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| tree snail |
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| red bellied woodpecker |
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| Florida soft shelled turtle |
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| look at that set of teeth! |
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| West Lake |
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| Roy at Flamingo |
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| American crocodile |
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| any ideas Katy? |
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| and this one? |
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| Roy shipwrecked in Flamingo |
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| Roseate Spoonbills at Mrazek pond |
After getting up at 5am and driving to Long Pine to "bag" a site early, we were somewhat miffed to find the site almost empty!
Still, it gave us a long day to visit all the trails and overlooks as we toured the 33 mile scenic road to Flamingo and back.
Everglades is defined by water, historically, a freshwater river a few feet deep and 50 miles wide crept seaward through this area on a gradually sloping riverbed. Along its 80-mile course, the river dropped only 15 feet, finally emptying into Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. There, fresh and salt water mix in coastal areas, and mangrove forest dominates.
We reached Flamingo on the Florida Bay and saw our first American Crocodile. On the way we spied osprey with babies in the nests, Roseate spoonbills, pretty tree snails plus all the usual waders. We walked in dense jungle-like hardwood hammocks with enormous airplants clinging to anything, sub-tropical pine rocklands, and my favourite - the mysterious mangrove forest.
Roy spotted a turtle at the side of the road, she looked as if she was waiting to cross, as we took photos, a couple of Italian men came up and they encouraged it to cross the road as we were all sure it would get killed. (I was traffic warden even though there were no cars). When we spoke with the Ranger he said they are now starting to dig holes for their eggs, so I'm sure we saved her life!
It is fascinating to see the Everglades in the dry season, I am sure the wet season would be just as amazing but we do not think we could stand the heat, hurricanes or mozzies!
Just in case you think we are being eaten alive by mosquitoes, then worry not - they don't seem to have emerged yet - well not in big numbers.
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