Thursday, April 13, 2017

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Hello,

Happy Easter everyone!

I am sharing another great Florida park called Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. This park consist of 54,000 acres or dry prairie. It is home to many endangered plants and animals. Two of my favorite sightings were of the Loggerhead Shrike and the Crested Caracara. Both of these birds were seen on the long 5 mile entrance road into the park. This is supposed to be a great park for viewing the night sky, we were only there for the day.


A Loggerhead Shrike, a songbird with raptor habits. It's nickname is the Butcherbird and is related to the Northern Shrike.


The Crested Caracara, one of my favorites.




Great Egrets have a party and invited the  Crested Carcara.


Egrets and herons and warnings of alligators.


One of the views of the trail, a pretty clear blue sky and some palm trees.


Near the visitor center, there was a sculpture of the Carolina Parakeet. This parakeet is now extinct and was the only parrot species native to the United States. The last known wild Carolina Parrot nesting location was in this park. Also in the collage is a  Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly.


A Wood Stork sky.


Eastern Meadowlark


American Kestrel


Most of our walk on the trail was out in the open, no shade to be found. I would suggest going to this park on a cool day.



On the trail at Kissimmee Prairie



"There is no happier person than a truly thankful, content person."


My thankful list for today:
I am thankful to find birds that are on my want to see list. :)
I am thankful for pretty days to take our walks.


Thank you for your visit and comments on my post. Enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!

Thanks to Michelle for the meme Thankful Thursday

I am also linking up to Skywatch Friday, I hope to see you there.


Thank you to Sylvia, Yogi and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday.

108 comments:

  1. Every shots of yours are always outstanding, but the Great Egrets having a party together with the Crested Carcara is truly gorgeous, thank you for sharing, Dearest Eilen !

    Sending Blessings of Joy on your Easter
    with much love

    XOXO Dany

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    1. Hello Dany, I am so happy you enjoyed my egret photo. Thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  2. great photos!

    Happy Easter to you too

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    1. Hello Sussi, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  3. Muito lindo por lá e quantas aves vemos! Linda e abençoada Páscoa! bjs, chica

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    1. Hello Chica, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  4. Its nice to see so many familiar bird, and so beautifully photographed.
    Happy easter Gordon.

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  5. Wow-that loggerhead is certainly a handsome bird. Lovely outing, Eileen.
    Hope your week is going well.
    Happy Easter

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    1. Hello Sue, the Shrike is awesome. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  6. Hari OM
    Oh my, the meadowlark won my heart today!!! Blessed Easter to you Eileen. YAM xx

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    1. Hello Yam, the Meadowlark is one of my favorites too. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  7. Hello,

    Beautiful photos. I love your photos of the Crestet Cancara, and the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly! Very nice :)

    Happy Thursday!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  8. Many of these birds I would never see or know about . . .
    Until YOU . . .
    Happy Easter Eileen . . .

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    1. Hello Lynne, I am happy to share my birds with you! Thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  9. The loggerhead shrike looks much too pretty to be a butcherbird!

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    1. Hello Karen, they are pretty birds! Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  10. Your photos of the cara cara are amazing!

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    1. Hello, I loved seeing the Caracara! Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  11. ...great collection, Happy Easter, Eileen.

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    1. Hello Tom, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  12. Hi, Loved the post. Beautiful pics as always. Happy Easter to all of you. Greetings.

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  13. eek there is a gator swimming in your blog.. love the first two birds, new to me and so beautiful... I might be temped to add babies hanging from the stork bills. ha ha

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    1. Hello Sandra, we saw way too many gators in Florida. That would look funny to see babies hanging from my Wood Storks. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  14. Thankful Thursday...nice thoughts. Love your shots

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    1. Hello Mac, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  15. MAGNIFICENT!!!! You have Woodstork and I have Woostock today, LOL!

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    1. Hello Cloudia, thank you for the nice comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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    1. Hello Tanya, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  17. Wow, this is so cool, we camped in Kissimmee once when the kids were younger!

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    1. Hello Karen, it would be neat to camp there and see the stars at night. Thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  18. Hello Eileen, your photos of the whole area are wonderful! What an expanse to explore and enjoy and see so many wild birds! The little meadowlark is a wonderful photo and sweet bird!
    Wishing you a blessed Easter!

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    1. Hello Christine, I love the Meadowlarks too. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  19. Replies
    1. Hello, Mary! It was a fun place for a hike. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  20. oh nice. I'm originally from Tampa, been to Kissimmee many times and your photos are amazing. Here's to the current administration taking nature into their protection instead of endangering more animals and birds. Maybe if we tell them it's important to us.

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    1. Hello, I hope the animals and birds will be protected. This administration doe snot seem to care about the wildlife. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  21. Boa tarde, a sua ave preferida é linda, assim, não me admiro da sua preferência, todas as fotos são de enorme qualidade e beleza.
    Votos de Páscoa repleta de alegria! Feliz Páscoa!
    AG

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  22. So funny that you featured the Shrike here this morning. My daughter randomly announced just an hour ago, that her friend's favourite bird is the Shrike, and then proceeded to tell me about its rather violent behaviour. I didn't believe her, so I looked it up and sure enough. Quite disturbing, but I can see why girls interested in the macabre would like this little critter.
    Have a great day Eileen,
    Andrea

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    1. Hello Andrea, the Shrike does have a violent behavior. They are handsome birds! Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  23. Wonderful park for photos and you certainly got some good ones!

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    1. Hello Lois, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  24. Beautiful photos and lovely video, Eileen! So lovely to see all these stunning birds! Thank you so much for sharing, and Happy Easter to you. :)

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    1. Hello Linda, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  25. Gorgeous raptors! Beautiful photos, Eileen. I sure hope you have a blessed Easter!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the nice comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  26. The kestrel is my favourite, and the video's a good touch, seeing the gators!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  27. What a fabulous place to see lots of wildlife! We have a favorite trail that looks like that and and the sand sure gets in your shoes...but it's worth it! I love the Kestrel...one of my favs! And I just walked at Shalom and saw 2 Swallowtail Kites this morning. I guess I have my post for critters! Enjoy your day! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Hello Diane, the Swallowtail Kites are beautiful. I love seeing them soaring in the sky. Thank you for the nice comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  28. All lovely! I'm thankful for the opportunity to see them on your blog.

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    1. Hello Lynn, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  29. I love your picture of the Shrike, fabulous. And the Crested Caracara, love it.

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    1. Hi Bob, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  30. Replies
    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  31. I love your bird pics as always, Eileen!

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    1. Hello, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  32. Cool tour! But yes...it DOES look rather hot.

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    1. Hello, it wasn't really a tour just a walk with my hubby! Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  33. The crested caracara is one handsome bird.

    Imagine, tens of thousands of acres set aside. That is wonderful. I'm reading a natural history of the Gulf of Mexico right now and it talks about the massacre of all kinds of birds in the past along the Gulf Coast. Much of it the bigger birds for the feathers for ladies hats but also a lot of just for fun and sport. It also talks about the public outcry and the land that was set aside as preserves.


    Again, an interesting and informative post.

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    1. Hello, the Crested Caracara is one of my favorites. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  34. Your photos are so well composed.
    Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  35. Lots of great birds to be found here!

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    1. Hello Linda, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  36. Beautiful collection of bird pics, and I like the big, open blue skies! Enjoy your weekend.

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    1. Hello, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  37. My favorite today is the Shrike. Never seen one of these.

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    1. Hello, I love the Shrike too. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  39. Great photos of all the birds. I read the comment about the shrike and was intrigued by its behavior. Will have to read more about it! Thanks for linking up today and have a great weekend.

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    1. Hello Michelle, the Shrike is a mean bird. Thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  40. All great shots ~ Love the Kestrel though the best ~ thanks,

    Wishing you a Happy Weekend ~ ^_^

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    1. Hello Carol, thank you for the nice comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  42. I liked seeing how smoothly the alligator floated into position in the swamp, Wileen. Those egrets better watch out!

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    1. Hello Pat, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  43. Incredible sightings and fabulous photos again Eileen. Thank you so much for sharing them from your trip to Florida. Happy Easter!

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    1. Hello Denise, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you happy weekend!

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  45. Beautiful clear skies!!! I love those tall trees at the end of the trail!

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    1. Hello, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  46. A gorgeous collection of birds, Eileen. You must be a bird whisperer to get them to pose for you.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Hello Amalia, thank you so much for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  47. At first I thought 'a warning of alligators' was a phrase used to describe a whole bunch of alligators!
    Love all the bird photos!
    Tomorrow I will be linking my Sky Watch Friday Eagle post to your Saturday Critters
    Happy Easter!

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    1. Hello Lea, thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  48. the first 2 close-ups are just amazing. and the video, wow, so many egrets all together, i am lucky to see 1. you sure did see a lot of gators too!! have a wonderful holiday weekend!!!

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    1. Debbie, as always thank you for the comment and visit. Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter and weekend!

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  49. So so pretty! Thanks for sharing! The Crested Carcara is beautiful especially the beak!

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  50. Hi Eileen, what wonderful photos! The one of the Eastern Meadowlark is just beautiful.
    Have a wonderful Easter!
    Robin

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  51. Piękne zdjęcia jak zawsze.Urocze miejsce.Wesołych Świąt.

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  52. Hi Eileen, I have enjoyed these amazing shots of birds that I am not familiar with ( as I always do when I visit here! :)

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  53. The 1st 2 pics and the kestrel were the best!

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  54. Such a beautiful series of picture of Saturday Critters.

    A gift in this Easter.

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  55. What a great post...that first little bird's beak looks wicked sharp. I loved that video. and love the trail shots, too.

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  56. So many lovely photographs and I do like your mosaic too.

    All the best Jan

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  57. Gorgeous captures, great post! Happy Easter to you too!

    Irene

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  58. Amazing place .... I wish I could figure out when it would be a cool day....we wouldn't last long on this trail otherwise.

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  59. beautiful place and sightings. love the Shrike :)

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  60. When I go to Florida again, I will have to visit this park! Both the Shrike and the Cara Cara are kinda funny looking, aren't they? I would guess that the water fowl KNOW there are gators or crocs in that place...? Gotta be fast to avoid being eaten! Yikes! Thanks for sharing this interesting place! Hugs!

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Have a happy day, Eileen

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