Monday, October 3, 2005, Woodland Wonders near Auburndale
I was helping out feeding the animals at a local rescue center when a Red-shouldered Hawk that had been hanging around flew in. I got a few photos of it in the trees. Plus I got all the animals fed. ....................... Herman

Tuesday, October 11, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 8:30. It was cooler, but still hot and a little less humid than it has been. Took some scenes of the oaks and some Morning Glorys. Also photo'ed a Carolina Wrenn, a Mockingbird and a Dove while walking through the trees to the marsh. Could not walk the marsh as it was closed for construction. They are moving a lot of dirt a Circle B now. The marsh trail has been built up, so now it might be dry after a rain. Photo'ed a Primrose Willow and some construction pipes. Also photo'ed some other flowers and a grasshopper. Got a neat looking spider, but have not ID'ed it yet. Got the usual Golden-silk spider also. Got a nice photo of a Queen butterfly, one of the first Queens I've seen at Circle B. Walked back by one of the newly mowed trails and got some good Morning Glory photos and a Blue Jay. Photo'ed a tiny blue flower that I later ID'ed as a small Day Flower. Have seen them a lot, but did not know what they were. Photo'ed a Monarch butterfly and some small Skipper looking butterflys. Got a huge Golden-silk Spider on a web that I nearly walked into. It was huge. Finished up just before noon. A fair day today, but the construction will restrict access for a while. ............... Herman

Monday, October 17, 2005, Farm near Santa Fe
My Aunt and cousin still operate the family homestead near Santa Fe in Alachua County. While visiting, I took some scenes to include sunset and sunrise, some buildings and the old sugar cane mill. Also got a Carolina Wrenn, a Mockingbird, some Doves, spiders and flowers. Some of the sunrise photos had a foggy view. Always enjoy visiting the farm where I stayed a lot as a kid. ............................ Herman

Wednesday, October 19, 2005, Circle B Bar
I've been photo'ing a flight cage under construction on the west side of Circle B and this morn after photo'ing the cage, I drove down the west road. There is construction underway on this back side also, so my driving was restricted. Got some photos of Meadowlarks and a Mockingbird. Photo'ed a flying Great Blue Heron. Parked the car and walked down a path cut through the marsh by the construction vehicles. Got a quick glance at a bird that flew from a pond, Had not seen it before, but not a good enough view to ID it. Photo'ed a Little Blue Heron sitting in the top of a Cypress tree. Photo'ed a Pearl Crescent, a Common Checkered-Skipper and a Gulf Fritillary all without moving my camera tripod. Got back to the car and saw a large Red-shouldered Hawk in a tree. It flew just as I got the camera pointed at it. The photo has it just as it left the tree limb. Finished about 10:30. In the car mostly today, but the short hike was hot and humid. Looking forward to some cooler weather. ....... Herman

Friday, October 28, 2005, Saddle Creek Park
Got started about 9 this morn. The weather was very nice today, not too hot and not too cool. At the ponds near the entrance photo'ed some Moorhens, a Tricolored Heron and a Little Blue Heron. Walked on over to the pits and photo'ed an Anhinga, a Mockingbird, and an Eastern Phoebe. Still near the entry photo'ed a Morning Glory with a butterfly in it. And an Ibis in the creek. Walking down the trail, saw some Cardinals. Photo'ed Carolina Wren and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Also got an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Saw a Red-shoulder Hawk fly from the trees and could hear Kingfisher, but did not see one. The trail was generally quite. As I returned to the entry, I saw a Limpkin in the creek and was able to take a series of photos as it foraged the creek coming toward me. Also did another Anhinga and photo'ed a bee on a Primrose Willow flower and a White Peacock butterfly. The cooler weather made a quite walk very enjoyable. ................... Herman

Monday, October 31, 2005, Circle B Bar
Got started about 9 again this morn. Had to wear a jacket due to the cold, but took it off a short way into the walk. Started on the new mowed trail and had a good time photoing insects and spiders. Had a nice Gold-silk spider and a Yellow-and-Black Argiope spider and a grasshopper. Spotted a Common Yellowthroat hopping around in some bushes and got some photos of it, but it was deep in the bush and mostly concealed. Also had Carolina Wren and Palm Warbler and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Saw a wasp nest crawling with wasps. Fortunately it was just off the trail. Would hate to brush up against it. did another Yellow-and-Black Argiope spider and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. At this point I had been on the trail an hour and had not yet reached the trail over the marsh. Too much to look at. Photo'ed an Eastern Phoebe and a Common Checkered Skipper. The trail across the marsh is closed and while walking the Oak Hammock Trail did not see much. Got near the lake and saw an Eagle in a tree on the lakeside. Got a couple of photos before it flew. Got to the dock and photo'ed a Tern flying over the lake. Started walking the lake trail. Had not been on it in a while. Got some good views of a Little Blue Heron and a Green Heron. Got photos of the green with it's neck streached out. Got some photos of another Eastern Phoebe and some Palm Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Saw an Eagle chasing an Osprey. Photo'ed a Crow that was eating a fish atop a dead tree. Saw a lot more Palm Warblers. Photo'ed an Anhinga with it's wings spread and a Great Blue Heron in the marsh. Photo'ed some Coromorant swimming in the lake. Got to the point where the trail is closed at the old spillway and photo'ed a turtle on a log. The lakeside was full of Palm Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. There were also quite a few Eastern Phoebes. As I started back on the trail to the entry, I saw 12 Rosette Spoonbills over to near the creek outlet. Walked on and photo'ed anothr Phoebe and some flowers. As I got near the parking area, I saw a hawk flying from the trees to the ground. Got some photos of it sitting in a tree. Just a little futher saw another Red-shoulder Hawk sitting in a tree and photoed it. A very good day today. Birds were plentiful and the weather was cool. ........................... Herman