The Continuing Adventures of Jud

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

# posted by JUD @ 11:48 AM 0 comments

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!

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.

2) Boat Pilot Mark passing through the deepest and sunniest section of the creek on the north side of Osprey Island.

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.

4) A Great Blue Heron along the edge of Pepper Creek.

5) A pair of wood ducks in the brush on Pepper Creek.

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.

7) Zooming up an un-dredged section of the creek shows a couple of turtles out on a log out of the traffic.

8) Earlier, on the east side of Osprey Island, a view of the Osprey nest.

9) One of the Osprey pair sits on a branch beside the 30 year old nest.

10) Coming into the APM passing point, on the right bank, some blooms have appeared among the trees.

11) Two of the blooms.

12) A bloom.

13) A little farther into the APM passing point, on the right, a second apparition.

14) A bloom.

15) Another area showing flowering plants on each side of the brush.

16) Blooms.

17) The other side.

18) A bunch of blooms.

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.

20) The Red Bloom.

21) The Purple Bloom.

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.

Jud

Labels: Alligator, flowers, gators, great blue heron, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Pepper Creek, Wood Ducks

# posted by JUD @ 6:40 PM 2 comments

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.

While during the boat ride, I had three special sightings on the creek today...

Jud

Labels: Alligator, gators, great blue heron, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Jud, Turtles

# posted by JUD @ 2:42 PM 0 comments

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

# posted by JUD @ 5:26 PM 0 comments

Thursday, June 26, 2014

BE THE BEE

On June 26, in the Children's Education Center building, that once was the main entrance to the Homosassa Springs, Master Bee Keeper Melody Tayler presented a fascinating and thorough introduction to the honey bee, and bee keeping. Her knowledge and enthusiasm animated her presentation and she handled the many questions with aplumb! I had a great time!

As I headed over to the site for the 1pm talk, I grabbed a shot of this wood duck. Appears to be a new one?

And up onto the overlook for a view out to the Homosassa River on this beautiful day!

At just before 1, I headed in for the show.

Melody started with the anatomy of the honey bee: four wings! With velcro! Makes it easier to fold them when grounded.

Melody also explained the various parts and functions and care of the parts of a hive as used by bee-keepers.

All in all, at the end of the hour, many of us were still getting more details, which she happily supplied. She knew her stuff! And... she had the shoes for it!

On the way out, I dropped by to see Lu, who was napping, and the gators...

Jud

Labels: bee keeping, Bees, gators, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Honey bee, HSWLSP, Jud, Melody Taylor, Wood Duck

# posted by JUD @ 7:44 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

A COUPLE OF SPECIAL SHOTS FROM THE WILDLIFE PARK

Was over at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park again today, trying to get a decent shot of our new Florida Panther kitten.

As always, right click and "open in new tab" to view a larger image without losing this page.

This was the clearest shot I got. Aside from the distance and the fences messing up the focusing, Yuma is usually on the move- quickly!

Yuma's handler thought she might take a call...

Saw Lu out of the water for the first time in several visits so took the opportunity to grab a nice shot of our 6000 pound eating machine!

On the boat back to the Visitor's Center on Rt 19, I saw this pair of wood ducks in Pepper Creek.

A bit further up the creek, this anhinga was distracted from his drying by the presence of our boat and stopped to check us out.

Jud

Labels: Anhinga, Boat ride, Florida Panther, gators, Hippopotimus, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, HSWLSP, Jud, new panther kitten, Pepper Creek

# posted by JUD @ 2:44 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 21, 2014

AROUND THE WILDLIFE PARK

Some random shots around the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park over the last couple of weeks... For loading and layout, I have left these "small", but you can see any of them in a larger form without losing this page by right clicking and "open in new tab".

Bunnies appeared around the Visitor's Center in the days before Easter and the big Easter Egg hunt on Saturday 19 April, 2014. That day also saw the naming of our new baby Florida Panther, Yuma, "Son of the Chief".

On the Birding Trail, I saw a bird!

Another in my series of Tree Portraits.

High up in one old tree, a large crack. I am told that Wood Ducks like to nest in holes and cracks high up in the trees. The Park now provides nesting boxes along Pepper Creek for them now.

Three Wood Ducks near the big spring, note the difference in the head feathering of the two colorful males. I have my own suspicion that one is new? A young'un?

Waldo catching some rays on his raft.

A window decoration on one of the Park's golf carts used by staff for carting materials and workers from one end of the park to the other.

A rare spotting by eagle-eyed boat driver David of a wild gator swimming up the creek from the western end, entering the turn to Osprey Island.

While Waldo was away, this very large soft shell turtle used the chance to grab some rays on his raft next to the dock at the Visitor's Center.

A walk down the Birding Trail on a rainy day.

Three of our permanent resident manatees enjoy an undisturbed feeding as the park was virtually empty due to rain.

A Blue Heron hunted this small fish as I watched: if I had realized what he was doing, I would have had video! It was fascinating. He stalked it in super-slow motion, then fired his beak into the water as quick as any spear or arrow.

I added a "Flat Brutis" to my boat on Saturday: now 3 of the 4 boats have them. Eagle? Let's get with the program!

For those who need another reason to visit, there are pressed penny machines at each end of the park!

The wonderful unique blooms of the Weeping Bottle Brush Tree along Pepper Creek just west of Palm Island.

A young raccoon tried to cross the creek over our heads as we passed two weeks ago. At the end, he ran out of branch and seemed a bit confused as to what to do.

Out back by the maintenance shed, there is a very large turtle, I don't know why, but he is a beauty!

Before the first boat last Sunday morning, looking down from the bridge.

Long time boat driver and park volunteer Bob, often creates origami animals for waiting children. This adorable young boy was very delighted with his orange frog!

This last Saturday saw occasional sprinkles, but we ran the boats anyway, much to my pleasure, though my driving was sometimes blocked by overly large umbrellas.

Jud

Labels: Boat ride, gators, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, HSWLSP, Jud, Pepper Creek

# posted by JUD @ 1:02 PM 2 comments