Yesterday a friend of mine (thanks Gladys!) introduced me to a Nature Park that I had no idea existed right along a route I drive several times a week. Practically right under my nose.
The McGough Nature Park is also known as a “turtle park” because it houses 150-200 turtles of various sub-species at any given time. When we arrived, some of them were enjoying the sunshine at the pond.
This park also provides a home for rescued raptors, who cannot manage on their own in the wild due to injuries they have sustained. We saw five birds there at the moment, if I remember correctly.
One of these owls had an eye injury, and the other had a debilitating wing injury. They were not able to fly, but had gotten a home here in the park’s Nature Center.
This Red-shouldered Hawk had injured her right wing so badly that part of it had to be surgically removed.
After saying hello to the rescued raptors in the Nature Center, we walked the beautiful trail through the pine, oak, palm and mangrove forest. Please come along.
I hope you enjoyed the short walk in this park, and the gorgeous spring weather 🙂
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
What a beautiful place to walk Tiny, Love the turtles, it is beautiful to see them. We loved swimming with them when we stayed on Lord Howe Island, but these are freshwater turtles I guess and not ocean ones?
Happy you liked the short walk! These are freshwater and land turtles. Although there may be some sea turtles in the adjacent intracoastal waterway. It’s salt water and connects to the ocean a few miles north of the park, just where we live The sea turtles dig their nests right on our beach every year 🙂
Magnificent!
Hi Conchita! Nice to “see” you here, happy you liked the walk 🙂
Great post
Design your blog is also great, how do you think to my blog
Thanks! I think your blog design looks nice, but unfortunately I am not fluent in Indonesian 🙂
You are welcome
Really nice my blog, I was pleased with your praise, indeed hehehe I of Indonesa, if I may know you from which country?
I am in the US, Florida.
Thank you for the lovely walk through the park, Tiny 🙂
So happy you came along for the walk, Carol! I thought the old oak and pine trees were magnificent.
Those old trees make my painters fingers itchy. 😉 Love that the raptors have a good place to heal and live. Wonderful pictures my friend. ❤
Thanks Jackie! I hope you will paint some of “my” trees! The raptor rescue is great, many of the birds live there the reminder of their lives, but I found out that one Great Horned Owl recently surprised everyone by learning to fly again…and now lives free in the park. His home in the Nature Center was empty. Hugs & ❤
What a nice story! I hope that owl lives a nice long free life. 🙂 One day I may ask you for a pic of your ‘trees’ and paint one!
That would be an honor!
This place looks so much better than a similar one in Orlando, FL. Thank you Tiny for introducing it to us.
Happy you like this park, Hien. It was a pleasant surprise to me, and so close to home.
Great park ~ and I loved the lead-in photo, so cool. I would spend a lot of time in this place if it were close to me 🙂
That turtle was a cool fellow, and the park was both peaceful and beautiful. Happy you came along, Randall. I will certainly spend more time there in the future…once the Osprey chicks in the park next to me learn to fly and leave after the nesting season 🙂
you are always the great guide (and photographer)
Thank you Bruce! Happy you enjoyed the walk.
from turtle to tree .. its so beauty full
Glad you enjoyed the park, San_jeet.
What a beautiful spot!
It is! I wouldn’t have found it on my own. I noticed there is a small sign at the turn to the park on the busy road I usually drive, but I’m not capable of reading signs driving 50m/h on a multilane road 🙂
What an excellent discovery! I love How the Raptors are so well taken care of – thanks for the lovely stroll!
I’m happy too there are “homes” these raptors can live in when they can’t hunt by themselves any more. Happy you enjoyed the stroll.
What an interesting park, I am sure you are pleased that you found it.
Yes, I’m happy my friend told me about it, and then took me there.
Love the turtles!
Me too. They take it easy, no stress.
Saturday, on our way home from Sand Key
we diverted from the main roads and detoured through Largo.
Could have stopped had we know of its existence.
Ten years in Florida and we are still discovering new venues to visit.
This park is now on our soon to do list, Thank You
ME and the Boss
You’re welcome. It’s a nice little park, very beautiful trees. And the turtles alone are worth a visit.
Lovely to see the injured birds being so well cared for. Amazing that one of them learned to fly again!
It is! The raptors that come here have kind of gone through the rehab already and not been able to be released back into the wild, but this owl surprised everyone!
Thanks for sharing this restorative oasis with us, Tiny. I enjoyed wandering with you through the park.
It was restorative indeed, the weather was spring-like with low humidity still on Monday. Now back to “normal”, as you know 🙂 Thanks for coming along Nancy.
What a noble work they do there! Thank you for the wonderful tour, Tiny!
Happy you took the walk and saw the rescued raptors, Amy!
it’s nice to be off the beaten track 😉 this was quite something 🙂
Happy you enjoyed this (for me) new discovery, Sirpa!
I did very much enjoy this walk in the park, Tiny. Great photos. How very fortunate that your friend opened this world to you (and us). 😀
Happy you enjoyed the walk, Jet. Discovery of this park was a great gift from my friend. Now I hope to give her a gift of observing the osprey chicks’ flying lessons in the next 2-3 weeks 😀
What a lovely place to relax at. Your picture with the bridge/walkway is so beautiful. Something about it calls to me. I love how all your pictures are so clear. I feel like I am seeing it in the person! Awesome Tiny!❀
Happy you enjoyed the park, Koko! It is a beautiful place, and that walkway reaches far out over the water. I took the picture only half way out there. Have a wonderful day!
A wonderful array of critters!
What a beautiful park! Isn’t it fun to discover little gems tucked away right under our noses?? I’ve found we can live in a place for decades and still find things we never knew existed “right around the corner”.
I adored your large intro photo of the turtle! I’ve got a thing for turtles and frogs (as well as birds, LOL), so I really appreciated that great shot!
I feel bad for the injured raptors, but glad that they have a home where they can live out their lives in a safe environment. The call of the barred owl is one of my favorite sounds.
Just wanted to let you know that this new blog theme showcases your photos beautifully!! Gorgeous shots! I would be dancing if these were mine!! xx
What an amazing closeup of Mr. Turtle! How lovely to know that there is excellent care for those poor injured raptors.:) A lovely place to visit, Lisa.
Hello! Wow that picture of the turtle in your header is amazing. The colors are beautiful. What a lovely place and the skies were gorgeous that day. I felt sad that the birds were injured but at the same time, I’m happy they now have a safe home. They’re beautiful and look healthy. Love this place. ❤
New friends 🙂
Yes 🙂