Monday, May 28, 2007

Marc's here!!! Memorial Day weekend.

We took the boat out on Lake Talquin looking for big fish.
Terry caught a couple of nice crappie.

Marc and I enjoyed the peace and quiet and beautiful weather.

Sunday we took the tour boat ride at Wakulla Springs State Park.
The giant spring that feeds the Wakulla River puts out 400,000 gal. of sparkling clear water a minute. It is 165 feet deep and comes from a series of underground caves and rivers. National Geographics has had TV programs about the scuba divers and explorers that have mapped some of the caves. The water is 68 degrees year round and provides a great place to swim and dive. There's also a lodge and restaurant and hiking trails.

The boat tour goes a couple of miles down the river and back to give people a great view of the wildlife. We saw a deer on the bank and a manatee that had come up river from the gulf about 10 miles away. Birds we saw were Osprey with babies on the nest, Anhinga sunning, Great and Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret with babies, lots of Common Moorhens and Wood Ducks.


From the boat you can see lots of alligators swimming at the edge of the river in the seaweed. This big fellow was about 9 or 10 feet.



They look like they are sleeping, but they are watching you.

This is an immature Little Blue Heron about 2 feet tall. Our friend Peggy had to help me identify him. Visit her blog linked below to see her great photos.

He will lose the white and get beautiful blue feathers.

We also drove down to the coast at St. Mark's Lighthouse and saw these Lesser Yellowlegs.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Tallahassee hosted an Exotic Bird show at the Fair Grounds.

Blue Fronted Amazon Parrot


Marilyn bought a bird!!


She's Katie, a 1 year old gentle sweetie.
She says "Katie wants a cookie" and nibbles my glasses when sitting on my shoulder.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Kayaking on the Wacissa River

Big Blue Spring is one of 15 springs that feed the Wacissa River in Jefferson County, FL.
It's about 45 feet deep. The crystal clear water allows you to see the sea weed and sand under the water. It's part of a beautiful, peaceful kayak trip right here in our area.

Terry & Peggy can see the blue color of the water as it comes out of the spring.
Peggy is the author of the Kayak Paddle Times blog which is linked at the bottom of this page.
She was kind enough to guide us on our first trip down the Wacissa.


Terry's having a great time.

Behind Marilyn is a raft used by swimmers at the spring.

Little Blue is another spring part way down the river.
On the bank behind Marilyn is a good place to beach the Kayak and take a break.


Little Blue is clear enough to see down about about 14 feet to the bottom.

Little Blue Heron enjoying the sun.


Great Egret on a tree leaning over the river.

Peggy's getting a good shot of the egret for her blog.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Right Around Tallahassee

The magnolias are blooming.
We have several on our lot, but this one lines a boulevard in Tallahassee.


We went to the Tallahassee Orchid Society's annual spring show.


This huge and unusual phalaenopsis was one of the winners.


This orange cattleya is one I have blooming now.



Lafayette Lake is only about 4 miles from our apartment.
There are trails cut thru the lilly pads for the kayakers.


Lots of blooming lilly pads.

Close up of Lotus flower & lilly pad.

Watermelon field near our lot in Monticello.
They'll be ripe for the festival in June.


Saturday, April 14, 2007

Went Fishing

This Blue Heron was catching fish.
Double click to zoom in and scroll around.


Lake Talquin is greening up.
The thing that looks like a stick in front is an alligator.
We watched him swim there.

Can't brag about the fish, but it sure was a pretty, peaceful day.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge




What a beautiful spot and only about 20 miles south of Tallahassee.

This Great Egret was catching fish.
There were dozens of interesting birds to watch.
I've got to get a better camera to zoom in for more photos.


The Snowy Egret is a little smaller, about 26" vs. 37"

Canvasback Duck

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Lake Talquin

Lake's peaceful in early April
Sleeping Cormorants

Cormorant



Double Crested Cormorant


Black duck
Turtle

But can't find the big fish


Gretchen enjoys the day boating.