Sunday, June 12, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 0930 today. Due to rain and other commitments, I have not been able to get out much this month. Just inside the entry, saw a Red-shouldered Hawk fly to the ground. Could not see it well in the grass, but a photo as it flew. Walked on around toward the marsh and photo'ed a Cardinal near the marsh. Photo'ed a Little Yellow Butterfly on a thistle. Crossing the marsh, photo'ed some cattails, some yellow flowers and a Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Also got a large bumblebee on a thistle. At The bridge across the marsh saw several Purple Gallinule. Walked toward the lake and photo'ed a Tricolored Heron. Saw an Osprey hovering and got several photos of it. Saw a five foot gator in Bannana Creek Canal and got several photos. Photoed a Great Southern White Butterfly, an Anhinga, a Green Heron and some Cormorants. Photo'ed a gator's head sticking out of the water in the lake. Photo'ed the Osprey nests, another Green Heron, and a Wood Stork. Also a Red-shouldered Hawk that flew from a tree next to the trail. Saw a Raccoon walking toward me and got several photos before it bolted into the bushes. Near the dock photo'ed another Black Swallowtail Butterfly. On the trail to the entry photo'ed several small yellow and orange butterflys on the trail. A hot humid day for a walk. .................................... Herman

Friday, June 17, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 0840 today. The old legs were hurting so I walked to a spot near the entry on the north side of the marsh and sat in my chair for a while. Photo'ed an Eastern Meadowlark, a Common Checkered-Skipper Butterfly, a Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, a Red-winged Blackbird, and a Black Swallowtail Butterfly. There were a lot of the Gulf Fritillary's in the area. I then returned to my car and drove the west trail. After crossing the second bridge I saw the family of four Sandhill Cranes. The chicks are getting large now. Got several photos of them. Also photo'ed a Little Blue Heron, a Tricolored Heron and some Marsh Hens. The grass on the west trail is getting high and there has been little traffic to beat it down. Hot and Humid again. Started raining as I was leaving. ..... Herman

Saturday, June 18, 2005, Circle B Bar
Had a publicity photo shoot this morning. Saw two Eagles while driving into the Oak Hammock. After the shoot I walked around the marsh. Since I was already inside the gate, I drove to the dock and parked. I walked to the Osprey nests in the marsh. Photo'ed a Cardinal and a Cormorant. Then a little Raccoon walked toward me. It went into the bushes and climbed a tree. I got several photos. It drapped across a limb fork and I took more photos. Even got one of it grinning at me. Photo'ed a Tawny Emperor butterfly. Next, I got an Osprey on the nest and a Great Egret on a floating grass island. Photo'ed a Cardinal and a Rossette Spoonbill flying over. ........................ Herman

Sunday, June 26, 2005, Gator Creek
Got started about 0900 this morn. Knew that it would be a hot and humid day, but had a late start. Had not been here since March 19th. Saw the new picnic pavillion at the parking area. Just inside the entry got a photo of a small Georgia Thumper grasshopper. It kept trying to hide from me. As soon as I got on the main trail photo'ed a Gulf Fritillary Butterfly. There were a lot of the Gulf's around today. Also saw many Black Swallowtails and Spicebrush Swallowtail. Photo'ed a spider web and a small toad about 1/2 inch long. There were a lot of small toads about 3/8th of an inch on the trail. Photo'ed a white flower with 7 petals, later id'ed it as a Tarflower. A short while later, photo'ed a purple flower know as Tall Meadow Beauty. Photo'ed a clump of yellow flowers, but could not ID them in my flower book. Next I photo'ed a small all white flower that formed a small cup. The inside of the petals were sparkled. Also could not ID it. It was on Gator Creek at the first bridge. Several small butterflys on these flowers. Walked on around to the pond and saw an eight foot gator sunning on the bank. Walked back to the bridge and photo'ed a turtle head sticking up in the creek. Walked the Gator Creek Loop and photo'ed a Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly. Found some more of the Tall Meadow Beauty flowers and got a better view for a photo. Back on the main trail, I saw a bird go into a palmetto clump. Was able to get some photos, but it was fairly deep in the bush. It was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and it appeared to be a young bird. Enjoyed getting back to Gator Creek. Finished up about 1200. ......................... Herman