Wednesday, November 03, 2004, Circle B Bar
Arrived late about 0945. Had an early meeting that had run late. At the first pond there were many Ibis and Heron feeding. I could also hear a hawk, and a Kingfisher, but could not see them. I was able to get several photos. Just past this pond there were many Warblers feeding in the fallen trees. I stopped a while and watched and photo'ed them. I took the horse path to the marsh, but did not cross the marsh. The oak hammock trail looked dry and I walked it. First time since the storms. Had to make a detour just off the horse trail, but the rest was dry up to the ditch at the other end. Had to divert to the north trail at the ditch. Got some photos of Woodpecker and spiders on the oak hammock trail. Some Yellowlegs and Ibis were in the pond that feeds the ditch. Got some photos of them. After I crossed the ditch, I could hear a Kingfisher on the lakeside. I found it in a tree and got a fair photo. I saw a Great Blue Heron and an Egret at the spot airboats are launched and photoed them. At the SWIFTMUD dock I saw several large gators in the lake. I walked south and saw a Raccoon in a tree.Got some photos of it and a Great Blue Heron that landed without seeing me. Talked with a SWIFTMUD man who was reading the instruments on the dock. Walked a bit futher. Four or five Cormorant were in a tree on the lakeside. They did not fly as I photoed them and walked by. The grass had been cut and the bugs were not as bad as they were last week, but they still swarmed some. I walked to the start of the marsh and sat a spell. There were a lot of Crows, Herons, Ibis here. Got photos of a Downy Woodpecker and some Blue Heron. At the marsh I photoed a Great Egret. I walked back toward the dock and photoed a Flycatcher flitting about in a tree. Also photo'ed an Eastern Phoebe. The Raccoon was still up in the tree. It looked like it had draped over a limb and gone to sleep. On the walk back to the parking area, I photo'ed some Flycatchers and Ibis. At the first pond from the entry I could hear the Hawk and finally saw it in a tree, I got several photoes of it. I had seen a lot of Pilated Woodpeckers today, but had not heard them. They were quite today and that is not usual for them. Another nice day for a walk. A bit warm, sunny and dry. ................... Herman

Monday, November 08, 2004, Circle B Bar
Arrived at about 0830 and started the walk. Today it was cool and dry with a light breeze. I started out with a flannel shirt, but soon took it off. At the first trail fork, I talked with a guy with the Environmental Lands Program. He was replacing Alligator Warning signs that had been blown away in the storms. I took the fork to the marsh. Photo'ed a few scenes before getting to the marsh. I saw an Eagle in a tree top across the marsh. Photo'ed the Eagle and some Ibis that were flying by. Also got some Great Egret and Blue Heron while crossing the marsh. At the other side of the marsh, I photo'ed some Anhinga in the trees. Met another walker on the marsh. He was a young kid and he was traveling the country and camping most of the time. He was from Oklahoma. He had already walked the lakeside, but had not seen a gator. Talked with him a bit and he backtracked to walk the lakeside again in the hope of seeing a gator. While walking toward the lake, I photo'ed Great Egret, Blue Heron, ducks and Belted Kingfisher. Also photo'ed a Palm Warbler. Arrived at the lake and walked toward the dock. Saw two gators on the marsh side. One was about a five footer. Photo'ed a Great Blue Heron that landed in the marsh nearby and posed for me. As I got to the pond nearer the dock I observed and photo'ed a Great Blue Heron catching a snake. Photo'ed several gators in the lake and another Great Blue in a tree top. Got another Palm Warbler in this area also. Got to the dock and started toward the parking area. Photo'ed an Eastern Phoebe in a palm tree. Just as I was leaving the lakeside part of the trail, I saw a Fox Squirrel going up a tree, Got several photos of it and some butterflys in the area. Saw some Pilated Woodpeckers. Another great day for a walk. In the low sixties when I started and mid seventy's at the end. ........................ Herman

Thursday, November 11, 2004, Circle B Bar
Arrived about 0730 and started the walk. I took the right hand trail just after the start and walked to the end of the trees. Took some photos of the windmill and walked back to the main trail. At the first pond photo'ed a Red-tail Hawk in a tree and one when he flew. Walked toward the marsh. Photo'ed a Gulf Fritillary Butterfly and a light brown and white butterfly. Got about half way to the marsh and saw an Eagle fly from the oaks near the marsh. Got to the edge of the marsh and then backtracked and took the oak hammock trail. Photo'ed a Blue Jay on the wing and a Phoebe. Arrived at the pond near the dock and saw many Killdeer and what I think are Yellowlegs. There were some Great Egret and Glossy Ibis here also. Saw a confrontation between two Egret. They would jump up in the air and flap their wings at one another. One left. Two Glossy Ibis did the same thing. Got some photos of this action. Got to the dock and rested a bit. The wind was quite stiff. I did not continue around the marsh, but returned to the start via the north trail. As I started from the dock an Eagle flew from a tree on the lakeside. Photo'ed a green, thick bodied butterfly with brown wings, but it is not in my butterfly book. Photo'ed a Monarch Butterfly, a wasp and another light brown and white butterfly. As I got near the horse trail to the marsh, I photo'ed a large green grasshopper with brown wings. As I got near the first pond, I saw two Eagles soaring. Was able to get a few distant photos. It was great today, cool and dry. About half way through the walk, some clouds blew up and it looked like rain. ............. Herman

Monday, November 15, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started the walk a little after 8. It was a cool, windy day. There were a few Egret in the first ponds on the right of the trail. Got several photos. Also photo'ed an Eastern Phoebe in a tree. Continued on and took the trail toward the marsh. Saw a Fox Squirrel in a tree and watched it for a while. Took many photos of it. Got one photo just as it started a jump into another tree. As I got near the marsh, saw a Gray Squirrel and photo'ed it. While I was photoing a Great Egret in the pond, a Red-bellied woodpecker landed on a tree stump about ten feet away. I was able to get two photos before it flew. Continued on across the marsh and photo'ed Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Ibis. Got a Wood Stork flying over. Also photoed an Anhinga in a tree. Even photoed a nail in a board.(I'll take a photo of anything). Continued walking along the marsh toward the lake. Photo'ed a Kingfisher hovering and just at the start of a dive. Got a photo of eight Anhinga in a tree out in the marsh. The wind was getting stronger as I neared the lake. Blew my hat off several times. Saw two Hawk flying toward the lake. Saw a turtle that appeared to be sleeping on the edge of the canel near the lake. Photo'ed a little Heron on the lake side. It was having difficulty staying put in the wind. The wind was very strong (25 to 30 mph). Had to remove my hat or loose it. Photo'ed a Yellowlegs. Saw a Hawk flying over and got several photos of it. A bit windy, but a good day for a walk. ............. Herman

Friday, November 19, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started the walk about 0800. Another cool day, but a little foggy. Photo'ed a couple of spider webs that had the sun shining on them just right. Also saw a Yellowlegs in the first pond. Could hear a Hawk, but did not see it. Met a man walking toward the parking area. He had a view camera on his shoulder. I walked a bit futher and saw an Eagle in a tree top across the field on the left of the trail. It was a Juvenile and had it's back to me. Took several photos of it. As I neared the marsh, saw an eagle fly over a couple of times. Got to the marsh and saw several Wood Stork in the tree in the marsh. While I was photoing the Wood Stork another walker overtook me. We talked a bit and he walked on. I walked out into the marsh and photoed the Wood Stork from several views. Saw an eagle flying and it landed in a tree at the edge of the marsh next to the trail. I took several photos of it. It flew when another walker got near it. The walker came on out and we talked a bit. Walked on toward the lake and photoed a Egret that was running the other birds off. A Green Heron landed on a fence post and I photo'ed it. Saw a Kingfisher hovering and got several photos. Walking back to the parking area over the marsh, it was quite, but I saw an otter cross the trail and go into the canal east of the trail. At first I thought that it was a raccoon, but as I got closer, I could tell that it was an otter. When I got to the canal, I saw it leaving the canal, but it disappeared into some bushes. Near the parking area I saw a white butterfly with black on the wing edges. Can not find it in my books. Did not continue around the lakeside as I had promised the wife lunch. Had to leave. .............................. Herman

Sunday, November 21, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started at about 0815 from the parking area. There was a large group just starting as I pulled into the parking area. It was cool and sunny. A long sleeve flannel shirt felt good. Saw some black ducks and a blue heron in the first pond, but they flew as I approached. I could hear a hawk across the second pond, but it took a bit before I spotted it in a tree. Was able to get several photos of it sitting in the tree and when it flew. Was also able to photo a white egret. Continued on and took the trail toward the marsh. Photo'ed the sun shinning through a palm tree and then saw a Pileated Woodpecker in a tree. Got several photos of it, then photoed an Eastern Phoebe.The phoebe's are easy to photo. Got a Great Egret and another phoebe at the start of the marsh. While crossing the marsh, photo'ed some Anhinga and the blackbirds. Also photoed the group of people walking at the west edge of the marsh. When I got to the wood bridge, I took the west trail that had been mowed. Saw a few very small gators (18") in the water Got blocked by a tree across the trail. Saw a Red-winged Blackbird with very bright red wing color and a very bright red Cardinal. I stopped and watched a bit. Saw a squirrel being very still on a branch hanging over the water. Got a couple of photos of it. Walked back to the bridge and met the group of walkers. They were doing a bird count for Audubon. Photo'ed some Moorhen's in the pond. Saw and photo'ed a Bittern out in the marsh. Photo'ed an egret standing on a cow's back. Got back to the bridge and walked toward the lake. Photo'ed a Green Heron and some spiders. A small black snake crossed the trail in front of me. Saw a large gator across the canel in the marsh. There were several cows grazing toward the gator. This gator was probably large enough to take a cow. One cow alerted about 25 feet from the gator and started in the other direction. This was the cow with the egret riding it's back. Took some general scenes, herons and egrets out in the marsh. The Kingfisher was in the tree out in the marsh with Anhingas and Coromants. Photoed a Great Southern White, Butterfly and a Red-bellied woodpecker. As I got near the lake, I saw about 2 dozen Black-bellied ducks in the marsh. Photoed them and a gator in the marsh. Another black snake crossed in front of me and dissappeared in the grass. There is a lot of large gator in the lake today. Walking along the lakeside, photoed some Ibis and Cormorant. Got some news via cell phone ref a family problem and had to walk out. .............................. Herman

Friday, November 26, 2004, Circle B Bar
Today my daughter walked with me again. We got started about 0830.It was very quite today. Photo'ed a warbler on the trail near the marsh. Got a Osprey flying overhead. Crossing the marsh we saw Little Blue Heron and Egret. Crossed the marsh and started toward the lake. Saw some Wood Stork and Great Egret out in the marsh. While walking toward the lake, we saw a Kingfisher and a variety of herons and ibis. Photo'ed a white flower, a Snowy Egret and a Green Heron. Got a photo of a tree full of Ibis out in the marsh. Encountered two hunters in a boat. They were shooting over our heads into the marsh. I convinced them that they could not shoot over the Circle B Bar. As we got near the dock we saw a group of 5 Viceroy butterflys on a log. Got several photos of them. Started walking from the dock back to the entrance. Photo'ed a Monarch butterfly. We were limited on time so we walked out without delay. .......................... Herman

Monday, November 29, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started at 0830. It was cool and clear, long sleeves felt good at the start. I walked straight in instead of taking the main trail to the left. This is the route that the Audubon group had taken last week. I stopped under an oak tree and had to break out the OFF, due to mosquitos. It was a good walk until I reached the marsh. Took several landscapes on the way. A couple of Pileated Woodpeckers flew over. Took photos of Anhinga , Eastern Phoebe and Palm Warbler when I arrived at the marsh. It was too wet to stay next to the marsh, but I walked through the woods . The storms had cleared out the undergrowth. I got to the main trail at the intersection of the Oak Hammock, Horse and marsh trails. Photo'ed a Great Egret on a fence post and a lot of small flying birds. There were Great Egret, Ibis and Little Blue Heron in the marsh pond. Photo'ed some Moorhens in the pond beyond the bridge. Saw an Aligator and a Green Heron in the canal. and watched them for a while. Photo'ed a spider and more of those small flying birds. Also photo'ed an airplane flying overhead. My knees were hurting so I re-crossed the marsh. Photo'ed a Little Blue Heron taking off from a fence post. Walked on out. ........................... Herman