tree at the start of the marsh, then started across. Saw an eagle way out in a tree. Got a photo of a great blue heron in a tree and some ibis and egret. It was a bit quite today. I did not feel up to walking the entire trail, so I re-crossed the marsh and met another walker, whom I have talked with before. Talked a bit then I started through the oak hammock, but it was to wet. Backtracked and walked the horse path and then walked toward the lake. Saw some titmice in the trees, but they stayed well hidden. Sat a spell and never made it to the lake. Walked back to the parking area. ........... Herman

Monday, July 05, 2004, Gator Creek
Got another late start. Arrived at the parking area about 0815 I walked theTortoiseTrail and then to the creek and pond. Did not see any birds on the walk to the pond. Something big jumped into the water as I arrived at the pond, but I did not see it. Probably a turtle as gators will mostly surface. I was still feeling a bit under the weather so, did not tarry long. Walked back to the parking area. Took several photos of flowers during the walk. ............. Herman

Wednesday, July 07, 2004, Gator Creek
I had been looking at the Polk Environmental Lands Program web site and it indicated a trail to the east of the Gator Creek Loop. This trail was named Deer Run Trail. I had been in this area and had not seen this trail. I had a meeting this morning and knew that I would be late, so I took my bike. I rode directly toward the indicated trail, stopping once to watch a gopher at the mouth of it's hole. all that I found was a short unmarked side trail that deadended at the creek. The property boundry also blocked the indicated trail. I biked over to the pond and watched the gators a bit and then rode to the parking area.

I called the Environmental Lands Program office and found that this is a planned trail that may open this year. .............. Herman

Friday, July 09, 2004, Circle B Bar
I arrived at the parking area at 0740 and started the walk. I have devised a sling to carry the camera mounted on the tripod and it works well. Saw a couple of pileated woodpeckers and one red-bellied woodpecker while walking to the marsh. When I arrived at the marsh, I saw a great blue heron on the trail in the marsh. Photographed it and a green heron sitting on a stump. Photographed a white egret flying. After crossing the marsh, I started toward the lake. Observed great blue heron, green heron, ibis and other while walking. Photographed a bird that I am having trouble identifying. It is blue gray with white on the neck. The bill is dark on top and orange on bottom. The iris is yellow with a large dark pupil. The white on the neck touches the bill and is just below the eye. It appears to stop above the breast. Probably a flycatcher, but can't find it in my Sibley's. This was also spider day. Many spiders on the trail. An osprey was on the nest. Several trees near the osprey nest were full of wood stork photographed a cardinal, flowers, and a grasshopper while walking back to the parking area. ........ Herman

Sunday, July 11, 2004, Circle B Bar
Arrived at the parking area at 0820 and discovered that I was wearing my good shoes. Should I walk and possibly mess them up or just go home. I was getting a late start and it was dry so I continued the walk, but kept to the dryer routes. It was very quite today. There were no fishermen on the lake. Photo'ed some insects, a great blue heron and some ibis. When I arrived at the lake I saw many wood stork in the trees. Got some more wood stork photos. The osprey was on the nest again. Sat a spell watching the osprey and wood stork. Also got a good photo of a little blue heron. I arrived at the dock and started for the parking area. Saw an eagle fly from the trees on the lakeside. Got about half way to the parking area and I saw a pileated woodpecker fly into a tree nearby. I was able to get a decent photo of it. As I arrived at the parking area, I saw a hawk fly into a tree. It seemed to pose for me and I got several photos of it. All-in-all not bad for a quite day. ...Herman

Wednesday, July 14, 2004, Circle B Bar
Took my bike and arrived at the parking area at 1145. Rode to the marsh. Just as I arrived at the marsh a large eagle flew from a tree nearly directly overhead. If I had been walking I might have gotten a better view. Photographed a great egret and some tri-color herons while crossing the marsh. After crossing the marsh, started toward the lake. Photo'ed some black-belly whistling ducks flying in the marsh. The osprey were active flying around. Wood stork were still present in large numbers, but they appeared to be fewer that on Sunday. I have been wanting to come out in the evening to try some sunset photos and wanted to know how long it would take to get back to the parking area. I rode straight from the osprey nest to the parking area in about 15 minutes. I'm no speed demon. ..................... Herman

Friday, July 16, 2004, Circle B Bar
Today I walked the north trail to the lake. Got photos of red-bellied woodpeckers and a pileated woodpecker. The lake was full of gators and great blue heron. The heron were standing on small floating islands of grass. Got some photos of black-bellied whistling ducks on the wing. They look good in flight. While walking around the marsh, I photographed, ibis, egret, duck, heron and all kind of stuff. I had started having problem with my DSL connection Friday night and I did not write this until Jul 21. If I don't write it soon after the walk, I forget the details. ............... Herman

Wednesday, July 21, 2004, Circle B Bar
I had been raining for four days and I had not been able to get out. Also, I had a new pair of hiking boots that I had waterproofed and wanted to try them out. Today was perfect. I got to the parking area at 0715 and started the walk. With all the rain, the ground was not too wet. Several areas had standing water, but nothing impassable. It was very foggy and I had to keep a towel over the camera to prevent condensation. Took a lot of scenes with the fog, but no exceptional views. Something about the rain must bring out the spiders. Spider web was all over the place. Took a lot of photos of the webs. A lot of wood stork were still in the marsh. The most notable event was near the osprey nest. A hawk flew into a tree nearby. I was able to take several photos before it flew off. Counted five osprey in one tree on the north side of the marsh. Saw many gator in the lake. One was the largest (12 to 14 foot) I had seen in Lake Hancock. Took the whole walk, over the marsh along the lake and through the oak hammock. My lower pants leg and shoes were wet, but my feet and socks were dry. Felt good. ....... Herman

Friday, July 23, 2004, Gator Creek
Arrived at the parking area about 0800 and started the walk out to the pond. Shortly after passing the tortoise trail, I saw a newly cleared trail and I walked down it a ways. Got a distant photo of a flycatcher in the top of a tree. Talked to a man walking a dog. He advised that he has mapped Gator Creek using a GPS. Continued on to the pond. Photographed some flowers, wasps and a beetle. Also got a small gator in the pond. Saw a hawk near the pond, but it flew into the trees. I was photographing a flower and a butterfly landed on it. Got a photo of the butterfly. Saw a couple of vireo's in a tree. One of them was attacking a large spider. The spider was nearly half as large as the bird. The spider finally dropped to the ground and the bird followed it. After about thirty seconds the bird had the spider subdued and eaten.It was a very hot day, but not as humid as it had been. ..................... Herman

Sunday, July 25, 2004, Circle B Bar
Arrived at the parking area about 0815 and started the walk. Walked to the horse trail and then to the marsh. Saw a hawk sitting on a fence post just before the marsh. Then photoed a squirrel and a pileated woodpecker. While crossing the marsh, I photographed great egrets, tri-color herons, green herons, crow, little blue herons and blackbirds. A small gator jumped into the water just ahead of me on the trail. While walking toward the lake, I observed more herons, ibis and egret. Nearing the lake, I saw wood stork in the marsh. Also photographed some flowers, spiders and wasps. Spotted a hawk sitting on the stump of a palm tree. Got a good photo when it flew. Full extent of the wings and tail. Sat a spell as it was hot and had a good breeze off the lake. Heard several bull gators growling. That sound can send shivers up your spine. After passing the dock, I sat for several minutes as the heat was getting me. Walked the north trail around the oak hammock. Saw a red and yellow trumpet style flower on a vine with small yellow butterflys that appeared to be trapped by the flower. The trumpet was collapsed around the butterfly. Three black vultures (buzzards) landed in a tree near the trail. Got several photos of them. Also photoed some wood stork that were soaring. Talked with a couple who were just starting the walk as I was finishing. .................. Herman

Wednesday, July 28, 2004, Circle B Bar
I goofed up today. I arrived at the parking area at 0800 and started the walk. The main gate was open and a truck was parked just inside. A man was sitting at the picnic table. I apparently missed the fact that the walk through entry was boarded up with a closed notice. Needless to say, I had a good walk. On the trail toward the marsh I observed several pileated woodpeckers. One offered good photo opportunities. I continued through the oak hammock toward the dock. Photographed ibis, blackbird and wood stork flying. An armadillo gave me a scare. It ran from the high grass alongside the trail just a few feet ahead of me. We were both surprised. While walking alongside the lake, I photographed little blue heron, ibis, egret, black-bellied duck and insects. I saw an osprey flying with a fish in its talons. It happened to quick to get a photo. It circled and landed on a tree limb nearby to eat the fish, but it noticed me and flew off with the fish. While walking across the marsh, I saw a raccoon coming toward me. I stepped to the side of the trail and photographed it. It got very close before it noticed me. Got several photos. When I got back to the parking area, I had to climb the gate to get out. That is when I saw the closed notice. ...........Herman