Our Trip to the Everglades

Yesterday at o'dark-thirty, Bill and I along with my favorite sister, Beth, headed south to the Everglades. Beth had just taken her hubby, Warren, to the airport so he could hurry back to Rochester, New York just in time for the year's first blizzard.

We started our sight-seeing adventures on Janes Memorial Scenic Drive - an 11-mile dirt road off Route 29 at Copeland - through part of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. It was foggy early in the morning, but the sun quickly burned through the moisture to produce a picture-perfect day.

This was the day of the hawks. It's easy to see them when they are out in the open, but we spotted several of these beautiful raptors even when they were well camouflaged in the dense woods.

This photo is of a Red-shouldered Hawk who was drying his wings before taking off in search of small rodents. You can see there was still some fog.

Another beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk - posing under the crystal clear blue sky.

And another...

This was quite a surprise. We saw something up ahead that, from a distance, looked like a large branch. It was actually two alligators crossing the road. The larger one was about 8-feet long. We did not get out of the car when we pulled up alongside them.

This is the larger of the two friends.

Wood Storks are endangered here in the U.S. so protecting them, especially during breeding, becomes an important issue at the preserves we visit. Storks may skip a breeding season or desert their eggs if there is too much or not enough rain, effecting the supply of fish.

This Little Blue Heron was looking for lunch.

As was this colorful Green Heron.

I take far too many pictures of Great Egrets - but they are so beautiful, I can't help myself.

This is an adult Black-crowned Night Heron.

And this is also a Black-crowned Night Heron - only this one is a juvenile. We were so proud of ourselves - being able to spot birds hidden in the trees!

We took the lead from all the birds we saw - and stopped for lunch at our favorite Cuban Restaurant. The food is great. We eat outside so we can see the Brown Curly-tailed Lizards playing in the yard. Locals say that they blew-in from Cuba and the Caribbean during one of the hurricanes.

Another of my favorite birds - probably because he is so photogenic - an Anhinga.

Look closely - there is a small alligator resting atop the log. He was about 3 1/2 feet long.

Sister Beth and I posed for Bill to take our picture. Check out Beth's shirt - she buys plain white shirts and dyes them. This is one of my favorites. Beth has a blog with information about quilting and fabric dyeing. Today we will have what she calls "dueling blogs" as we both report on our trip to the Everglades. Be sure to check her account of the day at http://quilterbbethsblog.blogspot.com/

Walking along the boardwalk in another part of Fakahatchee - we saw this Wood Stork thrashing around and shaking his head. We thought he was trying to kill and eat a snake that he caught. It wasn't until I got home and enlarged my pictures that I could see that the snake had wrapped himself around the stork's bill and his neck. I'm not sure who had who - but I'm pleased to report we saw the stork later and he was free - but we don't know if the snake was lunch.

Another alligator - but this one was a baby. He was only about 18 inches long.

Bill and Beth walking back on the boardwalk.

We had a very full day and spotted all sorts of birds and animals. Our skills were honed! We could see a new variety in the distance while driving down the road at 60-miles an hour - which is how we saw the next very rare bird.

Bill made a quick u-turn and headed back so we could identify what we hoped was another life bird. When we stopped to take pictures, the locals started pointing and laughing. Why do you suppose that was????

An Unexpected Adventure!

Yesterday we decided to go to the Mullet Festival in Everglades City. We headed south to Route 75 at o'dark thirty. At the entrance to the interstate we saw half a dozen Wood Storks waiting for the sun to come up. I knew it was going to be a great day!

Before we reached Everglades City we saw a sign for Jane's Scenic Drive in Copeland and made an unexpected right turn. The 11 mile drive is part of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. It's like a drive-through Corkscrew - Amazon style.

We watched this female Osprey for a while while she called to another Osprey. He returned her call. They called back and forth for a few minutes.

Soon the male Osprey came flying in to mate with her. Notice how her position changed to get ready for him.

Once he was finished, he rested for just a few moments before taking off. The encounter was amazing to watch!

This Black-crowned Night Heron was quietly sitting in a tree on the side of the road. This is a large, stocky bird - standing about two feet tall.

Another shot of this beautiful bird. I took dozens of pictures but it was hard to get the proper focus with the branches in the way and I was afraid to get any closer for fear I would spook him.

A little further down the road we met this swamp native and his swamp buggy. He was on his way to the swamp buggy races. He told us he had a cabin about a mile into the swamp. That must be interesting in the middle of the summer!

At the end of the 11-mile road, we came to this canal that once was a major access-way into the Everglades. Long abandoned by people, it was now home to scores of birds and alligators.

This guy was just hanging out - and yes, I really was that close! Bill was on the other, more traveled, side of the canal - but I wanted the pictures!

Look at this gorgeous pair of Black Vultures! OK - maybe gorgeous isn't exactly the right word.

On the far side of the canal was a flock of Wood Stork. There were dozens and dozens!

We had to go back down the drive the way we came because there was no easy exit by the canal. While Bill drive slowly, I stood on the front seat and stuck my head out the moon-roof to get these pictures.

This flock of Ibis was blocking the road. It was an interesting group of mature adults (all white) and immature birds in various stages of molting from brown to white.

The Fakahatchee Strand Preserve was an adventure we hadn't expected to take - but it was wonderful! After we left, we headed down Route 29 to Everglades City hoping we weren't too late for the start of the Mullet Festival.