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floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:59:45 GMT

Scroll to the bottom for the photos!

January 29 th:

The day was one of those that you visit with mixed feelings - but mostly with the evolution of a tragic event that touched every soul in Florida and was reported throughout the United Stated as a tragic event.

I reached SR 318 on the way to the LaChua Trail as I listened to my Garden Expert on the radio - not much on at 6:00 AM for company! I normally see two or three cars on the drive to Micanopy so the increase in traffic was soo obvious. There was a problem on I-75.

I reached Micanopy and the highway was closed so I knew there must be a fire on the prairie to close both highways. I followed a "double" semi down CR 234 and wondered if it too heavy for the little county route to SR 20!

I made it to the "gator," loaded the photo stuff and headed out the gate to the trail and saw nothing unusual. The smoke began near the first bench and the horses, on trail, were"spooked." They ran down the trail in front of me and at a distance - I saw one run the length of the field.

The area was blanketed by a smoke and fog layer that got much denser as I passed the second bench. I found that I could use the edge of the dike to find my way to the platform and was concerned about the breathing conditions that I faced. The step up the platform revealed good air in spite of bad conditions near the surface.

It was a good viewing day! Bison, horses , coyotes, otters, and big gators ~ but then I got the call, about the accident on I-75, and the day was one to remember and the kind you want to forget!

January 20 th:

The weather has been wonderful in the afternoon but somewhat "challenging in the mornings! I had on soo many layers I felt like an onion!!

I was on LaChua this past Sunday, and found that even the bison were wearing a coat of the cold heavy frost. The four year old bison bull - Samuel was lying on the ground near the first bench. He had a layer of frost from the face to the end of the thick blanket of fur that runs down the back.

He was slow to get up - now that the noisy intruder had arrived. He took his time to feed on the grassy sides on the trail and wandered off to the West in about 15 minutes. In Chuck's view that was a beautiful experience where no one was threatened and another encounter was safely managed.

Let's talk about Bison and the common sense things to do - OK and not to do as well.

The bull lying on the side of the trail owns that terrain because he's there and he's the size and weight of a Volkswagen -so the goal is not to disturb him!. We stand and watch remembering that is why we came there and what we want to do ~ see the magnificent animals on the trail. He will get up and leave when he wants to and should never be "crowded." I never try to pass a bison on the trail.

Bison non-verbals are very simple to learn because there are only a few of them that pertain to us. The Bison's Tail is a primary communicator between bison and people. His stance, any pawing of the ground, and impression of attitude contribute much to the decision to "Stay, Advance, or Retreat!" The disclaimer is: It's up to him -so ample distance is required!!

Down and not twitching: I'm cool, collected, and not bothered by your presence.
Twitching: Bugs are a bother and maybe so are you!
Tail raised: Pointed up - to about ten o'clock or higher ~ Morning {or whenever } Constitutional is pending.
Tail Warning: The tail is horizontal and curves upward! Retreat slowly - while avoiding eye contact - head away from the animal, while keeping to the edge of the trail.

The premise is that you never attempt to approach a bison, especially a single bison, closer that 75 feet. you stay on the trail and never go into the space that they occupy.

Experience shows us that if you stand on the side of the trail ; they will leave the area in their own good time or just walk past you.

Large size is intimidating but they have passed by for 36 years without a real issue! Quiet, slow movement, and distance make viewing the bison a safe practical encounter.

Oh Yeah! Not to do is simple: You don't pull on Superman's Cape and Play on Highway 441 or 75 ~ so only submissive and avoidance behavior is safe around Tractor Trailers and Bison!

We saw about 30 bison at one time on Sunday. There is water available near the trail so they "roamed" over to the LaChua Trail for all to enjoy! Morning seems most popular but they were seen all day long.

We spotted a large Feral Hog or Boar in front of the willows to the West of LaChua. He turned and crossed the open space between us. We could see the foaming mouth and the sheer size of the animal!

He didn't waver and came up on trail within 25 feet of the visitors. Guesstimates place the pig at 150-200 pounds.

First time a hog passed this close an no indication of concern or fear of the people present.

I have not observed the quantities of pigs I saw on LaChua, in past visits, but the pig damage is deep and obvious! The last two visits showed few porkers but much damage. The key word is "DEEPER!"

Several visitors asked why the Park Service was tilling the fields - I explained that the deep ploughing was a piggy problem and not the conversion of the prairie for ethanol production!

Apparently the little bulldozers on cocaine have moved the tilling schedule to "off-hours!" Eating by the light of the full moon, works for them, and helps avoid contact with people.

I'm for keeping a breeding but "culled" herd of bison but only a small sample of Feral hogs for a Friends of Paynes Prairie BBQ Event!

Remove the pigs not the attractions!

Finally! I'm planning a Photo Walk and Talk for beginning to intermediate photographers and photo wannabees for February 18 or 25th. The schedule is tentative, park entrance fee is the only cost! Send me an email to reserve one of the limited spots on the tour!

See you on LaChua Trail on Sunday Mornings!

January 6th:

The weather report for Orange City, Florida said slightly cloudy and light winds. That's manatee photography weather!

The recent TV Report said 283 manatee are in the spring which by my calculation means that 2830 visitors will arrive by 11:07 AM.

East on SR40 through the fog ( and bears! ) and down SR17 to Orange City takes a little over a hour from Silver Springs a bit less than 2 hours from Gainesville. I arrived around 8:30 AM and found about 25 cars in the parking lot ... so far soo good!

The spring was very misty which offered some good photos down loow by the water and a few FWC Mermaids were in the water to add interest. The gals were tagging manatees and looking for one reported to have fishing line entangled around it. The funny little "pipes" on the fishing piers? Use them!

I thought I found the best job in the world! -- but swim with the manatees and get paid for it!! That's quite a job - it even offers a retirement benefit. It was amazing how the ladies could move around the manatees without disturbing them. Occasionally one would "bolt" but for most -- they simply parted and let the crew look them over.

The early arrival means quiet water and less crowd so it's the best time to get the manatee pictures. The circular polarizing filter is not effective early because the lighting is directional to begin with. Later in the day it will provide control of the glare and improve your results.

Early arrival also means little or no wind. You don't want every picture to be a mosaic!! The lighting gets a bit tough after 11 AM and the afternoon lighting is in front of you -- so go early!

Every spring has their resident monster gator and Blue Spring is not lacking in a few big boyz. Big Blue was hiding under the water at the third "walkout." He hauled out on a downed Sable Palm and wowed the out of state visitors. The manatees swam under the gator while he rested on the log above. No concern there!

The best time to visit is during the week. I was there on Friday and the park closed access, around 10:30 AM, to control the number of visitors, Some are let in as people leave to maintain an non-Theme Park Environs.

The spring is wall to wall manatees!!

Smaller Birds

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:29:52 GMT

Eagles, Hawks and other Raptors

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:29:38 GMT

Manatee

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:29:23 GMT

The new folder is "Under Construction"

Birds Near Water

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:29:10 GMT

Scenery

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:27:35 GMT

The old tele lens has found some interesting portions of the water and landscapes.

The Super Wide and Telephoto Lenses offer a view that differs but each is an interesting part of the scenery

Now all I have to do is finds some examples to explain the differences of each!

Gators and other Reptiles

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:29:50 GMT

It's that time of year when things that crawl are out and about. Most snakes that you encounter are harmless -- but ~If you venture this far from the couch -- you should know who you're looking at.

The three venomous snakes to watch for are the Water Mocassin, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and the Pigmy or Ground Rattler.

LaChua and Cones Dike harbor the Water Mocassin and the Lake Trail and Pine Woods are home to the two Rattlesnakes.

The Mocassin sits along side off trail and is hard to notice so... Stay out of the grass! The tilted head is a warning and then will progress to revealing the white inside of the mouth if pressed

The Diamonback cruises through the grass and looks like a persian rug on tour! If it is near cover of brush or pine needles - and not moving ... Well it's more than hard to see! ....so Stay on the Trail!

The Pigmy or Ground Rattler is tiny with an adult reaching 18-24." They look so harmless curled up in a spiral that people pick them up!

The Walmart Cereal Asle and the Lowe's Garden Center in Silver Springs have been the location of pigmy bites! Watch where you put your hands and don't pick up any cute snakes

The gator mating season is well underway! the boyz are bellowing to annouce their digs and to call out the queens!Nothing will stir up your reptilian brain more than the very low frequency mating call of a 12 foot gator.

Get out on The LaChua Trail this weekend and listen ~ It's something you will remember ( and it's perfectly safe -- if you stay 10-15 feet away from the water and a gator. )

Alligators in all sizes! The babies riding on Mom's back to the monsters that appear to have eaten a car.

All can be observed from a safe distance during most of the warm months of the year. The cool nights of fall and winter cause the gators to "hang out" on the banks the lakes and rivers. Occasionally they will bask trailside and startle the hiker!

If gators are not fed they remain scared of humans and run for water at the sight of people ( just don't get between the water and the gator!!)

Osceola Turkey

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:57:59 GMT

Otters

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:32:51 GMT

The River Otter is native to the entire area.

These playful aquatics are fun to watch and a real challenge to photograph because they are always on the move.

They eat the local fish "sushi style" and are seen dawn to dusk

Feral Pigs

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:31:20 GMT

The real threat to the ecology of The Prairie ~ The Feral Hogs threaten to literally "till" the terrain.

The Solution to the Feral Pig Problem has not been written by the Park Managers.

Whitetail Deer

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:31:09 GMT

Wild Spanish Horses

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:30:59 GMT

Forty Wild Horses still roam free on the Payne's Prairie.

The Park Service plans to remove this herd ~ which is traceable to the original horses brought here by the Spanish Conquistadores.

Favorites

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:05:47 GMT

a Collection some special pictures that I update less than I should!

Fox Squirrel

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:05:23 GMT

Flowers

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:13:13 GMT

I know it's Hard to believe but....

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:12:43 GMT

Every once in a while you get a shot you can't categorize --- so I put them here!

The Highest of the Black Bears

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:01:23 GMT

We have had limited encounters with the bears of Florida but the few are memorable.

The black bears are thriving in the Ocala National Forest but the road kill is a great concern. Unfortunatly Black bears are black and at night offer little warning.

The Large Kodiak Bears have had a tough time getting to the Silver Springs Park where they are now cared for with dignity and concern.

Watching a 1200 lb bear stare at a twig that he brought from the bottom of his pool is special.

Wildlife at Home

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:37:03 GMT

Park

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:38:03 GMT

Cracker Cattle

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:43:00 GMT

Tucked away at the Hickory Ranch is the herd of Cracker Cattle.

Moved there for a variety of reasons ~ The cattle are too dangerous to roam free on the prairie.

Bugs,Insects and Spiders

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:15:02 GMT

The Cranes

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:10:25 GMT

January 11th The Christmas Bird Count placed the number at 5500 sandhills.

There are 5-8 Whooping Cranes on the LaChua Trail most days

Butterflies

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:41:26 GMT

The area is excellent for searching out "Nature's Jewels."

Twenty-nine species of butterfly were observed in one day's outing in Feburary. The main season is not even started.

Coyote

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:36:30 GMT

The Spoonbills

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:54:03 GMT

Spoonbills are common to the coasts. You can visit The Black Point Trail in Titusville or the Vierra Wetlands and see plenty of spoonbills.

They just don't often come inland! We see a pair - perhaps the same pair - return from time to time to add a dash of bright pink to the scene

The Paynes Prairie Bison

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:08:15 GMT

The Park Service has promised to enhance and repair the fences to reduce the possibility of a "roam."

The Rocky Point area is adjacent to SR441 and the site of the "last bison killed" in Florida.

The critical "Rocky Point" "exit" is promised to have the "enhanced fencing" completed by this Spring (2011.)

Private individuals have offered to raise funds, construct the fence and assist in the repair of the perimeter fencing so that the reasons to "remove" the bison are reduced.

The Park Service has stated that the "enhanced" fences are completed.

Note the large hole at the North end of the "Enviro-passage!"

Leapin' Sturgeons

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:06:17 GMT

A fish in the air is not unuseual by itself -but when we're talkin' about 6 to 9 feet in lenght and up to 400 lbs. that's a dufferent story!

May until early September sees the White Sturgeon return to the spawning waters of the Suwannee River where the acrobatics begin!

The locals and tourists join the party, in boats, where occasionally one finds more fish in the boat than wanted - to say the least

Nikon 4 Sale

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:13:54 GMT

Probably the sharpest lens I have ever owned!

The 80-200mm @ f2.8 offers high speed and depth of field control so that you can drop out the background in protraits.

The lens is in excellent condition with clean glass.

Bobcat Gallery

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Tue, 10 May 2011 23:49:00 GMT

The Tundra Swan

floridaphotos@cox.net (Charles F. Littlewood) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:12:31 GMT

Monday proved to be an interesting day!

We ventured forth to photograph the news that two whoopers were on Alachua Lake only to find a "different bird" along side the Sandhill Cranes.

The bird took-off from a point 400 yards East of the LaChua Platform. I managed to get a few distant pictures of the bird's climb-out to the East - which was followed by a turn to the South. I lost visibility in the hazy day so I can't report a landing or beginning of a trip further South.

Rex Rowan confirms: "That's the first swan recorded here in 21 years, and only the fourth ever! "

http://www.charleslittlewood.com/the_swan