Florida – Page 122 – M&I / GBMINI

Three Heron nests

Posted on February 8, 2016February 17, 2017 by Ian C.

We’ve watched nesting Great Blue Herons since we moved to Independence (for example 2014, 2015). The one nest in 2014 became two last year and now we have three – I imagine that the new nests are previous years young, returning to where they grew up.
The original nest and last years addition are both in the tree in the center of Lake Koval behind our home; the higher one is easy to see, while the lower is buried in other growth – but if you compare these two closer views, you’ll spot where the lower Herons are:

The third nest is in a tree over to the left and outside the above views (it’s actually the tree that was hit by lightning last year); it’s closer to easier to get pictures; the nest is halfway down the left of the right tree:

I wonder how many birds there will be next year?!

Oakland Nature Preserve

Posted on January 9, 2016February 17, 2017 by Ian C.

Margaret found us a new local place to walk this afternoon, less than half an hours drive – Oakland Nature Preserve. Lots of interesting fact cards describing plant names, and a boardwalk to Lake Apopka with information about the destruction and subsequent recovery of this lake. Here’s some pictures (the boardwalk is necessary; it’s very wet beneath!):

New Year 2016 at Magic Kingdom

Posted on January 1, 2016February 17, 2017 by Ian C.

We spent New Years Eve, evening, at Disney Magic Kingdom for their New Year fireworks show; very impressive!
The park felt much less packed than our last New Year trip (2011) but parking was very full and massive queues to leave so perhaps the design improvements around the castle just make it seem less crowded.
After the fireworks we were able to walk on, no lines at all, on Ariel, Small World, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. We has maybe 20 minute queue for Winnie the Pooh.

Here’s a video compilation from the evening: