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Winter solstice begins in two days. That may not mean too much, temperature-wise, to us here in central Florida, but in many areas of the northern hemisphere the date usually portends colder conditions with frost, ice and snow. I found a virtual binder in the corner of the digital desk drawer which was not reported on at the time. We apologize for its tardiness, but please accept some warming images of our late fall to help ease you into whatever your season is offering.
This actual trip took place during the last week of October. The woods and fields of nearby Colt Creek State Park were filled with our favorite natural triumvirate: birds, blooms and bugs! The normal bird population was supplemented by migratory visitors, some of which will remain here throughout the winter. Central Florida is blessed with several species of late-blooming flowers and the extended warm season is perfect for insects trying to survive a late-season hatch.
It was a relatively short ramble but extremely satisfying. A small pool of water at the edge of the pine woods attracted a dozen wading birds. Deer browsed in several different areas. Splashes of yellow, blue and purple decorated the fields and forest understory. Butterflies took advantage of fresh nectar. We spent nearly 30 minutes observing one section of marsh as several species of small birds were very actively feeding on insects and seeds from Alligatorflag (Thalia geniculata), also known as Bent Alligatorflag or Fireflag.
Blue skies, tall pines, the distant calls of a Barred Owl, a pair of big Pileated Woodpeckers foraging above. It all made our boiled egg and tangerine breakfast seem unusually special.
We hope your first day of winter will be as pleasant as possible. If it’s too cold, rub your hands together, pour a cup of hot chocolate and come to Florida for a little while.
There were many White-tailed Deer in the park and this fawn didn’t understand why Mom insisted she move into the shadows of the woods. She will, one day.
White Ibises typically feed on insects and grubs. This one has apparently developed a taste for seafood. (Or, in this case, small-pondfood.)
Young White Ibises remain brown and gray until their second year when they transform into the all-whitle plumage of an adult.
An immature Wood Stork also takes about a year to fully develop its adult plumage, including a bald head.
Early morning dew causes a Gulf Fritillary (Dione incarnata) to linger at its nightly perch until the sun dries its wings a bit.
One of our winter tourists, the House Wren, was present in fair numbers today.
Seeds of the Alligatorflag (Thalia geniculata) are rich in protein and attracted quite a few birds to a marshy spot this morning. A pair of Northern Cardinals flew from one plant to another in a sort of frenetic feeding dance.
Joining the cardinals in the hunt for seeds were several Swamp Sparrows. We only see this species during migration.
Prairie Warblers breed in this area, but we also see individuals from the north during the fall/winter. Impossible to tell if this female is a visitor or a tourist. Easy to tell that she was hungry.
Movement under a large oak tree turned out to be a Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius).
There was a lot of yellow throughout the park this morning. Most was Narrowleaf Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius).
A few patches of bright purple Chapman’s Blazing Star (Liatris chapmanii) certainly demanded our attention.
Not as abundant as the sunflowers, buttery yellow Four-petal St. John’s-wort (Hypericum tetrapetalum) was equally beautiful to behold.
Another common fall migrant is the Eastern Phoebe. Many of these aggressive little flycatchers will stay with us all winter.
Even more yellow. At this time of year, our most common goldenrod is Pinebarren Goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa).
Several butterflies thrive almost year around in central Florida. One species which does well is the Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius oileus).
It just doesn’t seem like a real color. The Eastern Bluebird tries to “out-blue” the sky. I purposely didn’t adjust the color of this image so it would show the actual hue.
A personal favorite. When I go out to specifically find one of these, I invariably fail. On a casual day of relaxation, a feeling that you are being watched comes over you ……….Gray Wall Jumper (Menemerus bivittatus). (Do click twice on this one.)
A fall morning. A full morning. Old man winter was not on the horizon. Now – he’s knocking at the door.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
We arrived at Lake Apopka just before “official” sunrise. Of course, the fog obscured the sun completely. It was now about three hours later and the marsh was awash in sunshine, skies were nearly clear and the natural world was beginning to make up for the daylight delay.
It’s a bit eerie how fog dissipates. Like clock watching. (Remember analog clocks?) We know the hands are moving but can’t actually detect any movement. The dense fog did not just vanish all at once. The open spaces of the marsh created a situation where we could observe as the mist became less and less dense and distant objects became incrementally more distinct.
Flocks of White Ibis, Blue-winged Teal, Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-Duck moved from one spot to another. Osprey splashed into open water areas and took their catch to a nearby tree branch to enjoy. Wading birds waded, gallinules gabbled, warblers gave up warbling while swallowing bugs, alligators galore grinned and grunted.
We enjoyed it all.
Smaller than the Gray-headed Swamphen we highlighted in the last post, native Purple Gallinules are abundant throughout the marsh. The first image is an adult and the second an immature bird. Sexes are similar in appearance.
Bright Yellow Warblers are early migrants and they love an area such as this as it makes finding a meal easy. They need to eat as many insects as possible to provide energy for their flight onward to South America.
Many migrating birds will spend the entire winter in Florida as long as the weather doesn’t become too cold. This Eastern Phoebe is loving the abundant mosquito hordes. Go, Phoebe, go!
Open water supports several types of aquatic plant life. Yellow balls above large lush green leaves identify Spatterdock (Nuphar advena).
We saw several dozen large Fulvous Whistling-Ducks today. They are year-round residents and breed here.
Another water-loving plant, Broadleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), provided lovely white bouquets for us to enjoy.
Similar in appearance to Mallards, Mottled Ducks are lighter in overall plumage, there are differences in bills and the wing speculum has no white border like the Mallard has. Hybridization, especially with Mallards, poses a real threat to the Mottled Duck’s future.
Cleanliness is next to Duckliness. Preening time-outs are frequent and vital to maintaining healthy feathers. This Blue-winged Teal duo really enjoyed having their photo taken while they were busy cleaning up. (They may have a different story.)
Floating flowers. The marsh was in bloom with American White Waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) showing off and we really appreciated it.
A male Belted Kingfisher sang sweetly as we admired his sleek blue-gray form. Okay, okay. His harsh rattling let us know he was not very pleased with us tromping past his buffet table.
Even more white floral displays to ogle. Bulltongue Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia) is loved by a diverse number of pollinators and at least two flower-lovers. (Yes, she wanted me to pick some to take home. “That alligator in the nearby reeds isn’t all that big.” No, there was no Arrowhead arrangement for the dinner table today.)
Over 20,000 acres of marsh means there is plenty of room for a Great Blue Heron to stretch its wings. Surveys indicate many dozens of the large waders agree. The big blue birds can look adorable amongst the hyacinths and pretty imposing when trying to swallow a giant-sized catfish.
Palm Warblers are one of the most numerous winter migrants in central Florida. They are easily identified, even from a distance, by their constantly pumping tails. Despite fairly subtle plumage, they are handsome little birds.
We neared the exit of the Wildlife Drive almost six hours after we began the 11-mile adventure. Discussion had already begun about what German delicacies we would soon enjoy when, all of a sudden, a turtle sprang from the side of the road and bolted in front of the car! Yeah, “sprang” and “bolted” are pretty foreign in turtle terminology. This small Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii) was very patient as I took a few photographs and as gently as possible lifted him from the center of the road to the tall weeds toward which he was heading.
Today’s exploration began in murky darkness. Patience paid off as we eventually became enlightened and, ultimately, basked in the bright glory of blue skies and golden sunshine. May your own day be similar.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
*(Thanks to Mr. Ernest Hemingway for creating a wonderful title for his novel. Apologies to Mr. Hemingway for modifying it for my own selfish purpose.)
“At least it’s not cold.” How can I not remain in love with such an optimist?
The thick fog permitted a very limited view of our surroundings. We could hear the Whistling-Ducks whistling as they flew above us. We could hear a Limpkin crying about no sunshine. We could hear a big splash – it was close – probably just a turtle. Yeah, that’s it. A turtle.
We have written about Lake Apopka previously. (https://ournaturalplaces.com/2023/02/18/a-work-in-progress/)
It is one of our absolute favorite natural places to visit. All seasons offer a little something different, but fall and winter can be quite special. Over 20,000 acres of marsh adjacent to a huge lake attracts all sorts of migrating birds. The eleven-mile drive through the impoundment offers viewing opportunities seldom available to nature-lovers.
The fog persisted for a couple of hours after sunrise. We consoled ourselves by paying attention to reeds, shrubs and trees which were close at hand. Birds were not hindered by the mist as they busily searched for protein-laden insects. The photographer complained about poor light. The birders loved every second.
No controversial sandwiches for breakfast today. Just fresh fruit and granola. We purposely planned on eating light as our Lake Apopka adventure always ends with a trip to the nearby Yalaha Bakery for lunch. German fare from the deli means grilled bratwurst or schnitzel with sauerkraut and potato salad. Fresh baked sourdough bread, German apple pie, liverwurst and Berliner rolls were bagged up for the trip home.
Almost imperceptibly, the gray blanket began to fade, revealing a spot of blue sky here and there. The marsh was in constant motion as birds, bugs and animals concentrated on surviving one more day.
Hopefully, you will be able to see well enough through the foggy curtain to enjoy a few of our discoveries.
Lily pad? Stump? Turtle? No way it could be an American Alligator that close. Could it?
Fortunately, the Red-shouldered Hawk has no problem finding a frog in fog.
Small birds aren’t bothered by the gray stuff at all. They don’t need to see long distances to find a bug on a branch. This Marsh Wren is a fall migrant and does not breed in Florida.
A successful invasive species. The Gray-headed Swamphen probably got a start in Florida due to an escape near Miami in the 1990’s and has now spread to at least the north-central part of the state. Lake Apopka offers perfect habitat for this large member of the rail family.
Constantly on the move, the Common Yellowthroat brightens up the marsh with its bright yellow plumage. We counted 18 of these little birds during the morning.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is our most abundant woodpecker species. This female gave me one shot before disappearing among the leaves.
Although the Northern Flicker breeds in our area, their numbers increase during migration.
Is it getting brighter? A White Ibis welcomes a stray beam of light.
A nasty beauty. The Common Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is truly lovely. However, this very aggressive invasive aquatic plant multiplies extremely fast, forms thick mats which obscure light reaching below a lake’s surface, crowds out native plants and reduces the availability of oxygen in the water. (If you are a boat owner and visit lakes where these grow, clean your prop and boat bottom thoroughly so the plant doesn’t spread.)
Lake Apopka is a joy to explore. There is so much diversity of nature here offering something for everyone. If only that fog would lift ……….
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
*(Apologies to Carl Sandburg)
The actual words:
FOG
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Streaks of light from the sun rising above the cypress trees lit up the opposite shore of the lake where a Great Blue Heron and Great Egret were wading in search of breakfast. Stepping onto the wooden fishing platform caused a splash from below my feet. A young alligator surfaced several feet into the lake and gave me “the look”. An Osprey splashed just to the right and flew away with a fat catfish.
Only a few minutes ago, we were inching through the morning commuter traffic. Someone ahead let a large truck pull into the road from a gas station. The car behind us honked his horn as I suspect the driver was dismayed at anything which might delay his excitement in being at work. We turned off the main thoroughfare onto the park road and were thankful to be off the busy highway. Another two miles and traffic was a memory. The eastern sky was beginning to lighten. So were our spirits.
One of the nice things about visiting a natural place with which we’re familiar is, well, it’s familiarity. In many respects, we know what to expect. There are occasional surprises, but we could pretty much tell you what we’ll find on any given day. It is a comfortable place.
Fall bird migration brings a variety of avian visitors to our patch. Colorful warblers scurry among the tops of trees, brown sparrows skulk through the grass and weeds, waterfowl gabble and splash in the lakes, raptors soar and hover above field and marsh. Just as most tourists who visit the Sunshine State in winter, they are thankful for our warmer air and bountiful fresh food items.
Our patch is now filled with even more delights for us to enjoy.
What? No, we don’t mind sharing.
This Yellow-throated Warbler was taking off to a higher branch to continue its search for a meal.
No sooner had the above warbler departed than a Pine Warbler lit on the same limb looking for leftovers.
Seemingly in perpetual motion, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher moves at high speed and checks out every twig and leaf it encounters.
Gini says all birds should be as thoughtful as the Eastern Phoebe. It lets us know its name is “Pheee-Beee“! Loudly. And often.
“That’s something different!” Gini’s sharp eyes knew this was not what we might expect to see at this spot. (We typically find Savannah and Swamp Sparrows here in the fall.) We were surrounded by weedy fields but there was a low, damp place where a few Willow Trees and Scrub Oaks provided shelter from potential predators. Following her outstretched finger, I finally saw what she had discovered. The face pattern, the pale bill, the gray neck nape – an uncommon Clay-colored Sparrow! Very nice, Sweetheart! Very nice, indeed.
Sometimes, you just need to take a break and recharge your batteries. A Loggerhead Shrike appreciates the convenience of a solar charging station.
Research indicates this is a snail. Further research indicates this is still a snail. I have failed to find a specific identification. So, I celebrate the fact that this is – a snail. (They don’t move away from the camera as quickly as a bird.)
The hungry, hungry caterpillar. In this case, it is the larva of a Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea).
Today we encountered dozens of Barred Yellow (Eurema daira) butterflies.
Having fully recharged its batteries, the Loggerhead Shrike captured a katydid and impaled it on a twig, as any self-respecting Butcherbird would. After admiring it for a bit, brunch from a branch.
A young Red-shouldered Hawk provides a good view of its namesake red “shoulders” and the pale crescents near the wingtips which help identify this species.
Gini did it again. “Oh, look!” A lovely Common Yellowthroat spent a few minutes hopping around the branches checking us out.
Although small, the fluttering black-and-white checks near the ground help us spot the Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius oileus). We found several enjoying today’s sunshine.
Florida may not boast much in the way of colorful autumn trees, but if one looks around, there is plenty of color to be found. An example is this male Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) on Hairy Indigo (Indigofera hirsuta).
An oasis near the house provides welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of modern life and allows us to observe Nature’s diversity. It is an amazing blessing. On any given day our patch is filled with a bounty of satisfying exploration. Today that bounty defied containment.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our excursion to Lake Wales Ridge State Forest had been typical of past visits. We encountered old friends and were treated to surprises which nature has a way of placing in your path. The quiet of sunrise in the pine forest, the raucous wake-up calls of both Blue and Florida Scrub Jays, abundant floral arrangements just for our eyes, white-tailed deer skulking just inside the tree line, tracks of a Bobcat in the damp clay road – a very special time.
With so much life all around us, it’s all too easy to overlook many of the smaller or less-conspicuous residents. As we admired a big flowering plant, three smaller flowering bushes were between us and the more colorful plant and I only saw them as I stepped closer to the larger subject. I was so focused on getting a photograph of a Brown-headed Nuthatch, I was not aware of a Downy Woodpecker almost at my shoulder until I moved and it flew away. Insects can be like that. Unless they’re biting us or flying around our heads, we are almost unaware of their presence.
The bugs of the ridge are as diverse as the other flora and fauna of this incredibly unique geological remnant. One type of bee was recently sighted here which hasn’t been seen in Florida since 2016. So many different species of flowering plants attracts just as many pollinators. Other specific habitat creates homes for insects not normally seen in other areas of the state.
Many times during the morning, I felt like some cartoon character with a camera as I stalked a bird only to become distracted by a pretty flower only to be distracted by a beautiful butterfly only to be distracted by a fox squirrel only to be – see what I mean? It just wasn’t fair. We loved it.
A sampler of Bugs of The Ridge.
We have only seen a Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) twice before today. This male obligingly (and surprisingly) held still for his portrait. (The plant he is on is Hairy Indigo (Indigofera hirsuta)).
One of the smallest dragonflies in North America, the Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax minuscula) is fairly common to encounter but trying to photograph them near the forest floor where they live is another story. The male is blue and the female is yellow.
It’s not often we see a female Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata). That’s probably due to being distracted by the male with its broad wing bands. I’ll try to pay more attention. This can be a locally common species if the habitat is suitable.
As kids, we would use a stick wrapped with a bit of spider web to stir around funnel-shaped pits in the sand. With luck, we would pull out a “doodlebug” attached to the end of our stick. What we had was the larva of an Antlion (Family Myrmeleontidae). Until recently, I had never noticed the adult form. It resembles a damselfly somewhat. It eats mosquitoes, so I really like it. A lot.
Small flying jewels. Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) females such as this one have more complex wing patterns than males.
Nature succeeds in combining colors we might not think about. Such as gold and lavender. A Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan) on Florida Paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus).
Similar to its cousin, the Monarch, a Queen (Danaus gilippus) butterfly adds a lovely shade of orange to the landscape. It looks particularly lovely on a Feay’s Palafox (Palafoxia feayi).
A tiny Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) butterfly took one look my way and disappeared. Sigh.
This Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is not quite as small as the above Blue, but it figured if I was that scary, it better fly off, also. Which it did.
Our day within the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest was tranquil, exciting, wondrous and extremely satisfying. The combined effect of all the birds, blooms and bugs was to underscore the incredible diversity of nature and to instill within us an internal urge to return. Again and Again. You have been warned.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
