The recent deluge of rain made St. Andrew’s State Park in Panama City a bit water-logged, flooding the lower section of hiking trails along Gator Lake. I was still able to get in a good walk and snapped a few shots around the high water. The tiny island in the middle of the lake was, as usual, brimming with nesting heron and ibis (Ibix? Ibises!).
A small family of cormorants, a mother and five juveniles, were paddling around among the reeds, but my loud Sasquatch feet scared them off before I could snap a photo.
The Spring Breakers were out in force, so I avoided the beach. Traffic was nuts. Within an hour, I saw two out-of-towners pulled over for speeding (I know they were speeding because they passed my car like I was sitting still – karma has her own blue-light special), and two more accidents with multiple emergency vehicles. Hopefully, there were no serious injuries.
You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.
(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)
For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.
Thin spiral notebook 
Gorgeous photos but YIKES on the tourists. It’s amazing to me the speed and the accidents I see on Florida highways regularly (so much more so than here in Chicago). I wonder if it’s the “we’re on vacation, nothing can happen to us” mentality or something else entirely. That has to be frustrating as a local… except for seeing the cars pulled over. HA to them.
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Beautiful! I love the one of the trail. It leads you right down that path. Thanks for sharing.
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I like the shot of the trail the best.
speeders pulled over are much better than emergency vehicles at an accident. Too many just don’t think about the danger they create.
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We have still ice on top of the lakes/sea…it’s going to take time to snowless spring BUT it’s been sunny! and days are lighter and longer 🙂
Have a good week ahead!
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The reflection shot of the trees is really beautiful. It all looks so calm and peaceful
Mollyxxx
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It really was very peaceful. Except for the bird’s singing, there was little other sound. That quiet solitude is what I like most about my photo hikes.
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Hopefully the traffic will get better. There is a justice after all.
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Traffic around here is terrible during the height of tourist season, but you get used to it or avoid is as much as possible.
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cheer up, it could have been SNOW!!! 😉
That much rain would have made A LOT of snow.
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I’m thankful it wasn’t snow, that may have closed the whole trail.
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Love the line of trees with their reflection!
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The water was so still, it was like a mirror.
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These are terrific, Tara, and your header….incredible! 🙂
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Thank you so much! I have a lot of beauty to work with when taking photos.
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Beautiful photos! Maybe the traffic will ease off for next weekend’s hike.
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I think it’s just going to get worse, but I know where all the best spots are, and which ones aren’t so crowded.
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