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Daily Bucket: Largo Central Park Nature Preserve [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-03-05
Pinellas County FL (St Pete and Clearwater) is the most densely-populated county in the state, but it is fortunate to have a very nice network of public parks, nature preserves, and wildlife areas. One of my favorites is the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve. Tucked between an electric substation and a golf course, it always has a number of birds, turtles, snakes, gators and other critters to see. It’s one of my favorite places to take an afternoon walk.
The Daily Bucket is a regular series from the Backyard Science group. Here we talk about Mother Nature in all her glory, especially the parts that live nearby. So let us know (as close as you are comfortable) where you are and what's going on around you. What's the weather like? Seen any interesting plants, bugs or critters? Are there birds at your feeders? Deer, foxes or snakies in your yard? Seen any cool rocks or geological features? Post your observations and notes here. And photos. We like photos. :)
In a strip mall parking lot at the park entrance is this Osprey nest on a light pole. It was destroyed by the hurricane last October, but the birds are rebuilding it.
Taking a lunch break
The preserve is surrounded by a ring of canals—part of the network which drains stormwater out into Tampa Bay
The city golf course is right next door
The canals always attract a lot of local wildlife (did you notice the turtle on the tree branch?)
A three-fer: Snowy Egret, White Ibis and Limpkin
The city does its best to control the invasive Water Hyacinth, but it is always a losing battle
Nanday Parakeets
Another boardwalk runs around this large retention pond
Moorhen ambles along the boardwalk. The critters here are accustomed to humans clomping around and they mostly ignore us.
Black-Crowned Night Heron at the drainage outlet
Mama Gator in her favorite basking spot. She’s about eight or nine feet long.
Lots of Tilapia in the pond. The Alligators crunch on them.
A turtle all covered with glop. Looks like a Red-Bellied Turtle.
The rest of the preserve is typical Florida upland oak/palmetto habitat
A series of boardwalks run through this area of the preserve
They lead to an observation tower
Which is nice for watching the duckies
Brown Anole watching me
Red Maple seeds
And now it’s your turn . . . what’s going on in your neck of the woods?
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