CYPRESS DOME TRAIL

 

 

 

Real  moon and fake stars (fairy lights) from our screen porch

(Last Sunday)

It was cooler last week with some rainy days, but no more bad storms.   There are home improvement projects going on here so the rain is OK and so is the cooler (for here) weather.

But we chose a sunny day on Friday for a short hike  on the Cypress Dome Trail, part of the CREW Watershed.   It's a few miles from home, well out of my comfort zone for driving through city traffic, so I was happy that Bill (who is  the one actually doing the home-improving)  was willing to take the time.

 

 

The particular trail we walked was part of the CREW Caracara Preserve.    It was an interesting area --   a mixture of palms, palmettos, and hardwoods surrounding prairie-type lands.  

 

 

 

It was a perfect day for being outside. We saw a couple of woodpeckers and  spent a few minutes watching a murder of crows chasing a couple of much larger hawks, but no Caracaras.    So no good sightings of the bird the preserve is named for,  but also no sightings of the Florida Panthers or bears for which this is also a habitat.          

 

 

 

We did see panther tracks though!!  You could see where the big cat had been bounding along the trail we were on.   I would really love to see a panther in the wild, but would just as soon be in a car or shelter of some kind when I do.   

 

 

CREW stands for Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed  and the CREW Land and Water Trust is a private non-profit conservation organization dedicated to preserving wildlife as well as the watershed.   The organization maintains public trails and some camp spots in several different areas in Collier County.   We hope to visit more of them this season.

Although we didn't see Caracaras on this day, we have seen them a few times in other places in Florida.  Here is one of my archived photos:

 

The Crested Caracara is Mexico's national bird.  (Some people call it the Mexican Eagle.)  It is a raptor with a face that looks like a parrot.  In the USA it is seen only near the Mexican border and in Florida. 

 

Grateful for the work of CREW and happy that they open the trails to the public.    

 

Linking this week the following 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

[Michelle Banks]

I could live without seeing panthers or bears up close....

[Michelle Keltner]

I wouldn't want to meet up with a bear or panther. My dad lives in the FL panhandle and sees bears at work on a regular basis. That's a no for me! lol The Caracara is a beautiful bird that I am not familiar with. Thanks for linking up.

[My Corner of the World]

Great shots of your trip, Sallie. I love your 'fake stars'! I, too, would like to see a panther in the wild, but not up real close!

Thanks for sharing your link at My Corner of the World this week!

[Diane]

That sounds a great place to visit for a walk. Although I'd be a bit hesitant of meeting a bear or panther. I learnt something today. I didn't know Florida hads bears or panthers.

[Shiju Sugunan]

The Crested Caracara certainly deserves to be the national bird. I liked the photos in this post.

[Lisa]

Such a great shot of the moon and what a lovely place to hike. Seeing panther tracks must have felt exciting! Now to find the animal...

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Fantastic moon shot and love effect of the fairy lights from your porch ~ Xo

Wishing you lots of love in your day,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[mae]

I love caracaras! There's a wonderful book about them which I reviewd here:
https://maefood.blogspot.com/2021/06/a-most-remarkable-creature.html

Enjoy your wonderful weather!

best... mae

[riitta k]

Caracaras looks fascinating and I love your moon picture!

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie,:=) It's good to get out once in a while, and you went to such an interesting place. Those signs are pretty scary though, I wouldn't want to go on foot, even if the said panthers come out at night, but I would love to see the Caracara. Thanks for sharing such an unusual looking bird. I also love your first image of the moon and the fairy lights, they do look like stars in the sky.

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
I wish I was in Florida now, warmer weather and a walk in a nature preserve would make me happy. Neat capture of the hawk on the tree top. The Caracara is a beautiful bird. I wouldn't mind seeing a panther from the car. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend.

[Rain Frances]

I wouldn't want to run into a panther! Neat to see the track though! What a lovely area. I love that moon photo! :)

[Linda W.]

What an interesting bird! Your approach to panthers is like my approach to bears. I want to see them from the car.

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Great shot.

[Peter B.]

Wow, panther tracks!! Both exciting and scary. I love your moon and fairy lights. That one large bird looks like an owl.

[Calendula]

The Caracara... What a stunning bird!

[Gaelyn]

Lovely place. Thank you Bill for driving. I saw a Caracara once in south Texas. Only seen a panther/cougar/mtlion once in the wild as it ran across a snowy road in front of me in Washington state. More likely they see you, than you see them. And probably for the best.

[Dixie]

Lovely photos. I’ve never seen a Caracara. What an unusual bird.
A panther you say. Oh my. Definitely would want to be in the car for such a sighting.
They are magnificent.

[DeniseinVA]

Fairy lights and the moon, perfect combination for a photo! This must have been a great walk. We were talking about taking a trip to Florida about this time next year. I always love these wonderful nature reserves and all those birds down there. I have never seen a panther, not so much as a track. Not disappointed, they are beautiful animals though and may they be around for a very long time. Caracaras are fascinating birds to look at. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw one. That was down in Florida many years ago. Enjoyed your photos, thanks Sallie!

[Debbie]

oooooh i love fairy lights, i could sit by the light of the moon and the fairy lights all night long!! interesting, a good word to describe the landscape!! i have never seen a caracara, your archived picture is a good one!!

Yikes on the sign, that might put a little fear in ya!!!

[Veronica Lee]

I've never heard of a caracara bird.

It does look like a cross between a parrot and an eagle!

Love your fairy lights.

[Taken For Grnte]

Thank you for your photos of this park, and your past photo of the Caracara. It is a great looking bird.

[Carol]

I've never seen a Caracara before but he's gorgeous - hope you're not freezing in the cold weather.

[somewhereinireland]

A wonderful place to walk and enjoy nature but I don't know if I would want to bump in to a panther. :) That would be scary. Enjoy your week, Sallie.

[Catherine Sokolowski]

I am checking to see how far this is from my home in Florida. I would love to run into that beautiful bird but will cross my fingers that I don't run into a panther!

[Linda P]

What a thrill it would be to go on a hike where you can spot unusual birds such as a crested caracara. I'm thinking that the reserve must cover a large area if big cats roam around in it. Thank you for showing the kind of vegetation as it gives an idea of the Reserve where you walked. Seeing a panther in the wild from the safety of a vehicle would also be exciting. All the best for future hiking experiences in the coming days.

[Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie]

Sorry you didn't get to see the Caracara or panther. It is quite a striking-looking bird! We have panthers here - we call them mountain lions. Not something you want to encounter. They are beautiful, though. But not when they are hungry...

[Lorrie Orr]

I've never heard of a caracara bird, and I'm glad you showed a photo of one. Looks like a cross between a parrot and an eagle! I'd rather see panthers from a car, too!

[William Kendall]

A good spot for a walkabout.

[ellen b.]

Love that shot of the hawk and the moon. Happy home improvements to you. Hope all goes well. Nice to take a break for a nice hike!

[Pat]

What a wonderful nature reserve, Sallie! I like the thought of panthers still flourishing somewhere. Like you I'd want to be in a car or some sort of protection to see one. The warning sign has the same instructions we see her in Colorado for Mountain Lions. I hope not to run into one of them either when on a trail, but we do carry either bear spray or a small penknife in our hand--just in case. The exotic eagle is beautiful!

[Fun60]

I had not heard of this bird before so thank you for the photo. Once seen never forgotten with that beak which looks out of place. I'm not sure I would want to come across a wild panther though unless I was in a car.

[Alan]

Cool, that looks like an interesting place to hike and observe nature.

[Angie]

Sallie - the Caracara is a new bird for me - spectacular! I have seen a mountain lion once in the wild, and it was from a car! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

[Lavender Dreams]

Oh what a gorgeous bird! WOW! I've never seen one of those. We see bobcat tracks pretty often...bear tracks too! I LOVE your fairy lights. I always wish I could string some up somewhere! Maybe inside! Enjoy your week, Diane

[Heidrun]

Most wonderful, being outside. Full moon is always a hit in the night.

Never seen or read before of the Crested Caracara. He looks fantastisc, what an adventure to see this bird alive. Thank you for sharing.

Happy MosaicMonday

[Sondra]

Hi Sallie, I hope you get to see a big cat...I've only seen one in the wilds and it was right here in my own county not 3 miles from home...I only got a brief glimpse as it jumped from a roadside dumpster to the road and bounded across in one giant leap. I saw the long ropey tail and knew in an instant what it was. That was way back in 1979!!

[Penelope Notes]

What a fantastic bird … it looks like a nice mix of so many other bird species. The moon seems so close to home, as if we could easily hop on a spaceship and visit. :)

[Eileen]

Hello, Sallie

I love your moon and fairy lights photo. Nice report on your walk, the preserve looks pretty. I have seen the Caracara in Florida, they are cool looking birds. Take care, enjoy your new week!

[Amy Franks]

The idea of running into panthers in the outdoors sounds scary. I think I'd be with you in my car.