JANUARY 11, 2013 Purple Gallinule

First photo, Bald Eagle soaring too high for my camera to get a good focus on.  Second photo, Alligator hiding from the wind.  Third photo, Pond Apple trees full of Anhinga, and Double Crested Comorant.  Fourth photo, Purple Galllinule. Last photo, Yellow Bellied Slider turtles, there are 3 in the photo, can you find them all?

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK VIEW January 4, 2013

View of Everglades National Park; the land mass in the distance is Ten Thousand Islands.  The building to the right of the picture is the Visitor Center for Everglades National Park.

WADING BIRDS IN BREEDING PLUMAGE January 2013

Snowy Egret in top picture; Great Egret in bottom picture, both birds are displaying their beautiful breeding plumage.

CHRISTMAS EVE; December 24, 2012

Bald Eagle on nest, and mama alligator with baby on her back (look closely)

Black Crowned Night Heron's are back. December 9, 2012

Black Crowned Night Heron's (upper left, bottom right).  We counted 30 Black Crowned Night Heron's December 8th.

Juvenile Alligators sunning. Dec 8th (warm shorts weather in the upper 80's); well warm for us, not so much for Alligators.  They like to keep their body temp. at around 90 degree's Fahrenheit.

A siege of Great Egrets.  Wading birds are moving in for the drying up of the water. Very early this year in Big Cypress. (Dec. 8th.)  Also there is a Great Blue Heron in the photo; can you find it?

Spiders can be easily seen this time of year, due to the heavy dew and fog associated with autumn in south Florida.  The dew and fog attach to the web and make it very visible.

LOW WATER; DECEMBER 3, 2012

SINCE WE STARTED THE AUTUMN IN A DROUGHT SITUATION, WATER LEVELS ARE POOR, THE CYPRESS STRAND IS ALREADY DRY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WALK, I FEAR BY THIS SPRING THE ANIMALS WILL BE IN A LOT OF DISTRESS.  BUT, THE ANIMALS ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT TODAY!  THE GREAT EGRET IS FISHING FOR BREAKFAST; AND THE YOUNG ALLIGATORS ARE SUNNING ON THE LOGS; ENJOYING THE DAY THEY HAVE!!!  HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY TOO!

LATER GATOR
the evergladeslady

DEATH OF A LEGEND August 21, 2012

I know this is stupid, BUT, this is a photo of the ancient alligator that ruled the gator hole at Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk for many many years. This photo was taken about a year ago. She was in very poor condition at the time of this photo. I found her dead today. Now, I know it's stupid to cry about a dead alligator, but this one was like an old friend. Whenever I would visit the gator hole with guests, that alligator would come out to see me. Even if other people were already there, she would appear when she heard my voice ( I don't believe she liked me, I just think my voice was a familiar sound to her). She will be missed.......... She was banished by another younger alligator from the gator hole, probably about the time this photo was taken.  When I found her dead, she had gotten as close to her beloved gator hole as possible, without trespassing into it.