Last Sunday, March 18, we started a 5-day reservation in another Florida state park - Myakka River, near Sarasota. Each park has some familiar trees, plants, and birds, that we have seen in other Florida parks, while also offering unique natural sights for campers and day-users. At Myakka River, there is a wonderful birding program with very knowledgeable volunteers staffing the birding platform with scopes and guidebooks and much information to share. During our first visit to the bird platform, we met a couple of birding experts who happened to be from Blue Hill, Maine and are mutual friends with our book editor and his wife. What a wonderful small world! Here are some of the birds from Myakka River...
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| Roseate Spoonbills - always a favorite |
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| Another special treat - A flock of White Pelicans |
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Some on the wing -
eventually they will return to breeding grounds
in North Dakota |
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| Flotilla of Pelicans possibly "herding" fish |
We wanted to capture this photo that shows the work of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It was explained to us that the holes that the bird drilled will eventually fill with sap and insects. The Sapsucker then comes back for the feast.
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| Red-shouldered Hawk |
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Black Vultures with a big "friend"
As you know, we love to hike and walk and see the natural world. In this park, we took a walk along streams, climbed up 75 feet and looked over the tree tops from the Canopy Walk, and hiked on the Myakka Nature Trail and saw the recovery of the Sawgrass Palmetto after one of the controlled burns.
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| Trail goes all along the stream on left |
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| Canopy Walkway from Top |
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| Canopy Walkway from Bottom |
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| Trail through the Live Oaks |
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| All the duff that might add to a forest fire is gone. |
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| Positive results of controlled burn - Palmettos growing |
After our camping time in Myakka River State Park, we went to visit
Latona's oldest stepdaughter and her family in North Port and had our annual family reconnection with Debbie, Linden, Bub, Janet, Ozzie and Haley. On Sunday, Ozzie and family took us on their boat and snapped this shot capturing the spirit of the whole visit. We love them and enjoy our time together. In fact, although we left them a few days ago, we are still missing them. Love to each one!
Today, it is back to my mother's for a visit, and by next week, we will be heading north. Right now the plan is to head to the Atlantic Coast and use Route 17 to travel from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay along the coastline. We have had a wonderful trip so far, and now we are "looking" due north as we anticipate being home and seeing all those we left behind. Love and hugs, L&L
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