Circle B Bar Reserve excursion

Friday morning we got up early and I loaded the motorcycle up with camera gear and headed east to Circle B Bar Reserve.  I had to leave the dog behind as pets are not allowed.  I rolled out about an hour before sunrise thinking I would arrive long before the sun came up.  Uh . . .  Lakeland traffic is just about as bad as Brandon and it took me longer than I’d anticipated.  It was a chilly ride (Florida’s damp 45 degrees is like 30 degrees at home.) but since I brought my riding clothes along, I arrived with functioning fingers and toes.

When I arrived, only 3 vehicles were in the parking lot so I figured I was early enough to capture some wild life shots.  Not 100 yards out of the parking area I spied a large silhouetted bird in the thick of an old live oak tree. I grabbed the camera and looked closer and was pretty sure it was an eagle so I set up the tripod and began shooting some pictures.  I probably stood there for 30 minutes hoping that either the sun would climb high enough to properly light the bird or that he would take flight and I could capture him in all his glory.  He never moved out of the thick of the tree and the sun did not shed good light on him.  I had never walked that trail so in hopes it would wind around where I could get a better shot, I grabbed my gear and walked on.  Unfortunately the trail led away from the tree and I did not get a good photograph  But, I did get to stand and admire this symbol of our great country for a while.  Maybe next time.

I probably walked 5 miles all together and when I returned to the parking lot several hours later it was full.  Circle B Bar Reserve is a very popular place and rightfully so.  It is a wonder nature preserve that is free for the public to enjoy.

Here are a few shots from the visit.

Capturing a good shot of the eagle just wasn’t in the cards. It’s a good thing am not a bird photographer because I’d have to invest a small fortune in glass (lens) to do a proper job.