Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Refuge

So yesterday we did what most old folks do - we took a Sunday drive. 

Florida has a lot of cool parks and areas that are

chock full of cool things. 

Like this amazing lake at sunset.

Who doesn't love a woodstork.

They remind me of grumpy old men.

An egret strolling through a swampy area

trolling for a meal.

A anahinga drying it's wings.

It actually held that pose as we traveled down the road

and back again until he was on my side

of the car.

We did see a couple of deer only was able to capture this one.

They are quite fleet of foot.

A doe and fawn and I mean itty bitty fawn like a couple

weeks old flew by us in front of the

car. I was too busy praying don't get hit and

didn't get a photo.

Actually they were *that* quick.

The road on to amazing critters and look at that

gorgeous sky.

Twas in the balmy 80's and a great day for a ride.

These guys just cracked me up.

Hanging out.

What can I say - cows love me and this one

was soooo pretty in the swamp.

A sunset photo on the lake.

And where were the birds because that would've been cool.

They're headed to their roost for the evening.

This was a very popular swamp chockful of birds.

Until I took the picture LOL.

Sand Hill Crane taking off.

A anahinga snatched up his dinner.

Fun day!!!

The animals came out to play eventually.

They were tough to find.

Drive by scenes on our way to Matagorda Bay

Couple more birds posing for me.

 My gorgeous shrimp boats.

Big boat caught from our ferry ride from Point Bolivar to Galveston Tx.

Beautiful weather, day. Happily camped in Matagorda Bay.

Birds of a feather came to camp

We celebrated Easter a bit different this year.

Instead of a formal dinner with ham and sides we took the RV

over to Nokomis intercoastal and "camped."

We had cowboy coffee, wine, chips and dips and

shrimp on the barbee.......with some delish sides.

And some feathered friends flocked in for a visit.

 My BIL & SIL also brought their bird book and binoculars.

I had my Tamron 18-275 lens in case you care.

The bird book sort of helped as you will see - though it

wasn't above having a great debate.

Which was fun.

The color of bills, feet, crowns and eyes are very important

in the determination of the bird.

A great blue heron - not quite seeing the blue though.

 The hawks had some drama going on which was

interesting to watch.

Male and female protecting the nest from an evil seagull.

 Crisis averted. 

Nest was secured.

(above waaaay in the back were some pelicans circling).

 This plucky little bird is a yellow crowned night heron.

 Not quite seeing the yellow.

And does not the photo below look fake??

I can totally assure its not and I'm doing a happy dance

with this shot.

And last but not least a great egret.

Couple of greats going on - and I have to admit it was great

that they came so close as I never

moved from my chair to get this shoots.

I know.

This guy was on the hunt - and he was totally focused.

 Very very focused.....

and then

ker-splash

Did he get the fish or not????

Not.

But a fun shot all the same.

We took the camper out for a ride

And it took us to Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area

which is a wonderful place for not only

a day trip but a few hours only trip

where we spent most of the afternoon loafing.

It started out as a lovely sunny day, however, as we neared

the park - the sky turned dark and dramatic.

(for those of you newbies - it means cloudy).

And it happens to me a lot - especially when traveling.

I'm sort of getting used to it.

While we lounged and enjoyed the view, finally some wildlife

came appeared within my viewfinder.

Some had to be track down - others just popped on in.

Others left their imprints.

Loved the wildflowers and weeds growing everywhere.

Black eyed Susies - 

my second favorite next to Daisies.

 That is a panther track - that we just happened to park near.

And verified it on the internet.

Isn't google wonderful.

 Thistles were amazing in attracting various critters.

A thistle happened to be close to my chair so I didn't have to

make a bunch of sudden movements and

honestly, the critters let me get quite near.

Yes I did have my 18-135 on - but I still needed to get

up close and personal to get closer that from

where I was sitting.

 The butterflies spent hours on that thistle.

I have 09879879709708970 photos and only 5 worthy.

 Black-eyed Susies.

Again.

 Back to the thistle.

 Beautiful coloring.

 And this adorable periwinkle flower.

Love the name periwinkle.

 And this badboy must have scared the snot out

of someone because he was beside

the road with his throat cut and rattler taken.

Ladies and gents.......

the Eastern Diamond backed Rattlesnake.

Dead.

Which is a shame because it is his habitat afterall.

 And as the sun came out the birds (or bird)

came out to sun.

And hmmm I managed to post every photo with dramatic skies.

I'm very skilled that way.

Long Key State Park Camping

Trees close to the campsite were attractive to birds and me alike.

 Evidently there were lots of goodies there for them to eat.

I decided that it was all theirs.

 I love how the lighting changed during the day.

These guys were total posers.

Cruising through the waters hunting for unsuspecting fish.

Or bugs.

 And the little tree I couldn't help but take 93841349871049810 pictures of.

 Because it was cool.

And of course the prerequisite sunset photo.

That turned out lovely.

 And more birds. Birds are cool. And freaky.

As we were breaking camp a photographer plodded through

the water with his tripod and camera

right up to the little tree I was so fascinated with

planted his tripod in the water in front of said little tree,

and commenced to taking pictures.

And he was there when we completed the dumping procedure

and showers,

still photographing the little tree.

Proving to my DH that I have an eye for these things.

like totally.

Bahia Honda State Park

Seemed to be the park of the birds. I know this is a woodpecker - that was in the Butterfly garden. He was sharing a bath with a mourning dove in these rocks.

Intricate spider webs also adorned the Butterfly garden with spiders just hanging around.

And the beautiful cardinal - followed us when we moved camps. I'm going with that. He came by and sang to us late in the evening.

Also a beautiful sunset by the old tressel bridge.

I have to look in my birdbook which is MIA on what type of bird this fellow is. He was quite bold and inquisitive landing in our campsite.

An onlooker from the trees - not quite so bold but lovely all the same.

And this guy was guarding the entrance of the Butterfly garden.

And this little dude was the greeter at the entrance and/or exit at the other end of the Butterfly gardens.

What you will not see is any Butterflies in the Butterfly Garden. Obviously

they didn't get the memo that that's where they're supposed to hang.

Its another lovely state park surrounded by water and beautiful sandy beaches. It's 

a lovely place to bike around and the campsites are nicely sized and somewhat private.