Great visit with Joan and Lucille and a trip to the Venice Rookery. The resident alligator keeps the predators away from the rookery island. It was a cool day and being a reptile the 'gator was enjoying the sunshine.
There were great blue herons, snowy egrets and anhingas. Oops no pictures.
There is some debate about the identity of this bird. We have decided that it is an immature green heron.
1.15.15 - South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve
This is one of the preserves that we visit often. It is a couple of miles from the house. If we are feeling particularly adventurous we can ride our bikes and then walk. On this day we drove to the park. We like this because it is close and it has two small ponds as well as a path to Lemon Bay.
I thought I had the name for these flowers but didn't write it down and now can't find it in my book. I will have to keep looking and update if I identify it again.
I think this is Scrub Lupine or McFarlin's Lupine - These are supposed to bloom in March and April. I won't tell if you don't tell.
This "Little Blue Heron" was keeping his eyes on the pond and didn't seem to mind us stalking about and zooming in.
This is seagrape. We see it often and it can be a shrub or small tree. It flowers from April-July. Maybe we will see some in bloom later this spring. It develops grape-like clusters of black fleshy fruit and the fruit can be used to make jellies and wine. Time will tell if I get any of the fruit and make it into something. Certainly it would be more likely for me to make jelly.
We heard this male cardinal before we saw him. We also saw several hawks but I couldn't get any pictures.
Need to identify this as well.
1.16.15 - Shamrock Park - Venetian Waterway Park
Out for a stroll at our neighborhood Shamrock Park along the Venetian Waterway Park later in the afternoon and apparently it was dinner time for these two osprey. They each had a fish that was at least 6 inches long.
1.17.15 - Venetian Waterway Park
Gopher Tortoise - This is the only tortoise that lives east of the Mississippi and they can live to be up to 100 years old. We often see their burrows. In the winter they come out to eat in the warmest part of the day. In summer they come out in the coolest part of the day.
Loggerhead Shrike - This was only our second walk down this side of the waterway this winter and both times we have seen this type of bird on this fence by the airport. They impale insects on the fence and then eat them. Their feet are too weak to hold the insect while they dine.
After our walk we visited with Dianne and Cathy and later joined them for dinner at Sharkey's on the Pier. We ate early and enjoyed the sunset from Brohard Beach.
In honor of Allan's birthday we found a new place to walk and visit. This non profit museum and nature center is about 45 miles from our home in Venice. It was designed for guests to view how early Florida settlers lived. Additionally, there are many nature trails and a .5 mile boardwalk through a swamp and over a creek.
While on the boardwalk Allan spotted this adult green heron.
Once off the boardwalk and while walking along the creek we noticed these river otter prints in the path.
Back at the homestead area we enjoyed watching the rooster, hens and chicks.
Not sure just why but I didn't take pictures of the various buildings; school house used until 1941, a small two story home (you can see this in the back of the picture below), a homestead one room cabin, and blacksmith shop. However, I did take a picture of this sugar cane mill.
The Self-Guided Trail Booklet indicates that cane grindings were social events for the early Florida settlers. The stalks were squeezed through the metal rollers which were powered by mules or oxen. Then the cane was cooked down in a huge outdoor kettle for many hours to make syrup.
On our way home we noticed this sandhill crane strutting with its mate but they weren't close enough together to get them both in the picture. Note the red crown and "bustle". They are about 4 feet tall. We have seen several pairs since coming to Florida we usually see them in fields near water as was the case today.
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