First Communion

This is the top spire of a monument at the De Soto National Memorial that is dedicated to the first communion celebrated by De Soto and his approximately 700 men in May of 1539. It is likely the first communion service in what is now the United States. There were 17 priests among the solders and adventurers and they played an important role during the 4 year four thousand mile march through the southeast from Florida to Virginia to Tennessee and on to Texas. You can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernando_de_Soto

"On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper" Acts 20:7a NLT

Food Fight

These Egrets were all getting along fine until one landed nearby and that set off our "leaper" into a bit of a tiff. Fun to watch for a few minutes as the sun was setting. Finally the interloper left and everyone settled back to their routine. 

Sad Past

These are slave quarters at the Kingsley Plantation part of the Timucuan Preserve. There are about 80 of these tabby 2 room houses in a large semicircle at what would have been the edge of the fields. A sobering reminder of a difficult time. This plantation was unique in that the owner married one of his slaves and she was the mistress of the plantation for years until changing political climate hastened a move of his wife and children to Haiti for them to remain free. He remained on the plantation but would visit them in Haiti. 

Your neighbors through the "window" in B&W.

Gumbo Limbo Tree

I never heard of this tree, native to south Florida. There were several growing on the grounds of the DeSoto National Memorial. This was the king. Very interesting trees. Turns out they are the preferred wood for traditional carousal horses. Who knew? This one is ill and a sign was posted that said "Tree in Crisis, do not touch." Never saw that on any sign either. Two new things and barely into the park. Visit the 416 National Park Sites and learn new stuff. What a deal.

Groundbreaking News

Yes, this is the first guest photo on the site. (Except for the very old ones I post occasionally!) The Media have been notified. The otters crossing the road was taken by Rusty "Lightning Reflexes" Harman, who also courageously pioneered Walmart stays for our group, on a walk we took on the North Trail at Lake Apopka. Why didn't I take one, you ask? Well, because I am slow. I had my camera mounted on the tripod carried over my shoulder and by the time I got it to the ground let alone focused, they were gone. But so neat I just had to share them with you. We actually saw four total on the walk. I am posting some fishing buddies below just so I keep up my "One every day" effort. THANKS RUSTY. 

Sleek and FAST.

Fishing Buddies

Happy Valentines Day

This photo was taken by me in the Summer of 68. Cindy in my 1963 Karman Ghia and, yes, it had flowers on it! Bell bottoms, the Doors o the 8 track and actual hair too. It was a different time. This was taken near Lancaster PA, I think. We were excited to see new places -traveling is still great fun. This was three years before we were married. Loved her then, love her now. Some things don't change. 

Photo with a Yashica rangefinder camera. My first camera. The electronics failed and I discarded it in the 80's. 

Pre-Columbian @ Timucuan NPS # 158

This large (about a 6 feet tall figure with a large base, not shown) carved wooden owl was found along the central Florida coast in the mire of the marshland. It was preserved because no oxygen would attack it in the thick mud. Carved by the Timucuan indians it was likely some sort of idol because the eyes have a human iris set into them and the feet are five toes instead of three talons. One of the oldest pre-Columbian artifacts yet discovered. The main thing about the owl is that it is striking. Perhaps the neatest part of our visit to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. I cropped the photo quite a lot because the background was so busy and distracting. The owl deserves a better display. 

Cross

This very large cross rises over the mangrove marsh of the DeSoto National Monument near Bradenton, Florida. The cross was erected by the Catholic Church to commemorate the arrive of 15 priest and friars to the new world. I imagine this small portion of the trail is on private property but it is very much a part of the Monument. 

"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12:32 NLT

The Stare

I am going to resist the urge to say this bird watched me like a hawk. Just too much. A Red-Shouldered Hawk in a low tree watching the marsh for any movement. This is in a section on the north end of Lake Apopka. It was a wonderful walk and I will share more of the things we saw, some with no wings, later. So we end Bird Week II with the Buteo Lineatus Which I am sure is Latin for "I see you."

I believe...

...that this is a flycatcher. Shape, bill, habitat, flight pattern but I could never see which one. You can only really tell them apart by their songs and this one was not singing. It also does not have any wing bars which would suggest that I am just completely wrong anyway. But it is cute. 

Catch

This is a Tricolored Heron we saw while we were watching Manatee near Tampa. The bird missed several times but when it captured this small fish the heron walked around with it in the beak for a while, maybe showing off his skills? For much of the time he was directly under us. Here he had moved a few feet away. 

Sandhill Crane

These birds are not well loved by Floridians, or at least the Florida folks I know. They tear up lawns, eat fish out of ponds, wake you up with raucous noise and generally have multiple disgusting habits. But I don't live in Florida, they are both exotic and striking to me and I love to see them on the wild edges not so much on the suburban lawns. They stand over 4 feet tall and are a bit gangly on land but are majestic flyers. This one - dressed for winter in grey and red, was stalking prey along a reedy lake.

Maybe....

This is just about the opposite of yesterday's bird. There are 54 types of warblers (two pelicans) in the USA. A warbler is usually less than 2 oz, and a few inches of wingspan. Our Brown Pelican is over 8 pounds and has an 80 inch wingspan. But these are really beautiful birds with fabulous songs -and they don't smell like fish. I just am not very good at identification and especially not in the winter colors. I think this is a Myrtle or Yellow-Rump Warbler, I just hope it is something more exotic. Anyone know? Actually it is the Yellow-Rump. So wanted it to be a more rare Florida bird. Best photo I ever had of one at least. 

The Majestic Pelican, Brown Variety

This bird just plunged into the water about 20 feet from us. We were walking a trail at the DeSoto National Monument. (More on that next week in the parks blog.) The first year Brown Pelican is brown (clever, right), like our subject, but as they mature they get a white head and neck and lighter back. During breeding stage the back of the neck is dark brown and the white tinges with yellow. This fellow was learning to fish as the two adults were much more adapt at catching fish. 

Its Here!

You have been waiting, hoping and writing hundreds of emails (just not to me) but your wait has ended, welcome to Bird Week II. It is back and millions will have something to do post Super Bowl. This time it is an all Florida lineup. We start with a new bird for me, number 342, the Common Moorhen. That is the bird in the background with the bright red "helmet" beak with a yellow tip. This bird is just entering breeding plumage. You can also see the white slash across the flank and the white band near the tail. The smaller bird in the front is a Pied-Bill Grebe. Clearly we are off to an exciting start. But don't start sending emails like the last Bird Week, we will not send out previews. 

Couple of Cuties

We went to TECO Manatee Viewing Center, the power plant near Tampa where the warm water attracts lots of Manatee Watchers. Scores of them. There were also some Manatees, fewer I suspect than the Watchers but there were a lot. They just loll around in the 83 degree water and occasionally surface to snort at the Watchers gathered on the pier or the upper deck or the gift shop or the refreshment stand. Lots of Watchers. 

One More

Another performer at Disney Springs. She was part of a quartet. And they were quite good. I counted six groups in our walk around the whole place. 

Plantation

Just out of the city of Jacksonville is this very early plantation, founded in late seventeenth century and continued for generations. Kingsley Plantation house dates from 1814. The slave quarters were built of tabby and arranged in a very large semi-circle. 

Toot

We were walking in the historic district of Fernandina on Amelia Island and heard a train horn and I saw this locomotive inching through town. There is a pulp mill and this engine moves the train cars back and forth from the mill to mainline tracks. Kinda neat.

Street Performer

Actually not really a "street" performer but at one of the spaces at Disney Springs. He was near the ice cream shop, so of course, we were near by and listened a bit, pretty good.