Welcome Back to the Slough

 I missed visiting Six-Mile Cypress Slough last year.  It's one of my favorite natural places.  Follow along on my first walk of this season.  

 

 

Sometimes I wish this sign were portable so that I could take it with me wherever I go.   Not always -- but sometimes.

 

 

It's the end of the rainy season here and there was still water in the slough.  And beautiful greens as a result.    

 

 

Dozens of songbirds flitted around on one branch of the trail -- they were loving the berries or seed pods on these trees  in particular.   I sat on a bench for a while and watched the feeding frenzy.  Most of my pictures are of places where the birds used to be. But there's a glimpse or two of a downy woodpecker.   

 

 

I don't know what this little one is, but it did stop long enough to show a  face.    (The photo is highly cropped -- I really wasn't close at all.)  Addendum:  My knowledgeable blog friend Sondra (her blog is here) identified my bird:  It is a female Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.  Thank you Sondra. 

 

 

Cypress trees love the water -- they literally grow in it.   Hard to tell which are the trees and which are the reflections.

 

 

Creatures of the slough.  (Cypress knees.)

 

 

Six-Mile is a good place to sky watch --  looking down or up.

 

 

 

Grateful for beautiful walks....   

 

and for the magic of the rainy season.

 

LINKING this week to these sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS;

 

 

 

Comments

[David Gascoigne]

As a birder, this is what I would think of as classic Florida habitat, dark, foreboding, insect-infested, yet at the same time holding wonderful appeal with so many species making their home there. Great post, Sallie.

[handmade by amalia]

This beauty heals the soul. How nice to be out in nature.
Amalia
xo

[John's Island]

Happy New Year Sallie!

[Michelle]

What a lovely green place to visit

[Rain Frances]

What a beautiful place to visit, I giggled at your comment about bringing that sign everywhere you go!! Merry Christmas Sallie!!! ☺♥🎄

[riitta k]

Such wonderful place and photos. Now on Christmas day we have frost of -17C and a beautiful white snow blanket in Finland. Merry Christmas Sallie.

[Peter B.]

What a beautiful place. Nice that they designate it a "quiet zone". Happy Holidays!!

[Gaelyn]

I'd like that sign made into a hat. Love the cypress reflections. Lovely place to walk.

[a spirit of simplicity]

This looks like a pretty place for walking.

[Suzan Batz]

So lovely and so different from my corner of the world in Sacramento, CA.
We are finally getting rain and hopefully will be an end to the drought.
Love the gnatcatcher photo.
Sue

[soma @ InkTorrents.com]

So beautiful and peaceful. I am glad that it is a quiet zone. The lily pad photos made me think of Monet's paintings. Happy Holidays, Sallie!

-Soma

[Sharon Wagner]

I miss my Florida walks already. Yes, definitely wish I lived there. Happy holidays and safe New Year to you!

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Silence is golden.

[Debbie]

nature is so beautifully represented here, the rain has been good to it!! song birds are difficult to photograph, especially if you are out in the open and they see you!!

awwww a "quiet zone", i could use that sign as well!!

[somewhereinireland]

The place is beautiful and great for walking among nature.

[Beatrice]

Sallie, that is indeed a wonderful sign and thanks for showing it and taking us all along on your walk. Thanks too for the comments on our Christmas decorations. They always bring me joy at this time of the year, when it is sorely needed, especially these days. Sending best wishes to you and your family for a very Merry Christmas and the best that 2022 can bring.

[Lisa]

Everything looks lovely and fresh after the rain. Love that sign!

[Fun60]

Wonderful sign. How could you not enter a place with a sign like that. It looks so beautiful and green.

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...the world needs more quiet zones!

[Lillian]

What an amazing place, thank ypu for showing me around.

[Little Wandering Wren]

Yes at this time of year, I find we all need that sign! I have enjoyed my wander with you. I can almost hear those songbirds!
Wren x

[Amy Franks]

I really like that quiet sign, it almost seems in today's world that the only quiet time we get is when we sleep, if then.

[Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie]

A lovely and peaceful walk, dear Sallie! The sign is perfect, I want to put in over my front door :) The cypress trees are amazing. I love the little bird with the white eyeliner. Wishing you a lovely Christmas and new year ahead. xx K

[Linda W.]

It looks like a delightful place!

[William Kendall]

A pretty and peaceful place.

[Alan]

This looks like my kind of place. Trails and warm weather and things to take photos of. That bird has quite the name. I don't think I ever heard of such a thing.

[Little Wandering Wren]

Hello and Happy Wanderings to you Sallie over this festive season. It has been lovely joining you today and especially seeing the birds and imagining the bird song!

[Jenn Jilks]

Those trees are so interesting!
I like the sign. I hear you!

[Heidrun]

Merry Christmas - I hope your days are blessed.

[Gillena Cox]

Amazing pics Sallie. It should be the of the Rainy Season here also but the rains linger still

Happy Mosiac Monday

Much💜love

[Veronica Lee]

As always, I enjoyed the lovely captures of your nature walk.

Happy Monday, Sallie.

[Sondra]

Hi Sallie, I agree the sign is perfect!! Your bird is the female Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, the little eye rings, and the white outer tail feathers dead give away...they migrate south so I bet some stay right in FL. Got any big holiday plans?
Not me, I haven't been to a party in so long I lost track...I think it was my Aunt Jean's 70th birthday party.
Enjoy your week.

[Lavender Dreams]

I love seeing all the Cypress knees and how they look in the swamp. We DO have a lot of water still even though it hasn't seemed like we've had very much rain. Love this walk. Wish I was there to go with you! Holiday hugs!

[Penelope Notes]

Neat reflections, Sallie. Water is a beveled rippling impossible circus mirror that sustains life and creates magic that is for sure, although we don’t want more of it than we can handle.

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
Lovely captures of your nature walk, beautiful greenery and wonderful birds. They are enjoying nature's bounty, a good year for the berries. It looks like your little bird could be the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Take care, have a great day and week ahead!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[Angie]

Sallie - I laughed out loud at your comment about "pictures where birds used to be"! Glad I am not the only one with that challenge! The photos of the cypress trees are stunning! Merry Christmas to you! And thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

[Ellen Bayles]

Oh I love that sign. I'm glad you were able to enjoy this beautiful walk again! Merry Christmas week to you!

[Diane]

The rain sure makes the landscape beautiful and green. It looks a lovely place to walk.
I have just scrolled down and read your posts of your trip home. It was very interesting and yes Colorado is a beautiful state. I admire you for travelling so far.
Sorry I haven't visited for some time been busy writing my memoirs and scanning photos.

[Carol]

Wonderful place and I love your soothing green photos