The Florida winter weather we know and love is back and we had a great day for a walk at Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.
I'm not sure how it's possible that it took almost two months before we found time for our first visit of the season.
I'm grateful to those who preserved this area for all to use. It's perfect for a close-to-home walk -- just a short visit, but part of one of life's great adventures.
The turtles seemed in awe of the Great Blue Heron, who is King of the Raft. The Cormorant must be the court jester.
The Downy Woodpecker was just one of several flitting though the brush. Lots of small perching birds too. Too flitty for my camera skills, but fun to see and identify.
White Ibis posing as a tree-top ornament. Ibis are very common around here, even in developed areas. But they look so much better in natural surroundings.
Another Great Blue, making a huge racket. There were quite a few people on the Boardwalk, but it was really nice because on this day everyone seemed happy to quietly enjoy nature. You could hear birds singing (and squalling) and very little human noise.
Something to see everywhere. We looked up, we looked out, and didn't forget to look down.... When we did we saw this baby Cottonmouth enjoying the sunshine. And getting ready to shed his first skin. (We were safe on the Boardwalk above it, but in any case he was paying no attention.)
Six-Mile is one of our most familiar walks, but there is always something different. This time, it was evident that our weather has been rainier than usual. Parts of the preserve that are usually dry or almost dry during the winter were more like lakes on this day. This must be more like the way the Slough looks during the summer, which is Florida's wet season.
Linking this week to the following sharing opportunities. Thank you to the generous hosts.
NATURE NOTES; ALL SEASONS; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; SAY CHEESE ; WILD BIRD Wednesday; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; FRIDAY BLISS; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING
I especially love he heron, cormorant, turtles and your comments. What a scene! We hit a record high February in the 70s and now it is winter once more.
Posted by: [email protected] LOOSELEAFNOTES | February 10, 2019 at 06:50 AM
looks like a lovely place to walk. I really like the photo with the heron, cormorant and turtles
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | February 10, 2019 at 05:12 AM
I can see why you enjoy walking there, Sallie. It looks like the kind of place I could wander through and then start back all over again.
Posted by: David Gascoigne | February 10, 2019 at 04:17 AM
Thanks for sharing with us at I'd Rather B Birdin this week and for the birthday wishes Sallie!
Posted by: Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin' | February 10, 2019 at 02:21 AM
Looks like a great place to explore - and it reminds me that I have not seen a single snake this summer - which is a bit unusual.
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Posted by: Stewart M | February 09, 2019 at 04:25 PM
Hello, Sallie! What a great critter post. I love all the birds and the turtles. The preserve is nice, Florida has great parks. Thank you so much for linking up your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend.
Posted by: Eileen Wise | February 09, 2019 at 02:50 AM
It is great to see the birds in their natural surroundings - that is left as it is, not tidied too much by man.
Posted by: riitta k | February 08, 2019 at 08:02 PM
A fun place for an adventure
Posted by: KB | February 08, 2019 at 06:02 PM
Goodness, what a great place to find lots of pretty critters! Thanks for linking up at My Corner of the World!
Posted by: betty - NZ | February 08, 2019 at 12:50 AM
Looks like a great place! I'm not crazy about snakes though.
Posted by: Linda in Virginia | February 07, 2019 at 10:05 PM
Great photos from your walks. Always good to enjoy the beautiful nature around you.
Posted by: Nancy Chan | February 07, 2019 at 07:34 PM
What a wonderful spot to have close to home. I think I would be visiting this area on a regular basis. Cool cottonmouth!
Posted by: Peter B. | February 07, 2019 at 06:44 PM
I so enjoyed seeing this walk about again, Sallie. From the amazing water fowl -to the quotes - wow - a balm to my winter weary soul. Thanks
Posted by: Penny | February 07, 2019 at 06:01 PM
It's so hard to capture the beauty of the swamps in photos. I keep taking them but the dark water and cypress knees don't always show up as I see them. You've seen some amazing birds...oh and a snake. I'll show it to my hubby. He's always on the lookout for those. We have a LOT of water in the swamps here even though it doesn't seem like it's rained that much. The weather is gorgeous this week! ENJOY!!!
Posted by: Lavender Dreamer | February 07, 2019 at 05:03 PM
Great scenery.
Posted by: Jim, Sydney, Australia | February 07, 2019 at 04:10 PM
Happy New Year! I missed coming over to see your posts every week. Hope 2019 is treating you fine.
Posted by: Photo Cache | February 07, 2019 at 01:37 PM
Looks like a great place to be out for a walk!
Have a wonderful day!
Posted by: lea | February 07, 2019 at 05:53 AM
Lots of interesting wildlife to see. It looks nice with all the water.
Posted by: diane | February 07, 2019 at 12:16 AM
What a wonderful nature preserve in which to walk and enjoy all the sights, Sallie! Glad that snake was under the boardwalk you were walking on, and not on it!
Posted by: Pat | February 06, 2019 at 04:06 PM
That is one of the kind of place that makes Florida special. I envy you this wonderful walk, Sallie!
Posted by: RedPat | February 06, 2019 at 01:38 PM
Beautiful shots Sallie, except for the cottonmouth though because they are so dangerous. I can't even stand to look at a photo!
Posted by: Lois | February 06, 2019 at 12:21 PM
I agree..heaven and warm and green...Michelle
Posted by: Michelle Banks | February 06, 2019 at 11:30 AM
I love the idea of the cormorant and great blue heron hanging out and one being the funny sidekick, that picture attests to it. Oh yes, just another cotton mouth at my feet la di da la di da. I practically light a candle when I see a timber rattler and it's been awhile. That other picture of the great blue looks like it's yacking it up too. Everyone and everything seems so happy there. Meanwhile, three people froze solid in Milwaukee. Wa wahh.
Posted by: Jeanna | February 06, 2019 at 11:19 AM
love the cypress forest and the little snake curling up. There is much fine nature in Florida :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep PhotoArt | February 06, 2019 at 09:50 AM
i'm happy for you that the weather has become favorable. we have visited florida during this time of year and we have experienced both warm and cold temperatures. we spent a christmas in florida and we absolutely froze!!
the matre quote is a good one, nature is such a big part of my life. great captures, i have never seen an ibis with that coloring!!!
Posted by: Debbie | February 05, 2019 at 04:29 PM
What a wonderful place to visit and lots to see and photograph
Posted by: Margaret Birding For Pleasure | February 05, 2019 at 09:24 AM
Oh, that top picture and reflections shows the magic of water and the snake is a beauty coiled up and enjoying the sun. Nice catch, Sallie.
Posted by: Penelope Puddlisms | February 05, 2019 at 08:00 AM
You have strange animals around you ! I only see cats and dogs and cows and sheep, but no turtle or snakes ! For that I have to go to a zoo !
Posted by: Gattina | February 05, 2019 at 02:23 AM
If Six-Mile really is six miles long then it must be a simply brilliant place to linger. The picture of the heron and the turtles is very amusing, like you say, there seems to be to it than appears to be the case. I imagine that a heron is a predator of baby turtles, so too the cormorant. I like the idea of the wise words dotted around the walk; a good idea to remind us all that nature is indeed wonderful. Yes, even poisonous snakes.
Posted by: Phil Slade | February 05, 2019 at 12:17 AM
I can see why you'd want to return for this walk over again. Wonderful scenery. Glad you returned and shared. Hope your week is going well.
Posted by: ellen b. | February 04, 2019 at 09:27 PM
Hi, Sallie, I was wondering what kind of sounds were going on, and then you told me. The Great Blue does look like it has great lungs. A cool capture of him. I also like your photo of the birds and turtles. They seem to be gossiping, maybe about that guy swimming by. The see-through green border on your woodpecker photo is nice. I feel like I'm looking through the camera eye. :-)
Posted by: Su-sieee! Mac | February 04, 2019 at 08:22 PM
Sallie - I enjoyed your reference to the Heron as the King of the Raft, the cormorant as court jester and the turtles as subjects - clever! I do wonder why that Ibis chose such a precarious roost?? I hope you continue to enjoy February in Florida!
Posted by: Angie | February 04, 2019 at 07:25 PM
...beautiful spot, I don't like snakes!
Posted by: tomthebackroadstraveller | February 04, 2019 at 06:40 PM
What a beautiful place. But stay away from that snake!
Posted by: Al | February 04, 2019 at 05:32 PM
Everything is gorgeous: birds & scenery...except for that lousy snake. I HATE snakes!!
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | February 04, 2019 at 04:44 PM
Your shot of the heron and his court is my favourite!
Posted by: William Kendall | February 04, 2019 at 01:51 PM
This looks like close to heaven and an awesome walk, Sallie. Yeah I probably would have chosen the black cormorant too as a court jester! Wow, the snake looks big for being a baby!
Many thanks for sharing your experience with All Seasons walking the Six mile!
Posted by: Junieper/Jesh StG | February 04, 2019 at 01:30 PM
That’s a wonderful pic of the snake although they are always a surprise. My theory is that we don’t see most of them and they get out of the way. I do my woodsy geocaching in the winter to avoid such surprises but I am still careful.
And what a great place to go with your camera and just take it all in. Great post.
Posted by: Alan Bates | February 04, 2019 at 01:15 PM
I love your comment about the turtles, the Blue Heron and Cormorant, I laughed after reading that. :) Nice photos as usual, Sallie. Have a wonderful day and new week!
Posted by: bill burke | February 04, 2019 at 12:29 PM
You really did a wonderful job capturing the beauty of the preserve. Wonderful!
Posted by: Carol | February 04, 2019 at 12:07 PM
Great collection of photos but my favourite is the one with the heron and cormorant who look as though they are posing just for you.
Posted by: fun60 | February 04, 2019 at 12:01 PM
Great birds! I love most the Great Blue Heron!
Best
Calendula
Posted by: Calendula | February 04, 2019 at 11:49 AM
You are so fortunate to have this preserve so close to home for a quick, or not, nature fix. Especially nice if others can listen to nature instead of themselves.
Posted by: Gaelyn | February 04, 2019 at 09:54 AM
wow! what a wonderful nature adventure and wonderful photos!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Posted by: A ShutterBug Explores | February 04, 2019 at 07:22 AM
Hello, Sallie
The preserve looks very nice. I have not visited this place, the wildlife sightings look great. I love the turtle, heron photo. The baby Cottonmouth is a cool sighting. Great quote and photos. Happy Monday, enjoy your day and have a great new week ahead.
Posted by: Eileen Wise | February 04, 2019 at 02:51 AM
It looks like a beautiful place to walk and see so much beauty. I think the boardwalk is especially good because it keeps you far enough from the nasties like snakes but you can watch and enjoy from a safe distance.
Posted by: mick | February 03, 2019 at 11:36 PM
What a lovely reserve - so much to see and enjoy.
Posted by: Lady Fi | February 03, 2019 at 08:47 PM
Amazing place - and the birds and critters are fabulous - though I'd keep my distance from any snakes,just in case. Love the Ibis - I've never seen one out in nature, beautiful. Have a grand week ahead - we have some snow up here in the Pacific Northwest - brr rr rrr r
Posted by: JoAnn M Bayne | February 03, 2019 at 07:02 PM
I agree with that quote - so true
Posted by: Amy Franks | February 03, 2019 at 05:32 PM
What a lovely nature preserve. Have a great week.
Posted by: Kelly Anne Rothaermel | February 03, 2019 at 04:07 PM