Paynes Prairie is a bird watcher's paradise. There have been over 271 species of birds sighted over the prairie.
I have only been taking photographs for the past three years, and I have photographed egrets, herons, sandhill cranes, eagle, osprey, hawks, wood storks, and anhingahs flying over Paynes Prairie State Preserve.
Yesterday Truett and I rode out to the prairie with Merry Jennifer, Sam, and the grandchildren.
It was late in the day...almost closing time; but we hustled through the trails to look over Lake Walburg.
We were quite surprised at the pelican that was bobbing up and down on the lake. I know the photograph is fuzzy, but I am only answering Merry Jennifer's question, "What is that out there?"
An elderly couple was on the board walk specifically looking for the migration of pelicans over Paynes Prairie. I learned something new, since I thought pelicans only lived at the beaches. Now I know to expect sandhill crane and pelican migrations around the end of December each year over Paynes Prairie.
Bird watchers don't especially like little children intruding upon their solitude and peace. I could tell it in their eyes as they glared at my precious grandson, Oliver, as he kept squealing, "Alligators will EAT me."
We meandered through the trails along the swampy land and took in the beauty of the prairie.
It is a glorious place. . .
a place to meditate. . .
a place to think. . .
and a place to photograph the beauty of our earth.
. . .and it is right outside of Gainesville, Florida.
Beautiful photographs.
Posted by: Sherry | December 28, 2009 at 02:39 PM