Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Our first walk in the Glades…

We arrived late morning to Lone Pine Key campground in Everglades National Park.

It took us a while to find a spot we felt would be big enough for our 40 foot Homey.

We did find a spot and wasn’t too pleased with it so we found another spot to move

to the following morning.

It was a very hot day in the 80s..sweat poured from my face and

all the normal places where sweat pours from..and everywhere else.

Its hard to imagine that we are here sweating while my family and many of you are up north in a deep freeze with so much snow and ice.

Luckily it cooled off with some rain showers and in the later afternoon.

We took our raincoats and headed to

Anhinga Trail..

Oh dear…

P1080397

 

Some people tarped their cars..

Our car is old and tired and we weren't concerned about it so we left it as it was.

P1080398

 

The rain had stopped an the cloud cover made the walk cooler..

We still had shorts and tee shirts on.

No mosquitos..

P1080399

 

This is why they call this Anhinga trail

If I had a longer lens I would be able to get some great shots of the babies.

Lots of photographers were out tonight taking getting close ups.

P1080400

 

P1080414

 

Cormorant on the railing…

we were able to get quite close.

P1080407

 

P1080409Corm yoga..

P1080418

 

P1080425

One of the many Great Blue Heron on the trail..

P1080415

 

The first alligator sighting..

There would be more!

P1080428

Palm Warbler..

P1080432

Anhinga drying its wings..

P1080451

 

We saw many Green Heron on the trail…

P1080459

 

The trail follows a boardwalk thru the swamp..

P1080462

 

At the end of one of the boardwalks was this scene….

P1080467

Alligator lounge…

Jeff counted 30

P1080469Safe viewing distance and on the boardwalk..

Though…there really is nothing to be afraid of…

Don’t bother them and they wont bother you.

P1080473

We followed the boardwalk loop

P1080475

Another Green Heron

P1080476

Flowering air plant..

P1080489P1080490

Do you see what I see?

P1080480

 

P1080479

Corms and Anhinga's..

P1080481

An island tree colony of Corms

P1080483P1080485

Another Green Heron..

We saw over six on this trail

P1080497 Most of them were out in the open fishing..

P1080501

 

There is a large wet field we looked into for birds..

Great Egrets and some Great Blue Heron

P1080504

Great Blue Preening

P1080518

There were about five Purple Gallinule..

Such a beautiful bird…

P1080538P1080551

Alligator everywhere…

 P1080554

Anyone know what these are?

P1080569

There were hundreds of them on the railing heading out of the boardwalk area..

P1080570

 

It was getting dark and Jeff had a long day of driving so we headed back to the Campground.

P1080572

 

P1080575Alligator Eyes….P1080577

We plan on being in the Everglades for at least two weeks.

Surprisingly we have internet…it is very spotty.

Our phone reception is not as good as the internet.

I hope to show you more critters we come across in the Glades.

See you soon!

5 comments:

  1. It is a cool park, I loved it there. Awesome birds and gators..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your grasshopper looks like an immature Lubber Grasshopper.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like a GREAT place for a visit!! You got some super shots!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, I believe your insects are Lubber grasshoppers. I love reading your blog about all the fascinating places I could be instead of frozen NJ; makes me want to follow in your footsteps when my kids are grown and we're retired.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fred and Sara- thanks for your IDs on the grasshopper!

    Sara- I hope you can follow our footsteps and go on the road..its a great adventure.

    Kerri- thanks! One of my favorite places.

    ReplyDelete

ok what do you really think?????