Moccasin Lake Park

Moccasin Lake Park

Date: 11/06/14

Temperature: 77 degrees 

Weather: around 20% cloud coverage

The was the sign when first coming into the park. Tell the public about how they are working with the environment and trying to use renewable resources.

  

The park had several exhibits up such as taxidermy and some living creatures as well.

Live snake

Turtles

Outside of the building before going on the trail there were enclosures for birds. These birds were rescue birds or birds that cannot live out in the wild. There was a black vulture and eagles out when the class was there. 

 male eagle

Afterwards the class walked around and looked at all the vegetation that the park offered. There was a lake at one end of the park and a smaller pond towards the back of the park that backs up to peoples yards. The park is 52 acres and has trails and a boardwalk to walk around. 

Moccasin Lake Park

     Weather: 77 degrees F, 30% cloud cover


     We had a visit to Moccasin Lake Park to view an Oak Hammock type of environment. Upon entering the park, at its main building, there are several different varieties of both living and stuffed creatures conveniently placed inside for educational value, and viewing pleasure. Moccasin Lake is a popular destination for Pinellas County school children, where they learn about the environment and the various types of life forms that live in it.

This is Elvis, a 29 year old American Black Vulture

     Part of the parks function is the rehabilitation of birds of prey. Currently they have the American Black Vulture, a male Bald Eagle, and a female Bald Eagle. I was informed that in the near future the park will be receiving a couple of Kestrels, which are a type of hawk. Our class took a walk down the trail, checking out the types of plants that reside in an oak hammock environment.

Here is the class, bunched up and ready for action!

     The oak hammock has a dense overhead canopy, and as its name implies, is inhabited by many species of oak trees. There were several very awesome looking Live Oak trees at this park, with their interestingly shaped trunks bending in odd directions.

This would be how the trail looks at the park.

There is a lot of small creeks running throughout Moccasin Lake Park, and it is actually pretty damp for an oak hammock

Moccasin Lake

Moccasin Lake Park

November 6, 2014

The park is managed but the parts we were exploring we unmanaged

Temperature was around 77 degrees; with cloud coverage of about 20%

Above is a picture from the building we entered at the beginning of the park

Here were some turtles they had in a tank that I thought were cute

Above are two pictures of snakes that were in tanks that I gladly took a picture of and stepped away from 

I thought it was cool that they had a Bald Eagle in the park, I have never seen one that close in person

The creeks at this park were absolutely beautiful

I thought these baby pine cones were so cute

Morgan, Nicole and I enjoying our walk through the park

Moccasin Lake

Location: Moccasin Lake 11-6-14

It was nice and cool in the trees as soon as you stepped into the sun one remembers that they are in Florida.  Cloud coverage around 15% there was more of a canopy of trees then clouds. Temperature was 79 F. The park was 50% managed.  We also saw castor plant, caesar weed, water oak, and cat briar. 

                                                  Two toads! One is being extremely rude.

                                                              American Black Vulture
                                          Poor guy had Arthritis and he is the oldest Vulture
                                          in captivity. Or so the nice lady working there said.

                                                                   Bald Eagle male.

                                                                Bald Eagle Female.

                                                                        Canopy

                                                           Teacher on the walkway.

                                                                       Air Potato

                                                           I couldn't tell ya what this is.

                                                We found one of Batman's cave entrance.

                                             More Air Potato Vine. You can tell what it is
                                                         because of the heart shaped leaf.

                                                 Gross, nasty side VS. picture perfect side

                                  We did see a gator around here but I could not get a picture of it.