Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

We spent Thanksgiving at Seminole State Park in Georgia. I was a little scared when I was told we were staying in cabins, I was expecting something a tad more rustic. But the cabins were amazing, the area was gorgeous, and the weather was perfect. Here are our pictures. Click to enlarge if you are so inclined.
We stopped at Koon Lake on the way up to do some birding. This is a yellow sulphur butterfly.
Also at Koon Lake, this is a Phoebe.
We also stopped in Tallahassee to get this red-necked grebe. This was a life bird for me, and a bird of the day for David.
Thanksgiving morning, David and I took a hike on one of the trails at the campground. This is a Merlin that was sitting in a tree. We also saw a ribbon of black birds that went on for 15-20 minutes. David estimates there were 35,000 birds in the flock.
This is a Kestrel, also on the hiking trail Thanksgiving morning. 
Near the end of the trail there is a board walk over a swampy area. This flock of Canada Geese flew over us.  
The experts, trying to figure out the oven on Thanksgiving morning. 
Post Thanksgiving meal, the menfolk watching football.  
The womenfolk doing deep and meaningful things post thanks giving dinner.
David and Scott, catching up around the fire (modern-style) Thanksgiving night.
Kathy and Tom, at the fire Thanksgiving night.
Sherm, Nancy, and Dad, at the fire Thanksgiving night.
Beth, Mom, Amy and Sherm, at the fire Thanksgiving night. 
Sherm and Amy resting during our hike Friday afternoon. 
Indoctrinating the family into the joys of birding. We were all looking at a woodpecker. 
Sherm and Mom, taking a break during our Friday hike.
We saw two turtles in the swamp during our hike.
Me, Nancy, Sherm, Mom, David, Dad and Amy, looking like referees. A stranger came by and took this for us. When we asked him, he at first said, "NO!!! I don't do that kinda thing!" Then he laughed and said of course he would. We decided he would have fit right in with us.
A cool bug who joined our group at the campground.
In front of Nancy and Sherm's camper: Amy, Nancy, Kathy, Tom, Mom, Dad, David and Sherm.
On our way home, we stopped at Tall Timbers to go birding. This was kind of sad. This deer was either sick or had been attacked or both. He was walking around in circles drooling and had patches of fur missing from his back.
Also at Tall Timbers, this little toad wasn't feeling too well either . It was very cold, I think he was late getting into hibernation or something.