Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Little blue heron

Bird Identification      ( Florida Species )      

Few wading birds sound genuinely upset when you walk past them, but the little blue heron sure kicks up a fuss – and usually moves away quickly, no matter how softly you walk.

Mac Lake Trail

Colt Creek State Park  |  Lakeland
( 28.2961, -82.0413 )      0.9 miles

An easy excursion into a dense hardwood forest along a natural floodplain, the Mac Lake Nature Trail at Colt Creek State Park is an interpretive walk in the woods

Moorhen

Bird Identification      ( Florida Species )      

One of the noisiest residents of the marsh, the moorhen – also known as the common gallinule or marsh hen – has a distinctive red beak compared to their cousins the coots.

Mottled duck

Bird Identification      ( Florida Species )      

A dabbling duck, the mottled duck floats along the surface of the water and daintily dabs its bill into the water to feed, or tips over to reach vegetation at the bottom.

Osprey

Bird Identification      ( Florida Species )      

The osprey is a large black and white raptor, up to two feet tall and with a six-foot wingspan. It dives for fish and is found near freshwater and saltwater habitats.

Palm Bluff Conservation Area

Deland      ( 28.88872,-81.13906 )      10.3 miles

Discover a parade of habitats in the Deep Creek basin on three loop hikes within 3,300 acres east of Deltona.

Pine Island Trail

Blue Spring State Park   |  Orange City
( 28.9426, -81.3399 )      7.3 miles

Showcasing habitat diversity along the St. Johns River basin, the Pine Island Trail treats you to ancient oaks, open scrub, and the bank of the river itself