The Daily Bucket is a place where we post and exchange our observations about what is happening in the natural world in our neighborhood. Bugs, buds, birds - each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
Everglades National Park, Shark Valley Visitor Center
February 2012
"Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, boasts rare and endangered species. It has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance, significant to all people of the world." The Everglades is much more than the old TV show from the 60s or Gentle Ben where airboats ripped across the river of grass. If you go expecting to ride an airboat, well they are around outside the park but one ranger cautioned us that they are really just thrill rides and you will not see much. Today we are stopping on the north part of the park to see alligators and birds.
Here's a map from the NPS to get us situated - photos are below.
Our second stop on our eastward trek across southernmost Florida was Shark Valley located off US 41 which some still refer to as Tamaimi Trail. Tampa to Miami - get it? Not too long ago this 2 lane road was the only way across the Everglades but now there is I-75 (Alligator Alley) just to the north. Traveling the old road back 30 years ago was quite an experience, dangerous, even more so at night. Mile after mile of nothing, no place to stop, nothing to do. Not so bad now but even at night the speed limit drops for the safety of Florida panthers.
Our first stop was at Big Cypress Visitor Center which was a handy place to get brochures and talk to the volunteers that staff so many of the information desks. Not much to see other than a Fritillary on a Blue Mistflower that 99.9% of the visitors walked past.
The Shark Valley Visitor Center is somewhat in the center of the Everglades with Big Cypress to the west and Miami and all that to the east. We wanted to take a loop road just near Monument Lake and get off the busy road but that was closed. I wasn't too sure about what we would find here at this visitor center and was hesitant to stop, especially after seeing the parking lot full signs. It's a busy place. The two-hour narrated tram tours are very popular but we decided to just walk around the boardwalk and paved trail. Bicycles are also available for rent.
Alligators! That's why we are here right? Gotta to see some gators, and they are hard to miss - the lazy bums.
They lay around the bank along the paved walkway. Everybody stops for pictures. Some are quite scary.
Of course there are warnings sign posted - in 3 languages ...
but some folks are either very brave, or stupid, one. That's my friend in front staying a safe distance away, but check out the 2 girls getting their picture taken with a gator eyeing them from the bank.
Here's a Cooter out sunning himself. Turtles are a favorite food of alligators. The main visitor center east of Homestead, FL had a nice framed print of a gator holding a full-grown turtle in its mouth and ready to crack down on it.
Lots of birds too! The Great Blue Heron is first up since they apparently like to "rule the roost". While I was standing there I watched a cormorant try to land on this roost and immediately get chased off with a peck and loud squawk. This heron wasn't too perturbed by the nondescript Ibis behind him tho.
American Egrets are common. To distinguish from the other big white wading birds, note the yellow bill and dark legs.
This Snowy Egret was not showy but I liked this photo because you can see the identifying yellow feet. Courtship brings out the best of their plumage.
Here's a Little Blue Heron. They appear to be quieter than the other birds and stay to themselves.
Cormorants. Lots of them everywhere drying in the sun. This one is putting that long neck to other uses besides snagging fish underwater.
Across the stream up in the brush was a Anhinga roosting on a nest. There may have been some chicks as we spotted them in other nests. This bird is similar to the cormorant but has more white on belly and wings and the tail fans out more.
This is a Reddish Egret. My book says they tend to lurch around crazily chasing fish. I didn't notice that ...
but I thought it was funny to see that long thin neck from this back view.
Here's a Reddish Egret all fluffed up and looking a bit flustered.
This Tricolored Heron is absolutely gorgeous. Some books refer to it as a Louisiana Heron. The white plume on the back of its head is quite distinctive and must be amazing to see in its courtship display. * Photo Taken with iPhone; all others with Fuji S2000 mid-size camera
Finally, what's a hike without seeing some pretty flowers? Here's a Crinum Lily, commonly know as a Swamp or String Lily. Each bloom is maybe 4 inches across so the whole flower head was plate-sized.
And that's our quick tour around the Shark Valley Visitor Center. We head back to the truck and on to the next stop with all the rest of the tourists. This was the busiest time of the year for traveling thru the Everglades with temps in mid-70s and not the oppressive heat and humidity of summer. So what's going on in your neck of the woods? Seen any gators today?