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Three spotted Skipper

Three spotted Skipper (Butterfly)

The Three-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus) has a wingspan of 1 1/8 – 1 3/8 inches. The wings are a dull dark brown, and the upperside of the forewings (front wings) has three transparent white spots on the edge near the tip and 2-3 spots at the end. The underside of the hindwing (back wing) is yellow-brown with pale spots near the center.

Females lay eggs on top of the host plant’s leaves. The host plant for this species is Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). The caterpillars will eat and live in nests of the rolled leaves. Their habitats are subtropical grassy areas.

Photo Credit: Lynn Marie

Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon

Follow That Dream Parkway to Bird Creek Beach

Nature enthusiasts and beach lovers, get ready for an adventure! Bird Creek Beach is a serene and secluded destination along Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast. This hidden gem lies within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, offering a peaceful coastal experience perfect for relaxation and picnicking. Birdwatchers will be delighted by the diverse birdlife that frequents the area, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife observation.

To reach Bird Creek Beach, park at the end of Follow That Dream Parkway, also known as Florida State Road 40. This scenic highway stretches across Central Florida, starting from US Route 41 in Inglis and heading eastward through the breathtaking Ocala National Forest before reaching the charming Ormond Beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Apart from its stunning coastal landscapes, Follow That Dream Parkway has a special connection to an iconic Elvis Presley movie. “Follow That Dream,” released in 1962, showcased some of Florida’s most beautiful locations, including Bird Creek Beach and the scenic route of Florida State Road 40.

So, pack your bags, hit the road, and experience the allure of Bird Creek Beach and Follow That Dream Parkway in Florida! Share your favorite moments and experiences in the comments below! Bird Creek Beach and Follow That Dream Parkway await your exploration!

Photo Credit: Dan Kon and Debbie Long

White-eyed vireo

The White-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus) is a small songbird that lives in Florida year-round in scrubby areas such as overgrown pastures, forest edges, and mangroves. The diet comprises caterpillars, flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, leafhoppers, lacewings, and spiders. During nonbreeding seasons fruits will be a part of their diet.

Males defend territories from other males by wing flicking, fluffing, sleeking their feathers, and will pecking at the other male. Courtship will start as soon as the female arrives and they will maintain a monogamous bond during the breeding season. The White-eyed vireo will return to the same breeding area year after year, sometimes with different mates.

It takes a mating pair 3-5 days to complete a nest. They will use insect silk and spiderweb to make a shell, then collect stick leaves, bark, plant fibers, rootlets, and bits of paper and add them to the shell. They will use lichens, moss, or leaves outside the nest to camouflage the nest. Usually, 3-5 eggs are laid in a clutch with only 1-2 young being hatched; the eggs are white with some spotting. Incubation is 13-15 days; they can leave the nest after 9-11 days. Both parents contribute to incubating the eggs and feeding the young. However, there are times when the nest can be parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus after), which results in the unknowing parents caring for another bird’s young while their young do not survive.

This species is common with a stabilized population, so it is not of conservation concern.

Photo Credit: Sheri Douse, Lynn Marie

Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon

Blue Hole Spring

Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna is home to Blue Hole Spring. Water rises from the spring at a temperature of 67.8 before it flows into the Chipola River.

Swimming in the cool, turquoise water while surrounded by a lush forest is a perfect way to cool off in the hot Florida summer. Canoes are waiting for you to rent at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop. Enjoy your lunch at the picnic area near Blue Hole Spring.

For more information:https://www.floridastateparks.org/…/experiences…

Photo Credit: Erin James

Great Horned Owl

The majestic Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a delightful sight to behold. This bird of prey is common throughout Florida and can be found in forests, wetlands, yards, and cities. The piercing yellow eyes of the Great Horned Owl do not move in their sockets. The owl will swivel its neck more than 180 degrees in both directions to see its surroundings. You have most likely heard the owl’s unmistakable, hauntingly deep hooting voice.

Female Great Horned Owls lay 1 brood each year of 1-4 eggs in a nest in a tree. The nest is made of sticks and is usually one built by another species. The owls may line the nest with leaves, fur and feathers from their prey, or feathers plucked from their own chests. They may also nest on the ground, in the cavity of a tree, in abandoned human structures, or on a platform designed especially for them.

Great Horned Owls have talons that exert up to 28 pounds of force when used to sever the spines of captured prey. Meals consist of frogs, rats, squirrels, crows, doves, and more. They will snack on insects, scorpions, and reptiles. Great Horned Owls also prey on animals larger than themselves including other owls, Osprey, and falcons.

Great Horned Owls mate for life. The couple defends their territory together but they roost separately. Look for them diving for prey near dawn and dusk. You may also witness raptors, crows, or songbirds loudly calling them, pecking at them, and dive-bombing them with just cause. As long as Great Horned Owls occupy their territory, the other birds risk becoming their prey.

According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, Great Horned Owl populations declined by 33% between 1966 and 2015 due to over-hunting. Today, it is illegal to hunt owls and their populations naturally fluctuate depending on the prey available.

Photo Credit: Paul Waller

Florida Harvester Ant

Florida harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex badius, are reddish-brown and are easily spotted atop their nests in sandy soils. Their nests can be found in open woodlands, gardens, and lawns. The ants move about once a year and build a new subterranean nest that can be up to 6.5 feet deep.

Florida Harvester ants are polymorphic which means they are more than one size. The Major worker has quite a large head but is not any more aggressive than the minor workers. Each nest has one queen and an abundance of and minority workers. Harvester ants mate in May and swarm from June through Oct with the most swarms occurring in August and September.

Harvester Ants gather seeds from the ground and plants. They rely on the sun and odor trails to find their way back to the nest. After husking the seeds and discarding the waste in a midden near the entrance of the nest, the seeds are stored in grainery chambers within the nest. Favorite seeds include evening primrose, pokeweed, and red clover.

Although not aggressive, as with any animal, Florida harvester ants will defend themselves. Because they inject poison into their aggressor, their stings are more painful and last longer than the stings of most other ants.

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Photo Credit: Andy Waldo

American Sycamore

The American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is a beautiful tree that grows 100 – 170 feet tall with a diameter of 3-14 feet. Its bark is white at first but turns brown as it grows. As the tree ages, the scales fall away and reveal the whitish-green bark beneath. Its distinctive leaves and green globe-shaped fruit make it easy to recognize. Songbirds dine on the seeds.

Sycamore trees are native from southern Canada to northern Florida. However, the tree has been planted far south of its range in Florida. The tree pictured in these images is located at Lake Lily in Central Florida.

Sycamore trees are known for their hurricane resistance and the ability of their intertwining root system to stabilize erosion. This makes them perfect specimens to plant in parks near waterways. The trees also tolerate acidic soils and as a result, they have been planted at phosphate mining sites. Before planting this beautiful shade tree in your yard, consider the height as well as the debris from falling bark and fruit.

Photo credit: Dan Kon

Collier-Seminole State Park

Collier-Seminole State Park, located in Naples, is a 7,271-acre park that offers the opportunity to explore part of the Great Mangrove Swamp of South Florida and an original stand of royal palms. Discover wildlife and wildflowers like those in the Everglades.

Learn about the Bay City Walking Dredge No. 489, a mechanical engineering marvel that walked forward as it dredged limestone to create a road from Tampa0 to Miami.

Collier-Seminole State Park has four wonderful nature trails ranging from less than a mile on the Royal Palm Hammock Nature Trail to the 5.25 mile Strand Swamp Trail. Discover the plants and animals, many imperiled, that live in the park. The park is designated a Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail so be sure to bring your camera/binoculars.

Launch your canoe or kayak at the ADA accessible launch. Explore the Blackwater River on the 13.5-mile canoe trail. As you paddle through the mangroves to Blackwater Bay, look for crocodiles, alligators, otters, manatees, and a variety of wading birds.

Primitive camping sites and campsites for your RV and tents are available. There are bike trails, two pavilions, picnic tables, and a playground for your enjoyment. Leashed pets are welcome.

For more information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/…/collier-seminole-state-…

Photo Credit: Ileana Rodriguez