Today was awesome! I saw so much wildlife!
This morning A small wren landed on my picnic table at the campground just a few feet away from me. We were looking at each other eye to eye. It must not have seen me because I was quietly drinking my coffee when it flew. I lingered for a few moments, making eye contact with me the whole time before flying away.
My little campground was full of activity first thing this morning. Cardinal were singing, small bird were chasing each other frantically. The squirrel there had an odd behavior of hanging below the branch and climbing up upside down. One even dangled by it’s hind feet, head hanging straight down, before another squirrel chased it up the tree. They both would hang on the underside of the branches and pull themselves up the limbs instead of climbing on the top like all other squirrels I’ve ever seen. They were quite peculiar and unique with that style of climbing.
I decided to drive up to the beach to finish my coffee and watch the sunrise. The winds were strong and the sun was warm so it was pleasant and invigorating to stand and watch the massive waves crashing on the shore. Pelicans in formation woodshed by at top speed with the wind at their backs.
I then drove though the thickly wooded road back to my campsite when a small falcon tumbled down onto the road in front of me. I suspected it had caught a bird. And sure enough, it lay in front of my car, struggle to succumb its’ prey. I watched patiently until an enormous RV forced it fly away.
Back at the camp I saw many milipedes that were light colored, instead of the usual dark leather color I typically see. I’m not sure if they were the juveniel from spring or a local species I had not seen before.
I drove down to Matanza National Monument then bike for an hour south along the Pal Coast. There were some beautiful parts where the water was on both sides of the road, with the Ocean on the left and the inlet on the right. The bridges offered sweeping views of the coast and sandy, palm lined beaches on the intercoastal side, with dense, unending forest behind. The winds were 20 to 25 mile per hour, so riding back was a real grind. But, my bike is so sleek and aerodynamic that when you curl up into the aero position it reduces the dark so much it almost feels slippery. So I put my head down and cranked out the miles, enjoying the relentless wind because it forced me to give my all. I finished up with a nice stretch on bridge over Matanza inlet. Their were windsurfers speeding along next to the shallow sandbars and doing big airs that would last for many seconds. The winding sands along the inlet were a golden color because of all the broken shells that make up the sand. It ll had a smoothed, sinuous look because of the shifting tides that shape the entrance forming the ocean to the river.
I saw more white butterflies than I could count along the side of the road. The seemed to love all the willdlfowers that sprung up on the side of the road.
Later at Guana River I saw more wildlife than I ever thought I would. There must have been armadillos around every turn, because I lost count to how many I saw. Certainly the most I ever saw in one day. I surprised some deer, they were ahead of me on the trail but when I looked up, they fled like the forest was on fire. I may have seen the same ones later in the day, because they had the same behavior, the ran faster than I had ever seen deer run, which was impressive. i never stood a chance of getting very close to them.
At the tip of the island it was very warm and peaceful, and the wind, which had been howling for the last week, seemed to disappear. I was enjoying the scenery when I noticed a black snake basking in the sun. I tried to sneak up on it but it heard and slid under bush. As I got closer it rattled it’s tail, sounding like a rattlesnake, but I don’t believe it is a poisonous snake, just a trick to scare. It worked. I backed down, not wanting to know if it was poisonous or not. I saw the same type of snake later too. I believe it is a blue snake, but they look black, slender, slim head. Which is why I don’t think its poisonous. Very beautiful and elegant with it’s glistening smooth black scales and sinuous movements. I really do love snakes.
I saw giant butterflies that choose the open pathway for some reason. They will fly in distinct, up, up , and down pattern with their enormous wings that is lovely and enchanting to see.
I saw two raccoons, on separate occasions. Not sure what they were doing during the day, but there they were. One walked past without noticing me, the other scurried into the palmetto.
Armadillo, armadillo, armadillo, then a woodpecker. I saw the white markings on the wings of a bird in flight and thought it was just mockingbird. But then I saw the red head and realized it was pileated woodpecker. I hid behind a small tree between us to try to get closer but it had seen me so it flew away before I could get too close.
On the last mile of my hike, when me second biggest toe was suffering because it was the first time wearing vibrates, and they have no support for your feet. It feels very natural and good, but my second biggest toe had never had to work to so hard, it was the end of strenuous three hour hike and I let a sigh, which disturbed a group of wild pigs. Javelinas I assume by their small size. They look like the wild boar that everyone envisions when you say wild boar, with the thick neck and bristling hair on the neck and down the back. With small hindquarters and a robust torso, they look as manly as animal could. They were very fast, and there were a number of them. A few ran once they heard me, a few lingered to continue eating, then finally flew off, very quickly.
All and all, one of the best wildlife viewing days I’ve had here.
This morning A small wren landed on my picnic table at the campground just a few feet away from me. We were looking at each other eye to eye. It must not have seen me because I was quietly drinking my coffee when it flew. I lingered for a few moments, making eye contact with me the whole time before flying away.
My little campground was full of activity first thing this morning. Cardinal were singing, small bird were chasing each other frantically. The squirrel there had an odd behavior of hanging below the branch and climbing up upside down. One even dangled by it’s hind feet, head hanging straight down, before another squirrel chased it up the tree. They both would hang on the underside of the branches and pull themselves up the limbs instead of climbing on the top like all other squirrels I’ve ever seen. They were quite peculiar and unique with that style of climbing.
I decided to drive up to the beach to finish my coffee and watch the sunrise. The winds were strong and the sun was warm so it was pleasant and invigorating to stand and watch the massive waves crashing on the shore. Pelicans in formation woodshed by at top speed with the wind at their backs.
I then drove though the thickly wooded road back to my campsite when a small falcon tumbled down onto the road in front of me. I suspected it had caught a bird. And sure enough, it lay in front of my car, struggle to succumb its’ prey. I watched patiently until an enormous RV forced it fly away.
Back at the camp I saw many milipedes that were light colored, instead of the usual dark leather color I typically see. I’m not sure if they were the juveniel from spring or a local species I had not seen before.
I drove down to Matanza National Monument then bike for an hour south along the Pal Coast. There were some beautiful parts where the water was on both sides of the road, with the Ocean on the left and the inlet on the right. The bridges offered sweeping views of the coast and sandy, palm lined beaches on the intercoastal side, with dense, unending forest behind. The winds were 20 to 25 mile per hour, so riding back was a real grind. But, my bike is so sleek and aerodynamic that when you curl up into the aero position it reduces the dark so much it almost feels slippery. So I put my head down and cranked out the miles, enjoying the relentless wind because it forced me to give my all. I finished up with a nice stretch on bridge over Matanza inlet. Their were windsurfers speeding along next to the shallow sandbars and doing big airs that would last for many seconds. The winding sands along the inlet were a golden color because of all the broken shells that make up the sand. It ll had a smoothed, sinuous look because of the shifting tides that shape the entrance forming the ocean to the river.
I saw more white butterflies than I could count along the side of the road. The seemed to love all the willdlfowers that sprung up on the side of the road.
Later at Guana River I saw more wildlife than I ever thought I would. There must have been armadillos around every turn, because I lost count to how many I saw. Certainly the most I ever saw in one day. I surprised some deer, they were ahead of me on the trail but when I looked up, they fled like the forest was on fire. I may have seen the same ones later in the day, because they had the same behavior, the ran faster than I had ever seen deer run, which was impressive. i never stood a chance of getting very close to them.
At the tip of the island it was very warm and peaceful, and the wind, which had been howling for the last week, seemed to disappear. I was enjoying the scenery when I noticed a black snake basking in the sun. I tried to sneak up on it but it heard and slid under bush. As I got closer it rattled it’s tail, sounding like a rattlesnake, but I don’t believe it is a poisonous snake, just a trick to scare. It worked. I backed down, not wanting to know if it was poisonous or not. I saw the same type of snake later too. I believe it is a blue snake, but they look black, slender, slim head. Which is why I don’t think its poisonous. Very beautiful and elegant with it’s glistening smooth black scales and sinuous movements. I really do love snakes.
I saw giant butterflies that choose the open pathway for some reason. They will fly in distinct, up, up , and down pattern with their enormous wings that is lovely and enchanting to see.
I saw two raccoons, on separate occasions. Not sure what they were doing during the day, but there they were. One walked past without noticing me, the other scurried into the palmetto.
Armadillo, armadillo, armadillo, then a woodpecker. I saw the white markings on the wings of a bird in flight and thought it was just mockingbird. But then I saw the red head and realized it was pileated woodpecker. I hid behind a small tree between us to try to get closer but it had seen me so it flew away before I could get too close.
On the last mile of my hike, when me second biggest toe was suffering because it was the first time wearing vibrates, and they have no support for your feet. It feels very natural and good, but my second biggest toe had never had to work to so hard, it was the end of strenuous three hour hike and I let a sigh, which disturbed a group of wild pigs. Javelinas I assume by their small size. They look like the wild boar that everyone envisions when you say wild boar, with the thick neck and bristling hair on the neck and down the back. With small hindquarters and a robust torso, they look as manly as animal could. They were very fast, and there were a number of them. A few ran once they heard me, a few lingered to continue eating, then finally flew off, very quickly.
All and all, one of the best wildlife viewing days I’ve had here.
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