Another gorgeous day for biking - Feb. 28/14

Once it warmed up enough (about noon), we headed out for another bike ride.  What a gorgeous day!

We actually saw this fellow last night when we went for a walk.  Found a whole bunch of them in a little pool area by a go-cart track.  Here's looking at you! 

Does anyone know what this fruit is?  When it's ripe, it's really sweet, and I think by next week we'll be pigging out on them. 

This little fellow may be challenging us for the fruit! 

Found a "tree-full" of vultures!  The one on the left is a black vulture, the one on the right is a turkey vulture - has a red head.  Both are scavengers. 

One path we took led us past the Kissimmee Regional Airport - lots of small planes, including some jets coming and going. 

We think this is some kind of a fish farm - covered with a net to keep the birds out. 

 

The red keys show up on these trees first, then the leaves.  I used to think it was red leaves of flowers coming out. 

 

Such nice reflections. 

Part of our route today took us through a woods/swamp.  No rails on the boardwalk make me nervous. 

This is part of the Cyprus swamp, with lots of "knees".  There WERE rails on this stretch, fortunately. 

We came to a pioneer village, so had a look.  This is a "cracker house".  Crackers were Florida cowboys who "cracked" whips to herd the cows. 

 

While we were at the pioneer village, this Sandhill Crane put on quite a show just over the fence.  I loved it! 

I think he thought that this big red leaf  was some kind of prey, and was flipping it all around. 

This was a water run-off area, and he was splashing the water up, as you can see in this pic.  What fun I had watching him! 

He finally realized that his prize was not edible - look how dejected he looks. 

A pretty big student for a little desk! 

The "teacher" is ringing the hand bell to call the students into the school.  Then I noticed a rope beside the door, and rang the big bell up top. 

Later, the sandhill crane came right up to the chain-link fence.  I love how you can see right through his beak at the nostril. 

Paul waiting unhappily for his turn in the outhouse (just kidding!).
 
 
Does anyone have any wisdom as to why my camera suddenly started taking black and white photos?  I don't think I changed any settings!  Weird!
 
 
We saw these two birds, and I got so excited, thinking they were bald eagles, then realized they were just osprey.  The top one is in a nest, I believe.