Ginnie Springs Camping II

After my trip to Ginnie Springs, I was eager to go back for another float down the river.  When Emily was back from Colorado we decided to make a weekend trip and show a mountain girl how to camp in summertime Florida.  We selected the weekend that Hurricane Irene was supposed to make landfall on our coast but instead she steam plowed up the eastern seaboard and skipped Florida.  This was perfect for our weekend plans so we set out on a Friday and arrived to a mostly empyt campground. 

This was a drastically different experience than my last camping trip to Ginnie Springs. The campground was quiet and peaceful.  We even found a campsite right by the Santa Fe with NO ONE in eyesight.  It was amazing! 

Scores of animal life was around us this time around.  We saw a raccoon, a Gray Fox, Emily's lifer Prothonotary Warbler, and many other birds.  Each morning a Carolina Wren would fly around our campsite singing joined by Tufted Titmouse and a White-eyed Vireo.  Also by the fallen trees we found mushrooms and centipedes.  My favorite non-bird sighting of the weekend was a striking Luna Moth by the bathrooms.

As always, it was a lovely camping trip with Ms. Lark.  We spent our days lazily floating downstream and swimming in the springs.  The perfect weekend getaway.  I am in love a little with the springs of Florida.  If you haven't been, they are nice any time of year.  Refreshing to swim in during the summer and if you come to Florida in the winter they are the perfect refuge for Manatees.  You can't go wrong either way.

Ginnie Springs Camping

Ginnie Springs Campground may be one of the most fun in Florida but also the loudest.  We arrived for our camping trip around midnight and by the sound of it, the party had just started.  We found a campsite in the Beaver Landing area and set up our tents.  After the humidity soaked us through we walked down to the springs for a little night dip.  Ginnie Springs is also the only spring that I know of that actually keeps a lights on at night for swimming.  This is one of those private, anything goes kind of places.

For the next two days we enjoyed swimming, floating down the river, and hanging by the campsite.  The mosquitoes weren't too bad and the heat of the day was spent in the cool 70 degree waters to cool us down.  If you're looking for a camping destination in summer while in Florida, I believe the only place that is bearable are the springs.

Even with the large crowds were found bits of natural encounters.  Damselflies of all kinds would ride the rafts with us down river.  And the snorkeling is easy in these clear waters.  We saw bass, catfish, and sunfish of all kinds.  We also woke up each morning to a cacophany of bird calls from the Fish Crows roosting above our campsite. 

I highly recommend a trip to Ginnie Springs, even if its just a day trip.  Floating down the Santa Fe River is so relaxing and then swimming in one of the parks six springs is also a nice way to unwind from a hard work week.  I will definitely be returning to this little piece of Florida heaven.  Maybe next time I'll try on a less busy weekend.

El Yunque At A Glance

I can't tell you enough how beautiful and peaceful El Yunque National Forest was in Puerto Rico.  The best part about this portion of the trip was how we spent our days.  Each day consisted of lounging in the pools, scrambling over rocks, eating delicious Puerto Rican dinners in an outdoor restaurant with the sounds of the night around us, and having serene morning of coffee and rainforest sights.  I have to also mention that our hosts at Casa Cubuy Ecolodge were very friendly and the family style breakfasts gave us a nice chance to meet all the lovely people that were sharing our space.  Even though the place was booked, we rarely encountered anyone on the trails or in the waterfall pools.  If a family was nearby, we just walked to the next pool that was hidden behind the boulders.  Truly, this was my favorite part of Puerto Rico and I can't wait to go back.   

Bill Baggs State Park Adventures

The spot of my La Sagra's sighting at Bill Baggs State Park.

Finally the Bill Baggs State Park La Sagra's Flycatcher is mine! While my mom was in town visiting I decided that we should spend a day in Miami. Yes, it's true, partially this idea came to mind because I wanted to once again give the flycatcher a shot on Biscayne Key. Last winter when the La Sagra's was being seen I went three times and never could catch a glimpse. This year I tried once but I was becoming weary with tracking it down. It's not a life bird but certainly it's an ABA bird that I should have by now.

So we arrived early at Bill Baggs and I sent my mom to the beach while I hit the nature trail. I found a nice Prairie Warbler at eye level along the way and some cardinals. With the T-intersection in sight I heard a noise behind me and two flycatchers dove off the snag I had just passed and went into a thick branch of a Strangler Fig. I ran back on the trail and followed the shadowed movements. The La Sagra's called and then one bird flew across the trail. I wasn't sure which bird was left and I stood trying to decide if I should run after the departed bird or if I should stay with the one left. At that moment the La Sagra's Flycatcher came into view and I got crippling looks. It hopped around the tree and called intermittedly. I watched it for 15 minutes or so before it also decided to retreat to the depths of the forest. I was estastic to say the least and even though it wasn't a life bird, it gave me such joy to finally nail this bird down in the U.S.


After my bird chase I joined my mom for some swimming and beach time. The water was crisp but perfect on this hot day. We enjoyed a lunch of empanadas and vegan cookies while we soaked in the sun.

After our bodies had enough of the sun we toured around the lighthouse. I was amazed at how empty the park was on this day and we really only ran into a few other people while walking the trails. It was a nice reprieve from the busy weekends that I had spent at Bill Baggs previously.

On our way back to Miami we stopped on Virginia Key to take in the Miami skyline. I did a little birding and had a few Ruddy Turnstones, some Rock Pigeons, and a flock of Laughing Gulls.

With a little more effort I found a Red-breasted Merganser and a Lesser Black-backed Gull to round out the day. It was the perfect end to our visit in Miami and I was happy to have some quality time with my mom. The La Sagra's was just the icing on the cake.

Camping at Hopkin's Prairie

For the long President's Day weekend a few friends and I road tripped up to Central Florida in search of springs and camping. What we found was the most delightful little campground at Hopkin's Prairie that would serve as our basecamp for the next three days.

Andy and I counted birds in our "yard" which mostly consisted of open prairie but we were lucky to be camping in the shade of huge Live Oaks that produced more than one flock of passerines. (The complete bird list for the GBBC is found below in another post.)

On our first evening we decided to take a sunset walk on the Florida Trail that ran through our campground. Our first delight was finding this large bat house. We couldn't tell if any bats actually lived in the house but at nightfall we had at least half a dozen bats flying close to our campsite.

The trails through this area were really nice. They curved around the prairie and through some scrubby areas. I liked how this trail could encompass prairie, pines, and oak habitats all at once with just a turn of the corner. It proved useful for finding birds of all varieties.

As the sun set we found a log and waited out the daily ritual. Charlie stand sentinel below as we watch the reflection on a small pool in the prairie.

The rest of the weekend consisted of hanging out by the campsite, playing cards, going on short hikes, swimming at Fore's Lake, exploring the roads of Ocala National Forest, and generally just having a nice relaxing weekend.

Emily attempts to beat me at gin-rummy.

The weekend was way too short even with the extended day and we were all a little sad to leave our prairie vistas. I could easily have stayed another few days soaking in the sounds of Sandhill Cranes and watching the fishermen paddle about the open water.

This weekend I am heading north with Emily for our first camping trip to Anastasia State Park. We are only staying one night but I am sure the beach park will treat us well. And then it's off to St. Augustine for the day. I'm looking forward to a slow rise in the morning to the sound of the surf.

California Day 5: Moro Rock and General Sherman Tree

After the Grove of the Giants we headed to Moro Rock. We took our time climbing up and up and up the many stone steps until we finally reached the peak. Moro Rock is a large granite dome located in the center of Sequoia National Park. It sits at a elevation of 6,725 feet and has a 400-step stairway cut into the rock. It's a steep climb but managable for anyone that is willing to tackle the heights. The guardrails are ample and there are plenty of spots to stop and rest if needed.

From the top you have an amazing aerial view of the park. Looking towards the east you can see the peaks that make out the Great Western Divide (seen above) and looking to the west you can see the Middle Fork Canyon (seen below) which is almost as deep as the Grand Canyon.

After leaving Moro Rock we stopped at the Parker Group, a beautiful stand of sequoias named for the Parker family. These were some of the prettiest trees in the park and Geraldine and took our time weaving in and out of the stand.

Next we took a drive through the Tunnel Log. The 275 ft. tree fell from natural causes in 1937 and the following year a crew cut an 8 by 17 ft. tunnel through the center, making the road passable again.

Next we only had one more important stop before heading back to our campsite and that was to pay a visit to the largest tree on Earth, the General Sherman Tree. This giant sequoia has a height of 275 ft. and a volume of 52,513 cu. ft which makes it the largest known non-colonial tree by volume. The tree is believed to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years old.

When you're walking around all these groves and stands it's hard to pinpoint which tree is bigger than the rest. I loved seeing the General Sherman Tree but I must admit that I didn't find it was any bigger than some of the others we had seen. Regardless it was nice to see and I even digibinned a view of the top of the tree. You will notice that it's been struck by lightning and no longer growing taller, only wider.

After hiking and looking upwards all day at large trees we decided to end the day with a dip in Hume Lake. This a small little lake found in the eastern part of Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park. It was busy with children laughing and swimming. We retreated to the quiet areas of the waterfall and managed to keep busy with our wading.

It was the end to a perfect day and exactly the kind of adventure I wanted from my vacation. Nothing could be better than checking out the largest organisms on Earth and then retreating to the cool waters of a lake.

California Day 3: Andrew Molera State Park

Big Sur was everything I thought it would be: beautiful vistas, winding roads, and plenty of ocean and sunshine. We took frequent stops to soak in the views and scan the rocky outcroppings for birds.

Before visiting Geraldine asked me what I would like to do in Big Sur and she should've known I would say looking for birds. After a little internet research I found that Andrew Molera State Park was a must-stop as we traveled south. After not having cash at the gate the attendant was very kind and let us visit without paying. Note for the future, have cash for the small state parks and iron rangers.

The trail on Andrew Molera is about a mile long but it transverses some different habitat. We walked through wooded oaks, grassy fields, and eventually found ourself by the mouth of the river. We found a nice flock of birds on the way to the ocean including my lifer Hutton's Vireo mixed in with some Wilson's Warblers and Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

Butterflies were aplenty in the open fields. I was wishing I had my Kenn Kaufman Butterfly guide but I made due by soaking in the looks and taking a few photos like the one above.

The trail opened up to a beautiful little cove. We spent some time walking down the beach where we encountered a few waves and the next thing we knew our shoes and clothes were soaked.

At the mouth of the river we found a flock of mangy looking mallard-like birds. The leader of the troop was the Canada Goose above. I really wasn't sure what they were doing but they seemed to like the large pool that had formed before the river emptied in the ocean.

Geraldine and I also liked this area and since we were already somewhat wet we decided to strip down to our under garments and take a refreshing swim. The water was chilly but the sun was shining bright and we enjoyed our time playing in the swimming hole and looking for river-worn rocks.

On the way back to the parking lot we spotted my first California Quail of the trip. I had great looks at him. Geraldine didn't get the best view but when she returned to the car (ahead of me) she saw a whole family of quail! I missed the little brat pack because I was seeing my lifer Warbling Vireo. All in all, this is a great state park and a perfect place to stop for some ocean dipping while driving down the California coast. Next up, waterfalls that end in the ocean!