Red-Shouldered Hawk

I saw this majestic red-shouldered hawk while I was wandering the hiking trails at Oakland Nature Preserve. The hawk was perched right above me, so I took some decent photos. However, several bikers on the West Orange Trail stopped to take a look and the hawk decided enough was enough and took off. According to the Audubon Field Guide, the red-shouldered hawk is “A hawk of the woodlands, often heard before it is seen. The clear whistled calls of this hawk are conspicuous, especially in spring; in the east, Blue Jays often give a near-perfect imitation of this call. Over much of eastern North America the Red-shoulder has become uncommon, sticking closely to the remaining forests. Populations in Florida and California are often more visible, perhaps adapting better to open habitats.”

What I’m Reading …

“From the deepest swamps to the most civilized sidewalks, [50 Great Walks in Florida] … features the best short outdoor jaunts in the Sunshine State. These manageable walks will appeal to tourists in search of the real Florida as well as to residents who want to become better acquainted with their state but still be done in time for lunch. Though shoes may be required, backpacks are not.”

Mead Botanical Garden

Nestled just off bustling Mills Avenue and surrounded by neighborhoods in Winter Park, 47-acre Mead Botanical Garden offers a peaceful reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life during these increasingly trying times. I strolled along the boardwalk through Lake Lillian Marsh and then followed a scenic hiking trail behind Little Amphitheater that took me to Alice’s Pond, where I saw several turtles basking in the sun. Mead Botanical Garden is open daily between 8 AM and dusk. Best of all, it’s free!

Sawgrass Lake Park

According to the Pinellas County website, 400-acre Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg features “one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast of Florida.” We strolled along the mile-long boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park on a sunny Sunday morning and viewed an alligator, some turtles and even a yellow-crowned night heron. Sawgrass Lake Park also offers an observation tower, picnic shelter, restroom. Admission is free.

Lovers Key State Park

Last Saturday we enjoyed the opportunity to explore scenic Lovers Key State Park (full name: Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Park), which lies just south of Fort Myers Beach. The 1,616-acre Lovers Key State Park encompasses the barrier islands of Lovers Key, Inner Key, Black Island and Long Key. Highlights of Lovers Key State Park include 2.5 miles of white sandy beaches with some of the best shelling Southwest Florida, as well as hiking and biking trails, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, a boat ramp, saltwater fishing, wildlife viewing (we saw two gopher tortoises) and a beachside concession stand. A free tram service runs from the first parking area to the south beach. We’ll definitely be back soon!

Sunday Hike at Kelly Park

A series of renovations are taking place at Kelly Park in Apopka, so we could not go anywhere near Rock Springs (which is closed to swimmers and tubers due to the pandemic), but we still enjoyed a scenic hike along the Kelly Loop Trail (1.5 miles). No wildlife sightings this time out, but a nice time nonetheless and we pretty much had the whole trail to ourselves!

Return to Lettuce Lake Park

It was just under a year ago when we first visited Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, which lies off I-75 in Tampa and just minutes from the University of South Florida campus. So we jumped at the chance to visit again on Sunday and we were not disappointed! One of the most visited parks in Hillsborough County, Lettuce Lake Park “lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River” and features a hardwood swamp forest that can be experienced via a 3,500-foot boardwalk and observation tower. During this outing, we saw two Florida alligators, a baby turtle and several bird species, including the white ibis. Entrance fee is $2 (cash only). Don’t miss it!

Heart of the Wilderness

“Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.” – John Muir

“I thought of the wilderness we had left behind us … joyous in its plentitude and simplicity, perfect yet vulnerable, unaware of what is coming, defended by nothing, guarded by no one.” – Edward Abbey

“Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you.” – Walt Whitman