Sora

Our friend Phillip Wright snapped this pic of a wading bird at Orlando Wetlands Park today. We have identified it as a Sora. It is a highly secretive bird that hides at the edges of grasses on canals. It is in the Rail family. Check it out in your guidebooks. Double click on the photo for a better look.

And thank you Phillip for your great photo and inquiry.

R

Serpent

We think this guy is an Anaconda. :-) Huge! Maneating methinks! :-)

If you attended one of our Safe in the Woods programs last month, you would know how to handle a close encounter of this kind.

Well, okay, he was only a couple of feet long and pretty harmless. Encountered him (or her) last week on the Longleaf Pine Preserve.

I'm back in NY, but had a great 6 weeks down in Florida. Thanks to everyone!

Best wishes,

Roger

The Yearling Trail

We just checked out this trail today to check its condition. It appeared in one of our last books, 25 Short Hikes and Interesting Walks in Northeast Florida as Hike #17.

It is in good shape. Side trails could use a little better marking, but we made it back from this 3.9 mile round trip outing. Took about 2 hours. Beautiful day!

R