"Do not Molest the Alligators"

Ah, yes, the familiar message of so many signs around Florida lakes and ponds: "Do not feed or molest the alligators..." and other variations. Such was the familiar scene when I went down to Moccasin Lake Nature Preserve for a morning hike yesterday.

It was a beautiful day, destined to be scorching hot come noontime. Very few birds out, except for the common species like Downy Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Mockingbirds and Ospreys.

Nonetheless I had a lovely time wandering the trails, avoiding early-morning spiderwebs across the paths, contemplating nature, and all that fun stuff. Not much luck on the birding side of things, but then again, it's already summer here by most standards so I don't expect much.

Now we're at that time of year when thunderstorms hit every afternoon at 4 o'clock, last for about 30 minutes, and then disappear just as quickly as they came, giving way to a steamy hot evening. Oh, Florida. How I missed thee!

Happy birding!