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Posted by Roxanne on 19:55:14 03/02/09
Yesterday, Troy and I celebrated my birthday (I'm 39....Again!) by hiking 5 miles starting at the Big Cypress Visitor Center(formerly called Oasis Ranger Station) and headed north along the Florida Trail. The night before from the back of our camping gear closet, we dug out and dusted off our backpacks, then loaded them up.
As I suspected the trail was bone dry and sans mosquitoes and chiggers. It was a gorgeous day out. More than enough blue in the sky to patch a Dutchman's breeches. A few patches of gray clouds rolled overhead a few times and threatened to rain, but only dropped a light shower that lasted a few minutes.
Birds heard and seen along the trail were Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Palm and Pine Warblers, Blue-headed Vireo and American Goldfinch. About a mile and a half from the start of the trail, we walked up to one unsuspecting pair of juvenile Rosy-cheeked Trail Thrashers, not to be confused with Paul Bithorn's Rose-breasted Mattress Thrashers. The former must be a subspecies. Ah, Spring is in the air!
After we scouted and checked the condition of our secret camping sites, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch among the cypress and pines. Birthday bubbly and icecream cake were savored later.
Not counting the usual species of birds seen driving along the Tamiami Trail, we saw more wildflowers and plants in bloom. Good thing we packed Roger Hammer's Wildflower guides. We saw: Wild Petunia, Narrowleaf Blue-Eyed Grass, Bluehearts, Purple Thistle, Coral Bean, Tickseed, Groundcherry, Spanish Needles, Starrush Whitetop, Hat Pins, Cow Pea, Scorpion Tail, Potbelly Airplant, Cardinal Airplant, Northern and Southern Needleleaf, Wild Rose and Honeycomb Head. Ok, Roger, Troy and I will be over to the hacienda sometime for a wee dram of that Pyrat Rum.
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