lake ocklawaha...the e n d

i just couldn't get enough of these dragonflies!

before i do this final post...of the flora & fauna 

of Rodman Reservoir/Lake Ocklawaha...

i just want to say a big THANKS to everyone who breezes through...

and to those who linger...and even take the time to leave a note!!

i haven't been blog reading since last week, because of our weekend away...

and then i've been dealing with this Sciatica...if you've ever had it...then you know...

it's a pain in the ass...to sit...for any length of time!

SO

i HOPE to get caught up...this weekend!

i just had to explain. i haven't been ignoring you...i haven't been anywhere in cyberspace!

you gotta know i'm in pain...cause i haven't been taking the time to search for cool quotes!

ok, no more talk...want to get these pictures posted before it's OLD news!

Anhinga

along the shore...

Great Egret

Osprey nest.

these 'nesting poles' are scattered about throughout the lake

milo...dreaming...in camper...

Alligator...not a very good picture...but you can see all the floating stumps, logs, etc in the back ground.
also, see the dragonfly ?!

hmmm...a Little Egret  ??

 UPDATE!  Eileen @ Viewing Nature with Eileen...who happens to be a pretty good bird expert...
thinks this little guy could also be a juvenile  Little Blue Heron!  thanks eileen!

weathered wood on the shore...

in PART 1 of Rodman/Ocklawaha i mentioned that the

BIGGEST catch of the weekend was sam's 17 inch Bass!!!

here ya go!

sam and his prize catch!

so loverly...so many dragonflies...

another...not so great shot...but with THREE birds...and all the floating trees and stuff in the water!

TOO cute...TWO cute Cormorants...one standing on one leg.

this picture below... like two fish passing each other...

like sculptures...floating  wood   plants...

a dinosaur fish and some type of pan fish

ready...set...

GO!!!!!!!!!

thanks for wandering and wading...through all the pictures!

end of the day, time to get off the water & head back to camp.

thanks for the wishes on a speedy recovery...of my aching...back...and butt!

be cool & stay safe,

laura

longhorns. ocklawaha. birds & a couple of bugs.

this past sunday we took a ride to 

Rodman Reservoir (or Lake Ocklawaha)

you might remember, we went there to check it out a couple of months ago...

because this spot is known for it's good fishing.

but the reservoir was on a draw-down back then...and it was just about bone dry!

it was supposed to be back up in april.

along the way, we passed a 'Longhorn' farm.

sam pulled over so i could get a few shots!

what beauties, huh?!

well, the water's back up!

and flowing!

there were lots of people fishing...and catching!

and lots of  birds too...happy to have the reservoir filled with food!

Cormorants

Cypress tree knees (roots) along the Ocklawaha river

buzzards...sunning & waiting for hand outs...

discarded fish carcasses i guess.

this one got tired of waiting and decided to try and sneak onto the fishing pier.

SO

we made reservations for the first weekend in may!

whether the bathroom is finished or not...

we're finally getting out of town!

(bathroom update: sheetrock up and primed & painted. shower pan in but not yet hooked up to the drain.)

there were some other birds flying...circling...hunting...overhead.

do you know what this bird is?

at first i thought maybe Shrike....or Osprey...

but after looking them up in my HUGE north american bird book...

i'm just not sure. 

the Shrike has a band through the eye...

but doesn't seem to wrap around like this one does.

maybe these birds are juvenile Ospreys???!!!!

also...i guess just the fact that they are hanging around the lake...means Osprey is more probable.

any ideas?

anyway...

we are excited!  yeah!  camping and fishing.

not this coming weekend, but the one after.

now

i don't mind

if

T I M E

flies.

stay cool. be safe.

laura

( i still have some catching up to do in blogland.

i'm home between appointments and thought i'd get this posted before it becomes OLD news!)