Friday, May 15, 2015
GATORS ON PEPPER CREEK
On April 4, a new pair of gators showed up on Pepper Creek at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. They were very active making their way all around Osprey Island, and in the following weeks, from one end of the creek to the other. This video captures a bit of the experience of that first day's sightings as I piloted guests up and down the creek.
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, Boat ride, Florida, Florida Wildlife, gators, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Pepper Creek, wildlife
Sunday, February 15, 2015
FEBRUARY 2 ON PEPPER CREEK
Two weeks ago, 2 Feb, out on Pepper Creek, I saw the first bloom of the season.
After that, I pointed it out to my riders on the return trips, and last week, as I did so, one of them turned to look at me as I spoke and said, "There's another one behind you!"
Sure enough!
And as we moved slowly through the passing point in the creek known to drivers as APM, we saw several new blooms.
We also saw a noticeable increase in the number of birds on the creek last week.
This is an exciting time of the year on Pepper Creek. In my limited time piloting boatloads of park guests up and down the creek, a little over a year now, I have seen that this is the time of year with the most to see on the creek, and for the next few months. At least as far as animals and blooms are concerned.
I mentioned this before: due to a weather front moving in, my duties were ended early last Monday, and I was ordered to come back with an empty boat, and was the only boat left on the creek, so I took the opportunity to stop and smell- or at least get photographs of- all the new blooms that I could.
As always, click on any given image to open a larger view. I hope you enjoy them!
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1) The first bloom of the season on the Bottle Brush Tree right next to the block of concrete on the edge of the creek. Over the nest few weeks, the tree will be covered with them.
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2) Boat Pilot Mark passing through the deepest and sunniest section of the creek on the north side of Osprey Island.
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3) A small gator, about 4 feet, resting his head on the log on the north side of Osprey Island as seen in the image above.
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4) A Great Blue Heron along the edge of Pepper Creek.
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5) A pair of wood ducks in the brush on Pepper Creek.
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6) Empty on my return run, I stayed on the west side of Osprey Island and grabbed this shot of an arm of the creek that continues north, showing the more natural condition of the creek in a section that was not dredged to fit the big boats.
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7) Zooming up an un-dredged section of the creek shows a couple of turtles out on a log out of the traffic.
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8) Earlier, on the east side of Osprey Island, a view of the Osprey nest.
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9) One of the Osprey pair sits on a branch beside the 30 year old nest.
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10) Coming into the APM passing point, on the right bank, some blooms have appeared among the trees.
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11) Two of the blooms.
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12) A bloom.
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13) A little farther into the APM passing point, on the right, a second apparition.
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14) A bloom.
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15) Another area showing flowering plants on each side of the brush.
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16) Blooms.
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17) The other side.
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18) A bunch of blooms.
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19) Coming into the turn at the end of the APM Passing point, on the left side, two blooms about ten feet apart showed through.
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20) The Red Bloom.
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21) The Purple Bloom.
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22) Back at the Visitors Center dock, a larger gator has taken his place on the raft.
See also a short video of the two gators from this day.
Labels: Alligator, flowers, gators, great blue heron, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Pepper Creek, Wood Ducks
Sunday, December 07, 2014
6 DECEMBER 2014 ON PEPPER CREEK
At the end of the day, after the boat ride down Pepper Creek at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, grabbed this shot with a Great Blue Heron on the shore behind the bale of turtles on the raft.
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While during the boat ride, I had three special sightings on the creek today...
Labels: Alligator, gators, great blue heron, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Turtles
Monday, September 22, 2014
SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 AT THE WILDLIFE PARK
It was a bit overcast today as I visited the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, but that made for some good lighting for photography.
From the Garden of the Springs, I looked out over the Homosassa River, fed by the 50-60+ million gallons of water the spring pumps out every day.
A newly bonded pair of Wood Ducks also was taking in the view. The Wood Ducks have just returned to the area this last week.
From the bridge across the Homosassa River, I just missed getting this large fish that was leaping into the air.
A pair or tourists gaze in wonder at two of our permanent resident manatees.
A few moments later, I grabbed this shot at the end of the bridge.
A bit further into the park, a few of the new arrivals prepare for the mating ritual.
Park Volunteer Marcie tosses a hunk of hard squash to Lu after the program. He was not very cooperative during the presentation today, but once the people turned their sights to the alligators on the other side, he was all for getting his.
Y'all come back and see us again!
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, animals, Daktari, Florida, Fountain, Hippopotamus, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, HSWLSP, Jud, Wood Duck
Thursday, September 04, 2014
ON PEPPER CREEK
Two new gator vids from Wednesday, 3 September on Pepper Creek at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida.
JR on the Edge: (0:50)
and
Round Trip with Waldo: (2:19)
And a shot I am very happy with, taken as a passenger on this day, of a Great Blue Heron in the creek.
Enjoy, like, share!
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, Florida, great blue heron, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, JR, Jud, Pepper Creek, Waldo
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
INTO THE BOAT BARN
Lightening strikes nearby cut short my runs last Saturday...
Labels: Alligator, Barred Owl, boating, gators, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Pepper Creek
Saturday, June 07, 2014
TODAY
The day started when I stepped out to my car and startled my yard bunny, 2014 edition. He ran off to the other side of the yard. When I pulled over there to load one of my van tires into my car, another story, he stopped in a little cleared section and sat there till I got these two shots, then moved on again.
[As always, left click and "open in new tab" for full size image.]
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I had the 10 am boat and it was just beautiful out on Pepper Creek.
On the first run, a passenger spotted a wild gator just before the west dock. He lives under the dock and had come out for some sun about 20 yards up the creek from the dock.
On a later return trip, we spotted a great blue heron...
...and a white ibis.
After my driving duties were complete, I used the parks air compressor and was very pleased that my very distorted tire readily filled, regained its proper shape and held. I came home and quickly put it back on and jacked up the other side of the van and headed back to fill that one. Alas, it filled and shaped readily, but showed multiple pinhole leaks from the stressed sidewall.
I placed some blocking under the van and eased the jack off a bit.
I will see how it holds overnight and if it does, jack up the third and final bad tire and see how it fares, and if I will need to replace one or two tires at the used tire store to make the van movable. I need to move it from its present position to another location in the yard.
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, great blue heron, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, ibis, Jud, Yard Bunny
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
WILD WILD LIFE
Over at the boat dock of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, lives Waldo, a wild gator who rules the raft. Here are a few clips of the old boy:
In my neighborhood, there have been a pair of Sandhill Cranes for several years. On April 28 I caught them with their new offspring...
And today, May 21, I saw them again, now in their "teen" years:
Enjoy!
:)
Jud
Labels: Alligator, Cranes, homosassa, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Sandhill Crane
