Hike at Brooker Creek Preserve

Beautyberries after a rain

Our hike went ahead at Brooker Creek Preserve on Saturday, September 30. The trees blocking the main boardwalk from Hurricane Irma had been cleared.

Autumn, which started a week before, brings changes to central Florida. For our hike those changes unfortunately did not include reduced temperatures and humidity. Beautyberries, in their bright purple clusters, dot nearly every bush along the boardwalk and trails. We came upon wildflowers in various stages of growth and bloom, some our autumn flowers and some normally Spring flowers, fooled by the length of day and the amount of rain.

Spiders built nests everywhere. The first person walking the trail generally found the web, either by sight or by walking through. In addition to the Golden Silk Orbweaver, seen frequently here, we saw Spotted Orbweavers, one of the Autumn spiders, and several we couldn’t see close enough to identify. That did not stop us from photographing the beautiful webs.

 

Spotted Orbweaver in web from the boardwalk

The birds, for the most part, remained in the canopy. We could hear but not see. A few warblers flitted through long enough for identification by binoculars, but not long enough for a photograph. Near the end of the hike a pair of Northern cardinals kindly posed in a bush, and sat for a minute or two eating some berries. Several of the hikers got a shot.

All the rain from our recent hurricane means that the water levels are high. We usually see some wading birds, an Anhinga, and an alligator or two from the bridge, but not on this hike. We did encounter, and endure firsthand experience, with mosquitoes, which we  had been told to expect.

We hope to see those of you who came to this hike, and others, on the next hike, October 28. Our hike themes vary depending upon the time of year, likely photo opportunities, and the interests of the people who join us. Thank you!