Friday, November 4, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 8:30 this morn and walked with a friend. Just inside the Took the new trail and just a little down it photo'ed the web of a Crab-like Spiney Orb Spider. The sun made a bright oval of it. We walked along the trail and it was very quite. Saw some butterflys and more spiders (mostly Golden-silk). The construction still has the marsh closed, so we continued through the Oak Hammock. About halfway to the lake, saw an Eagle sitting in a tree way out in the marsh toward the lake. Got a photo, but it was far off. Photoed a Black-and-Yellow Argiope spider. Did a few scene photos as the local camera club theme this month is landscape. Crossed the foot bridge and saw an Eagle sitting in a tree on the lakeside. Got a few photos before it flew. Got to the dock on the lake and rested a bit. Then walked on the lake trail. Got about half-way to the closed section and turned back to the entry. Saw an Eagle sitting on the abandoned Osprey nest. Photo'ed a caerpillar on the ground and an Anhinga on the lakeside. Photo'ed an Eastern Phoebe and a funny looking leaf. Photo'ed a group of Coromorant out on the lake and a Great Blue Heron on the lakeside. Photo'ed another Phoebe in a palmtree and then walked out to the parking area. Overall it was a good walk, although a little quite. Weather was nice, clear sky and only mid-80's, humidity was a bit low, so it was comfortable. ........................... Herman

Wednesday, November 9, 2005, Circle B Bar
A representative of the Environmental Lands Program gave me a tour of Circle B today. She explained the construction and the future nature center. A very interesting tour. The plans for the sandhill on the west side will greatly improve it and demonstrate several types of habitant. The water flow will possibly be improved. The nature center will have two classrooms and there is the possibility of a teacher staffing the center. The flight cage for rehabing injured birds is progressing well. All-in-all the work to restore the marsh and improve access will be an improvement to the site. ......................... Herman

Monday, November 14, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 0815 this morn. The weather was very nice, cloudy and cool. Started into the new trail and was watching for small insects, spiders and butterflys. Found three species of spider and several flowers, also many Little Wood Satyr butterflys.Got a large fly and several other flying bugs. One very bright red Cardinal was moving through the trees. As I neared the marsh, saw a Red-shouldered Hawk sitting in a tree at the marsh edge. Got several photos from a distance. Saw an Eagle way out in the marsh. Got my foot tied-up in a tree root and took a tumble. As I got up I saw a fuzzy black caterpiller on a stalk of grass. Would have missed it had I not fallen. Then got a Queen butterfly. Saw two Turkey Vulture on a fence at the edge of the marsh trail. The marsh is still closed. Photo'ed some scenes and more flowers. Saw a Kestrel sitting in the top of a tree. Also photo'ed an Eastern Phoebe. Back and knee were hurting after the fall and I did not go past the old horse trail. Finished up the walk. It was a good day except for the fall. ....................... Herman

Friday, November 18, 2005, Circle B Bar
Today arrived about 0800 and walked the new road across the marsh and along the Banana Creek Canal. This road cuts directly across the marsh from the road connecting the two gates to Circle B. It lets you get close to the marsh, but the marsh is pumped dry at this time. Just a few pools of water. The creek is flowing well. Took a few scenes. Saw and photo'ed a variety of birds. Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Anhinga, Eastern Phoebe, Wood Stork, Great Egret, Little Egret, White and Glossy Ibis, Palm and possibly Yellow-rump Warbler, Red-winged Blackbirds, Crow, a lot of ducks, 3 Eagles, buzzards, Moorhens, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Bittern, some type of Swallow and several Sandpiper. There were probably around a hundred Woodstork in the marsh. While I was out they would take off in groups and soar around. There were also a lot of small gators in the ponds. A very good walk today. Started wearing a light jacket, but was not long before I was in shirtsleeves. ............................... Herman

Friday, November 25, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got a late start today, about 0930 and walked with my daughter, who was visiting for Thanksgiving. We went along the trail through the trees, across the marsh, along the Banana Creek Canal and Lake Hancock and back to the parking area. Had a very good day. Through the trees saw several spiders and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, also a few Cardinals. We photo'ed a Golden-silk Spider and a Black-and-yellow Argiope spider. Their webs have been in the same place for several weeks. As we neared the marsh, heard some Sandhill Cranes and saw them far out. They were flying south. Saw a chrysalis on a barbed-wire fence and photo'ed it. It looked like a butterfly wing in it. Also got a black wooley catapiller on the groung nearby. Across the marsh photo'ed what I think were Palm Warblers and got a Red-bellied Woodpecker at what appeared to be a nest hole in a tree. Saw three little gators on the bank and in the pond out in the marsh saw a single Rosette Spoonbill. We saw about 15 small gators along the trail today. Continued walked along Banana Creek Canal and saw Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Anhinga, Black Vulture, Eagle, Killdeer,Yellowlegs, Sandpiper, Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Tricolored Heron, Crow, Red-winged Blackbird, Mottled Duck, Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe and possibly some that I've forgotten. The Eagle was flying overhead. I watched it in Binoculars while my daughter photo'ed it. We also saw White Ibis, Glossy Ibis and a funny brown and white Ibis. We also photo'ed what we think is a Comma Butterfly, but the book indicates that it does not occure here so it must be a Question Mark. They look a lot alike. As we neared the lake, saw a raccoon in the marsh, got a photo of it. Also photo'ed a gray squirell. Met a lot of people on the trail today and talked with some of them. Saw two large gators on the lake shore. One was about 12 feet and one about 8 feet. They jumped into the water as we approached. As we left the lake, we saw an Osprey flying. It was the only Osprey we saw today. As we got back close to the parking area we saw a Red-shouldered Hawk. Got some photos of it. Very good day for a walk today, cool and clear with low humidity. ........................... Herman