In the beginning of April, we followed the winding and narrow road partway up Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, to a small pullout with room for about 4 cars to park. The trailhead kiosk is barely visible from the road, as the trail quickly drops down below the road and takes you for a short walk to Glen Falls. Stone steps and a small tunnel let you climb above the falls.

We did not see many creatures with spring just starting at the time, but we did see a millipede and a dusky wings.

The primary attraction at Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is the extensive underwater cave system, with nearly 33,000 feet of underwater passages. I think our vehicle was the only one in the parking area that was not carrying oxygen tanks.

There are two entry points to the caves, with other sink holes in the area connecting to the same water table. This is the orange grove sink entry. (by zanna)

Here you can see the limestone karst. (by quoderat)

This frog was on the ramp down to the water. (by quoderat)

For those who are not getting in the water, there is a very pretty 1.2 mile trail through the forest with signs about the caves below you and the surrounding plants.

These common wood violets were indeed common on the trail.

A striking wasp, perhaps a male giant ichneumon, was on a log beside the trail. (by quoderat)

We had skipped over this state park in our previous visits to the area, but found some wonderful trails this morning at Suwannee River State Park. The lime sink run trail is marked as strenuous, but a few small hills and some tree roots were the worst we encountered on this clear and well marked trail which winds around the short spring fed creek which flows into the Suwannee River. (by zanna)

There were many turtles sunning themselves. (by zanna)

It felt like spring, with many trees budding out. Cypress and rain lily by quoderat.

Fishing spider (by quoderat)

There were many bird songs around us. We saw cardinals, a pileated woodpecker and a smaller woodpecker that we didn’t see closely, yellow rumped warbler, what we think was a waterthrush and this which we’re having trouble identifying, but a slightly reddish tail makes hermit thrush likely. (by zanna)

We also saw a hawk, which hid before we managed to get its picture, and then quoderat found and photographed this patient little snake, possibly a juvenile eastern rat snake.

Two moths, the latter is our first sighting of a Luna moth. (by quoderat)

Rain and colder temps have been keeping us inside the last few days, but before that we went to Crooked River State Park. This lovely park has several trails (and cute cabins) that look out at the salt marsh. These meandering riverscapes define the landscape of coastal Georgia.

This was one of the neatest state parks that we’ve been to so far. The only access to the park is by your own boat or a very short ferry ride.

“In 1955, a dragline operation recovered a large wooden owl carving from the St. Johns River in the vicinity of the parking lot of Hontoon Island State Park near a burial ground that had been established more than 3,300 years ago.” [Florida State Parks] The Timucua owl totem that was uncovered “is the largest pre-Colombian wood carving found in Florida, and the only totem of its kind in the eastern United States.” [wiki] Replicas of this and a second totem are near the visitors center. (by zanna)

We watched and heard several hawks, woodpeckers and flitty birds. This pileated woodpecker landed somewhat close by. (by zanna)

The nature trail along the west side of the park mostly stays in stands of palm with occasional huge old oaks, all covered in mosses and lichens (both by quoderat)

Before the nature trail ascends a shell midden, a wide hill created by shells discarded by Native Americans which the forest has now grown over the top of, the trail provides a view of the Hontoon Dead River. (by zanna)

It remained fairly cold for this region all day, but this lone gemmed satyr hid in a palm frond near us briefly. (by quoderat)