It's a pretty sure bet that everyone who sees this post already believes, as I do, that spending time in nature pays huge benefits. But it's always nice to know that the experts agree with us! So I loved seeing this beautiful BBC Earth video and wanted to share it. Even better, studies show that just watching nature on a screen will significantly boost your happiness. Here's the link to our happy place video:
"Appreciate the outdoors! Studies show that spending time in nature—or even just watching it on a screen — will significantly boost your happiness. (Click here to learn more)"
Watching it on a screen might be the only option for those of you "up North" as we Floridians say. Our weather is of course Florida good, but for other reasons we haven't gotten too far away from home lately. It is OK though, because we are lucky to be able to spend time in real-life nature right here in our neighborhood and we're grateful. (But I still enjoyed that video!)
Above is from my latest grocery-trip stop at the Eagle pasture. The two eaglets have reached the awkward pre-teen sort of phrase — they are getting big (and, to be honest, are no longer baby cute). Harriet and her partner continue to teach them the many skills they will need. I caught one of the "babies" peeking over the edge of the nest, perhaps thinking about the big wide world out there beyond home. (The more you watch this family, the more difficult it becomes not to anthropomorphize.)
One day last week I walked a path behind our Library and a County recreation center, not too far down the street from where the eagles live. There's a small retention pond — very small compared to all the watery places in this area — but big enough for this Tri-Colored Heron:
At least that is what I think hope am fairly sure that this is. But more than willing to learn differently if I'm wrong.
The pond is just sitting there behind a Frisbee Golf Course and near the tennis and pickleball court. The Rec Center doesn't even advertise nature walking, my favorite leisure activity. But the possibilities are there anyway.
I stood there for quite a while waiting to see if any other birds would appear. They didn't, but this one kept busy and on the move.
There were several very large turtles on the other side of the pond. Something apparently scared them and they all slid into the water at once. (Or maybe it was just bath time.)
Most of them climbed back out while I was still watching.
Last Sunday morning, we drove a few miles up the highway for a friend's birthday luncheon. We were too early, so we went a ways further — that particular stretch of the highway is one where we always see birds and on this day we even found a couple of safe places to pull off.
It's not a very scenic place to hang out, but these Wood Storks didn't seem to mind. I couldn't see it, but there must have been some water in that ditch. It worries me a little that the birds would choose a place like this when there are better spots to live. But who knows how storks think? (There were about ten storks hanging out in the general area.) We must also have seen at least a hundred cattle egrets in the pastures as we drove. Then, a little further up the road, we spotted the large clean-up crew seen below. These guys do a good job of what they are supposed to do, so I took a picture or two, even though they are even less beautiful than the storks:
Black Vultures
I don't really want to know what else was down there in that part of the roadside ditch. That's really all I have for this post, but I can't end on this note, so here is a little more natural beauty taken from the end of our canal (right here at home):
Grateful for ordinary days!
Thank you to the hosts of these sharing opportunities:
SATURDAY CRITTERS; MOSAIC MONDAY; NATURE NOTES; THROUGH MY LENS; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and FRIDAY BLISS
We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.