A lazy day today, but an afternoon trip to Cagan Crossings Library turned up a stubby, dark blue spider with a white "tippex" face on its abdomen and a lizard displaying a pink throat flap. On the way back along the road, a Mockingbird was on the wires (9142).


Thursday, August 06, 2009

Today's trip to Disney's Magic Kingdom held quite a few natural connections. Birdlife was more-or-less the same as at the other parks: Grackles and House Sparrows in the car parks and Mallards, Wood Ibises (see photo), Little Egrets, Great white Herons and Cormorants on the water bodies. One of the Mallards had a tiny duckling in tow. Other wildlife included a large yellow butterfly which repeatedly flapped over the Splash Mountain water chute. The other natural connection of the past few days hasn't been a pleasant one - getting badly bitten by mosquitos.


Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Today started with a trip to Lake Louisa State Park, a 4,500 acre area of upland forest, scrup and lake. Walked down to the shore of Lake Louisa, then to Dixie Lake and finally to Hammond Lake (see photos). In between, followed one of the trails through the forest. Most wildlife was sensibly hiding from the blistering heat. However two lizards were scuttling across dry leaves and a Red headed Woodpecker wascalling from a Cypress. Other highlights were enormous spiders and some spectacular butterflies including one with yellow and black stripes and one with club-shaped appendages behind its wings.


Tuesday, August 04, 2009

First natural connections of the day were two overnight intruders into the pool enclosure: a frog (duly rescued) and a lizard (left to its own devices). Much of the day was spent at Sea World where the highlight was the Killer Whale demonstration (interrupted by a thieving Great White Heron). Other wild or semi-wild birds on show were Ruddy Duck, Canvasback, Mallard, Wood Stork, Wood Ibis, Little Egret and Cormorant. Back at Westbury, two Cranes flew along the power lines at dusk.


Monday, August 03, 2009

Today's trip was to Universal's Islands of Adventure. Natural connections were in short supply. However two Great white Egrets were on the pool just outside the park entrance. An evening walk along Minute Maid Ramp turned up several small doves perched on roadside wires.


Sunday, August 02, 2009

Spent today catching up with domestic arrangements. However an afternoon walk along Minute Maid Ramp produced numerous crickets and grasshoppers, lots of orange butterflies with white underwings marked like stained glass windows, and several lizards basking on the villa walls.