Camping at General Coffee State Park

On Friday, Andre and I took off for General Coffee S. P. for camping. This picture of me is what we were doing for most of the weekend (bird watching). The bird highlight for me was a huge owl. I couldn't tell what kind it was because I only saw it for just a brief look but it was very large and light brown (possible a Barred or a Great Horned Owl). We also saw the following: Common Flicker's, a yellow/black bird (warbler?), olive colored birds (confusing fall warbler's?), a dove colored bird with a yellow beak, about the size of Wood Thrush, that I still can't identify, hummingbirds, Egrets, ducks, geese, titmouse (the largest I've ever seen), cardinals, chickadee, crows. We also saw deer and Andre saw a snake in a tree. We also heard birds (anyway, we think they were birds) making the strangest noises you've ever heard.

This lizard lived in the tree's right at our campsite. He's about 6" inches long, black and gray. When he's on the ground he runs really, really fast. Out in the forest we saw a neon green lizard and all kinds of dragonflies and butterflies.




We are so proud of our camp stove.
You won't believe it but we purchased
it for $7.00 at Walmart (clearance).
It worked perfectly.




On Sunday afternoon, I put my trusty iron skillet on the stove, threw in some chicken thighs, onion, sweet pepper, jalapeno pepper, rosemary and beer and left it to cook for several hours. I just kept pouring the beer on the chicken. This was the best chicken I ever cooked.


The type of forest where we camped is called a Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest near the Coastal Plains (according to a book I checked out of the library but to me the forest is just a plain old swampy/savannah). Pines, magnolias and live oaks with Spanish moss are the predominant plants along with the prickly pear cactus, saw palmetto, ferns, bald cypress (in the swampy areas). I saw many huckleberry bushes and muscadine vines full of ripe fruit. That's why the wildlife is so plentiful including the mosquitoes and biting flies. But we were prepared this time. Before we left I purchased "Repel" insect repellent. It repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers & fleas and it WORKED!!!!! I only got 3 chigger bites this time and they were on my neck of all places. I guess they couldn't get under my clothes (ha ha!!). I did use the whole can though (6.5 0z.). I told Andre that my life expectancy was probably reduced by a few months because of all the chemical absorption but seeing all the birds was worth it.


These experiences really does get in your blood and I can hardly wait to go camping and birding again.