Monday, August 01, 2005, Circle B Bar
Another hot and humid day, got started about 8:15 and walked the new trail cut west of the east trail. Photo'ed a Dove, a Dragonfly and a Spicebush Swallowtail. Walked on to the marsh and attempted to cross it. I had worn my knee boots, but the water was too deep. Took the new trail that I had taken last Friday. Photo'ed couple of Georgia Thumper grasshoppers and a small Armadillo. Also saw and photo'ed a Red-shouldered Hawk. Got to the large grass pasture and unfolded my chair and sat a spell. A couple of bikers came by and I warned them of the high water. The heat, skeeters and humidity got to me early today. I did not continue, but walked out on the east trail. Another month of this and then we should get some better weather. Hopefully, the water will drop some also so we can cross the marsh. finished up about 11. ................... Herman

Friday, August 05, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 0830 today. Walked the newly mown trail. It was hot, humid and full of mosquitos. Got photos of a Cardinal and a grasshopper while in the thick bush. Conditions got a little better when I got of the heavy bush near the old trail. After getting into the more open area, photo'ed a Gulf Fritillary, and a black butterfly with dusty blue on the tail. Got out to the dock and sat a spell. Wanted to walk the lakeside, but it was too hot. Walking back to the parking area, photo'ed a grasshopper in a tree. Very quite today. Saw a couple of hawks in the trees and one Great Blue Heron. Very few birds flying. .......... Herman

Monday, August 08, 2005, Fort DeSoto
Arrived at Ft DeSoto about 1030 after spending close to 45 minutes in stalled traffic at malfunction junction (I-4 and I-275) in Tampa. Next time I come over I will avoid that location. A large number of Laughing Gulls on the East Beach with a few Sandpipers and what I think are Willets. Also a few Plovers. A few Great Egrets and one Great Blue Heron were mixed in. Went to the West Beach and there was no bird activity. At the fountain there were a good number of butterfly's. This included Giant Swallowtail, Monarch, White Peacock and both long and short tailed Skippers. Tried to get a snack at the fort snackbar, but it is closed on Mondays. Weather was fair, but it started a light rain. ....................... Herman

Wednesday, August 10, 2005, Audubon Center, Winter Haven
I have been working on clearing the north trail and finally finished it today. Ground is wet near the lake, but the trail is now clear. After finishing work, I walked the trail and took some photos. Saw Skippers, several types of lizzard, spiders and yellow butterflys. As I was finishing the walk, near the pond, I saw a Gulf Fitillary butterfly that seemed to be attaching a Monarch butterfly. The Monarch was on the ground and the Gulf was diving at it. The Monarch flew and the Gulf followed it.The only bird sighted was a female Cardinal. ................................ Herman

Friday, August 12, 2005, Saddle Creek Park
Was meeting a friend to walk today. While waiting at the US 92 entrance, I photo'ed some Wood Stork and Black Vulture. The boat ramp is normally full of Vulture, but today it was full of Wood Stork. Started the walk a little after 8. Saw many Cardinals and some Carolina Wrenn and Northern Parula. Also many butterflys. Mostly Hackberry and Tawny and some Gulf Fitillary. We walked the entire length of the trail and then back to the start. Very hot and humid again today, but the skies were clear. We were under the trees in the shade most of the time. ........................ Herman

Friday, August 19, 2005, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
A friend and I took a long drive down to Kissimmee Prairie today and it was well worth it. Met the friend at the Audubon Center in Babson Park and then drove down to the park. It was another of those hot, humid days. We arrived at the park a little after 8. Driving in on the entrance road we saw several Sandhill Crane, Egret, Heron, Kingfisher and a Loggerhead Shrike. We visited the nature center and then walked the Boy Scout trail. It was mostly shady. It had been flooded a month ago, but was dry today. We saw many butterflys including Viceroy, White Peacock, Cloudless Sulphur, Tropical Checkered Skipper, Cassius Blue, Black Swallowtail,Queen, Hackberry Emperor, Tawny Emperor and Phaon Crescent (names supplied by the friend). I got a good photo of a Queen. We also saw Palm Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Carolina Wrenn, Cardinals, Blue Jay, Red Start, White-wyed Vireo, Parula, Red-shoulder Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker. We went to the picnic area for the horse riders for lunch and saw a deer with a good head of antler. While leaving we saw two more deer along the road. This was about a 230 mile round trip, but well worth it. .... Herman

Monday, August 22, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started a little after 8 today. Wanted to check out the water levels at the marsh as I had not been able to cross for over a month. Took the main trail to the horse trail. Photo'ed a spider web, Common Checkered-Skipper, Little Egret, Little Blue Heron on the way to the marsh. Met a fellow photoer at the marsh. He was photoing frogs mostly. The marsh trail was wet, but passable. Had to wade about 3 inches of water for about 20 feet. Photo'ed a young Moorhen, Tricolor Heron, Blackbirds and more Moorhen in the marsh pond. I unfolded the stool and sat a spell at the bridge. Photo'ed a Yellow-throated Warbler in a palm tree. Walking along the Banana Creek trail saw many Green Heron. Photo'ed them and some Golden-silk spiders. Also got another Tricolor Heron and Anhinga. Also got a Great Blue Heron and a Tawny Emperor butterfly. Also about half way to the lake, the hairs on my neck got stoodup by the bellow of a bull gator. He sounded big and just across the creek in the other marsh.Photo'ed a jumping spider on a palmetto. Watched a school of GarFish in the creek and was able to photo some of them. They were about 30 to 36 inches long. Got to the bench and sat a bit. Photo'ed some Coromorant and more Green Heron while sitting. Walked on toward the dock and photo'ed an odd looking spider on a web, a Great Blue Heron at the bench by the dock, a Blue-Gray Gnatcher and an Osprey out in the marsh. From the dock to the entry, photo'ed some little yellow butterflys. A very good walk today. Still looking forward to late September when it should get cooler and drier........ .. Herman

Monday, August 29, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got here about 8 am, but met a friend and talked for about an hour. Got into the trail just after 9. I was cooler than it has been and a little breeze was present. It was still hot and humid, just not as bad. Photo'ed a nice spider web with the sun behind it, near the entry. Then did some scenes. Did some close-ups of Lions Paw and a dragonfly. Even though we have been having some heavy rain. the marsh trail was drier than it was last week. No standing water, just a little mud to walk through. Photo'ed some Moorhens and a Tricolored Heron in the pond. Sat a spell near the bridge and then started the walk to the lake. I was looking at something alongside the trail and when I turned around, saw a raccoon about 10 feet down the trail. It was just looking at me. Got a few photos before it scampered away. Photo'ed a Black Swallowtail and a Golden Silk Spider. Photo'ed a Tawny Emperor and let another Tawny rest on my belly for several minutes.
Also photo'ed a Red Admiral and a Little Blue Heron. As I arrived at the lake an Eagle flew overhead. A few Fish Crow were present on the lake side, but not in the usual numbers. I had not seen any Red-winged Blackbirds on the walk and there are usually many of them. I also saw only 1 Red-shoulder Hawk to this point. Continued the walk and near the dock photo'ed a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Great-blue Heron. Also the Eagle flew overhead again. Saw a Red-shoulder Hawk perched in a tree, but it flew off. Photo'ed some Cormorant's in a tree on the lakeside. On the walk from the dock to the car, photo'ed some Little Yellow Butterflys, some scenes, a Skipper and a blue dragonfly. Bird activity was a bit low, but the wind was still high due to the storm in the gulf. Starting to notice some cooler temps in the early mornings so hopefully, the heat and humidity will not be around much longer. ............................ Herman