Tuesday January 17th 2017

The good weather pattern continued today. It was around 80 degrees flirting with a record high. I took advantage of the good weather. I went to Robinson Preserve in Bradenton FL.

Robinson Preserve is located in the portion of the city between downtown and the coast. It is very near the De Soto National Memorial that I toured a couple of weeks ago. Getting there is a challenge. You need to drive through the city center or make a very wide loop around to the south. I fought the traffic through the downtown area. The next challenge is finding the correct turns. There are little brown signs about a foot square that direct you into and through heavily residential areas. One minute your passing driveways and mailboxes and the next your at the entrance to the preserve.

Map of Robinson Preserve

The preserve is on 487 acres of conservation land. It has trails designed for walking and bicycling throughout the marsh land and around the estuaries. There are also several put-ins and take-outs for kayaking and canoeing. I wasn’t sure what to expect but found an abundance of birds and trails. When I got out of my car I anticipated hanging around for a half hour or so. I didn’t take any water or my day pack. Two hours later when I returned to the car I was ready for a good guzzle of water. It wasn’t my smartest move of the year, but there were plenty of people on the trails if I got into trouble. These thoughts ran through my head when I noticed I had left my cell phone at home. It’s amazing how that piece of technology has become a security blanket.

Blue Heron on far side of tidal pond

Observation tower at the Preserve

Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway bridge from the observation tower.

Great Egret from the observation tower

Blue Heron

Tampa Bay looking toward the mouth of the Manatee River

The trail passes through open areas, along boardwalks above the estuary and along the shore of Tampa Bay. I saw several egrets and blue herons. There was an Osprey nest high on a pole with one of the pair on guard duty. Through the brush along one of the waterways I saw a Roseate Spoonbill. The pink coloring and the distinctive beak make the identification easier than most of the other birds. The biggest ground creature I saw was a gecko.

Ibis on the shore of Tampa Bay

Palm trees along the trail at Robinson Preserve

Egret on point

Blue Heron startled into flight.

Returning to the campground at rush hour back through the downtown area was even worse than the trip out to the preserve, but it was worth it. Another time I need to bring my bicycle.