January 30th, 2024

You know who these two people are so you know what this is.  Yup, Another Photo Safari Report!  I'm calling this one the Combo Platter Hike(s) for several reasons.  First of all, Joy and I are a combo!    And then, the photos are of a combination of things.   Thirdly, we go out on these photo safaris for a combination of different reasons (exercise, photography, being in nature and just spending time together) and lastly, it is a combination of two different hikes.  One with Joy of course, the other one I did with Tim!

The hike with Tim was much shorter. I will still easily fatigued and getting over being sick but I desperately wanted (Needed!!!) to be out of the house for a bit.    So to be on the safe and courteous side, Tim took me for a Very Short hike where there was NOBODY else.  Not another living human soul.  Just Tim and I and nature.  Nice!

One of the first things I took a picture of was a bird I couldn't identify.  That's always fun.  He was just sitting there in the tippity top of a tree and he patiently waited until I took a couple of photos before taking off again.  I had to send Joy the photo later for identification. Turns out this guy is called a Shrike.  I was thinking more....Zorro.

The only other bird picture I got on that hike (again it was a Very Short Hike) was this one which turned out to be one of my all time favourites:

That was a bit of good luck eh?  Can never go wrong with Mama's and Babies  :)

All of the rest of the pictures I took on that day were perfectly fine, mostly botanicals, but not as special:

Oh and three other birds.  Perfectly nice birds, but just ordinary:

And then, about a week later, the hike with Joy.  We went to Curry Creek which is a small local preserve that we've been to a zillion other times and we've never been disappointed there.  As small as it is, and even smaller than usual that day because the water was too high to cross the creek to the other side, we always get at least a few really decent shots.

The highlight of this hike was another new to me bird:  The Carolina Wren who, since she was in Florida, must have been on vacation.  She had the most beautiful and unusual song too.  I wish there was a way to attach an audio file because I would love for you to hear her sing.   We stood on the trail for the longest time trying to figure out who was making that unusual music.  Most local bird song is so familiar too us that we know who the artist is, but not this time.  Finally, after a lot of very quiet lurking and searching  we found the source:

That was exciting.  We always feel a little bit like detectives when we hear a bird but cannot immediately see it and then we go on the hunt until we find it!

We saw other more familiar birds too:

It was a pretty day, the air was a little crisp which is fine, we know how to dress in layers and, for a change it was a sunny day.  Nice! 

I snapped a few botanicals.  Not as many as usual but a few here and there:

So I guess that's that.  The Combo Platter Hike(s).  They were both a lot of fun and it was a wonderful surprise to see something brand new to me on both hikes!  Now that I'm  back to my old self I'm ready to hit the real longer trails and get out there in the thick of things, probably getting lost (or at least temporarily  misplaced) and have some more photos for you next time!

Hope everyone is doing GREAT!  
Hugs all ' round.