THE BALD EAGLES "OZZIE AND HARRIET" HAVE RETURNED!

Our local Bald Eagles "Ozzie and Harriet" have returned to their nest and have set up housekeeping for the season.  They were seen; "talking to the birds and bees", yesterday. Then Harriet was seen telling Ozzie he needed to get busy repairing the nest....LOL  Watch "Ozzie and Harriet" on the SW FL Eagle Cam at:
http://www.ustream.tv/SouthwestFloridaEagleCam

THE SUMMER RAINS WERE GREAT

We have a a REALLY wet summer, so the glades should be full of water and the bird population this year should be GREAT!  For a private Everglades tour contact me at evergladeslady@aol.com

ALLIGATOR EATING A FISH May 23, 2013

American Alligator Feasting on a fish.

UPDATE ON THE SANDHILL CRANE NEST May 18, 2013

The Sandhill Cranes nesting on Lake Tafford was a no-go this year.  Perhaps this was a new pair.  They attended the nest faithfully, well past the time the eggs should have hatched.  The last day they were near the nest; one adult was seen turning the eggs looking at them.  Perhaps she was wondering why nothing had happened.  We will look for them next year.

Dry Dry Dry May 9, 2013

 The boardwalk is VERY dry, but this is the normal for spring in the Everglades.

Lubber Grasshopper, another tell tale sign of spring in the Everglades.

Pièce de résistance I give you Roseate Spoonbills May 4, 2013

 Roseate Spoonbill in flight

 Four magnificent Roseate Spoonbill's in flight

 More Spoonbill's flying

From left to right.....Snowey Egret, Roseate Spoonbills, and Black Necked Stilts in the foreground and in rear.  A Boat Tailed Grackle is also in rear of picture.  I can not tell you how many picture of Roseate Spoonbills I have taken over the years, never to be in focus.  So keep trying.

ALLIGATOR FEEDING, April 4, 2013

Alligator feeding at the gator hole, you can see the little fish jumping away from the alligator.

 Big Cypress back country dry, dry, dry.

Alligator tail drag (you can see the footprints if you look closely)  Alligators move from place to place in spring, due to shrinking water levels.  This is when they can get into trouble, for ending up in swimming pools.

Spring!!!  Cypress tree reflection in gator hole.  Fish in water, (unfortunately we are finding more,
NON-native fish in the Everglades than native fish). So not sure what these were.

FIRE IN THE EVERGLADES!! Swamp Buggy Fire Truck; April 2013

                                     

 Alligator Alley/I75 (across the everglades) CLOSED! Photo Naplesnews.com/Corey

Burned area off of I75/Alligator Alley and SR29

Rangers Fire Fighting Swamp Buggy

GLOSSY IBIS, COMMON MOOREHEN, LICHEN, April 2, 2013

 Glossy Ibis

 Common Moorehen on Red Mangrove Tree

Lichen

Curly Tailed Bahama Lizard (invasive exotic)

Tube Lichen

SPRING WATER LEVELS, AND SHELF BRAKEN

Shelf  Bracken

 Water Level at the Gator Hole "Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, land land everywhere

Different view of Gator Hole

Coastal Prarie dry along US 41.  (south side in Fakahatchee)

Dry; Wet Prairie along US 41 (north side in Big Cypress)

March 2013

 Pond Apple trees still bare from winter

Racoon looking for a meal.

SANDHILL CRANE NEST with nest, Common Moorehen, Black Necked Stilt; March 2013

Sandhill Crane (mated pair)

Common Moorehen with chicks

Sandhill Crane with nest and 2 eggs.

 Black Necked Stilt Lake Trafford

Alligator Sunning

Swamp Buggies, Spring in the Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands, Purple Gallinule, March, 2013

 Swamp Buggies in the Big Cypress.

Fakahatchee Strand, Can you imagine being a pioneer and trying to find your way through this?

 The Cypress Trees are emerging from their winter slumber, air plants are blooming; Spring is in the air!

Ten Thousand Islands along Everglades City Coastline

Red Shouldered Hawk watching for breakfast...

Large Alligator sunning on the bank.

Eagles nest is starting to be obscured by the oncoming spring growth.  Eagles are gone now, until fall.

 Many large alligators sunny at Lake Trafford

 Another Red Shouldered Hawk this one looking for a late lunch.

Purple Gallinule with Alligator sunning.

FLEDGLING EAGLET February 25, 2013

Big Cypress Bend Eaglet just before that leap of faith.  Cypress trees are leafing out.   Brown water snake waiting for a meal to come by.

Polyphemus moth and wading birds January 31, 2013

Polyphemus moth found on the boardwalk.  Also more hungry bird pictures.

BALD EAGLE WITH EAGLETTE JANUARY 29, 2012

Bald Eagle on Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, with Eaglette.  This photo was taken by my friend Kenny Hill.

Everglades Morning glory

Everglades Morning glory

BROWN PELICANS RESTING IN MANGROVE TREES

Here are some brown Pelicans resting in Mangrove trees; in Everglades National Park.

POSSUM

Almost daily this possum climbs into this garbage can.  Someone ALWAYS, lets it out of the garbage can.  Hey a free meal is a free meal. LOL

WOODSTORKS FEASTING; January 20, 2013

Woodstorks feasting, along with White Ibis, and Great Egrets.

EAGLE CAM WEB ADDRESS

If you would like to view our SW Florida Bald Eagles nest, you may do so at the following web address:



http://www.ustream.tv/SouthwestFloridaEagleCam

WATER'S DRYING UP; BIRDS ARE FEASTING JANUARY 17, 2013

The water along U.S. 41 is drying up, the birds are feasting.  Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egret, White Ibis, and probably a few more I can not see....LOL  This photo was taken by my good friend, and fellow guide, Kenny Hill