This software is TERRIBLE - I cannot move pictures into any semblance of order so bear with me. The turtle statue and the railing cut-out was at the bird landing area. 

GETTING LOST can be fun!

Earlier this week I attempted to attend a lecture I thought was being held at the GTM Research Reserve (http://gtmnerr.org/) only to discover I went to the wrong location. While I discovered the lecture on their website, it was actually being held in another location too far for me to get to on time from the Reserve. It was a little disappointing initially, but I recovered from that disappointment very quickly and watched an interesting video on the Reserve and local ecosystem, talked to staff about looking for work and/or volunteer opportunities and walked around the displays inside and the surrounding area. This page, by the time I finish, will have pictures of my time there and of the beach areas where I stopped on my way back. First, outside the education center where the above turtle/fish pictures were taken was an area where people could fish and get their boats into the water. Saw a few birds, the Governor Grant's Plantation. Was interesting to see the signs about manatees (yeah) and alligators (yikes!) and of course, a few beachy things.  
I am struggling with this website to get the text and photos to work together so please be patient as I try to make future pages look a little nicer!The pictures are actually jumping around as if they are actually live action instead of still and driving me crazy! This is putting everything out of order!

After I left the GTM Reserve I drove further north before heading south towards home. I think all the area I was in that day was part of Ponte Vedra. Nice area. I saw a sign for a "Bird Landing" or something like that. The signs disappeared and I had a lot of extra driving around for nothing, but that was okay! I eventually found the area I was seeking behind a library. Saw a few birds (probably Anhinga) and a turtle. Nothing more exciting. Then I headed home. Of course, had to stop on the way home at a beach (was hard to find a place to park where I didn't have to pay to park - I wouldn't mind, but it will add up while looking for a job!).

Then I saw a really cool castle. Looked like a super old building, but it really isn't. Here is a link to the story about the castle. http://www.castleotttis.com/ - take a look!

From here forward should be all pictures from Bird Island Park. There was a turtle sculpture, several benches carved into animals, an area that looked like a maze made out of hedges and I think it was supposed to be in the shape of a turtle. It was alongside the pier that went around a big pond (or little lake). There were some cool birds - maybe Anhinga or Cormorants, but my eyes and camera lens were too far away to be sure (or photograph them all). I THINK I may have seen a kingfisher, but that was definitely too far away and too tiny to be sure.

There was a neat little amphitheater area (I think I've uploaded a photo).

Of course, a lot of plants and some cool flowers. And of course, geckos!