Bugs, birds and buds seen recently in Florida. ​Black Racer Snake. One of the few snakes you can see out during the day. ​Lubber Grasshopper nymph. They’re toxic, so the stripes are a warning. ​And an adult ​Five Lined Skink. The red head means it’s a male. ​Fuzzy Caterpillar ​Two Armadillos hunt for lunch. They … More Some Birds and Bugs

One of the “outside” places that just reopened is Dinosaur World, located on I-4 just outside Lakeland FL. This place is kitsch with a capitol K. It’s the sort of tourist places that Florida lived on before The Rat moved into Orlando and killed them all. But I had a pretty good time here. Kids will … More Dinosaur World–Lakeland, FL

Well, the state of Florida has apparently decided that this covid thing is over and we can all go about our business again and the whole thing is overblown and don’t blame us for it and please vote for us in November because all is well and there’s nothing to see here anymore blah blah … More Florida “Re-Opens”

I am fortunate that, despite having my wings clipped by the covid shutdowns, at least Pinellas County (St Pete) FL has a very nice network of parks and wildlife preserves, and while the visitors centers are all closed, the trails remain open. So every few days I am able to get out of the house … More Brooker Creek Preserve

Some critters seen recently in St Pete FL ​Limpkin catches a snail for lunch ​Resurrection Fern ​White Ibis ​Lovely multicolored dragonfly ​This Anole wanted to pick a fight with me ​Pileated Woodpecker ​Banded Water Snake ​Love Bug. Must be an ugly Love Bug, since all the others are already hooked up. ​Mud Dauber nest  

St Pete FL has a very nice park system, which has been a godsend while cooped up in lockdown. One of the bigger of these parks is Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. The Visitors Center is closed during the corona crisis, but the several miles of hiking trails remain open, and since the park holds a … More Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

Some critters and birdies seen lately at Sawgrass Lake in St Pete FL. ​Armadillo digging up some dinner ​Four-Spot Dragonfly ​Youngling Alligator ​Five Lined Skink ​This female Zebrawing has attracted a gaggle of males, all hoping to be the one who scores ​A juvie Little Blue Heron preens. He is just starting to get his … More Critters at Sawgrass Lake

Some photos from an afternoon along the St Pete FL waterfront. Lots of critters out today. ​Snell Island. Winter homes for the glitterati. ​Mangrove seedling ​Brown Pelican ​Double-Crested Cormorant ​Red Eared Slider. An invasive non-native freshwater turtle that has adapted to living in saltwater bays ​Anhinga ​Needlefish ​Horseshoe Crab ​Great Blue Heron ​Black Bellied Plover. … More A Walk Along the Waterfront

This is a nice little park right along the waterfront. It exhibits a collection of palm trees and cycads from all over the world. I’ve always liked palms and cycads—they are the plant equivalent of “dinosaurs”. Some photos. ​The Arboretum ​Gebang Palm, from Southeast Asia and Australia ​Red Feather Palm, from New Caledonia ​Senegal Date … More Kospick Palm Arboretum, St Pete FL

Weedon Island Preserve is an archaeological site in St Pete FL that is now a county park and wildlife refuge. Some photos from a visit. ​Boardwalk and observation tower ​Yellow-Crown Night Heron ​Vivid orange shelf fungus ​Mangrove seedlings ​Mangrove crabs ​Needlefish ​Tri Color Heron ​Fiddler Crab