In the fall of 2006, I assigned myself the task of photographing all the birds in the heron family, over 60 species of birds. I look forward to the travels in the coming years to achieve my goal. I chose southern Florida as my first stop since it is home to about a dozen species of herons, and they're pretty accessible. Plus, southern Florida boasts two morphs of the Great Blue Heron known as the Great White Heron and Wurdemann's Heron.

(...continued from Part Five.)

After spending the night in Homestead, it was time for another great day. On March 27 (my birthday!), Carol and I headed out around 6:45am. When I first told people we were going to Florida and planning on stopping in the Everglades, many of them said that we had to make sure and visit Flamingo. And so we did. We arrived as the sun came up; it was 65 degrees, mostly cloudy, breezy, and humid.

The first bird of note was Osprey...actually a pair of them. There was a nest in a large bare tree on the side of the road. One of the birds (presumably the female) tended to the nest, turning circles as it moved sticks around. It often called and the other bird playing lookout in a neighboring tree returned the squeals. After a few minutes, both birds were in the nest. As both of them called, we heard their neighbors reciporcate.

Flamingo took quite a hit from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005, and the damage was quite apparent. The Flamingo Lodge used to provide rooms to those without tents or RVs. It was now in shambles. Many of the trees looked like the aftermath of a dominoes tournament. And I could see where once Eco Pond must have been a great freshwater haven with cattails, an island with trees, and observation decks to get viewpoints of all the wildlife, but after the hurricanes and especially dry season, only dissheveled trees and small pools of mucky water remained. The National Park Service has expedited a Commercial Services Plan/Environmental Assessment to determine how best to restore the area. See how you can get involved.

The only birds we saw at Eco Pond were a few Greater Yellowlegs and a Great Egret. It was threatening to rain, so we headed back to the car to get the rain gear for my camera. As we approached, we noticed some grackles and European Starlings pecked around in the grass. After putting on the rain sleeve for the camera, we headed toward the water near the visitor's center. It was low tide, and about a hundred yards out were thousands of birds, such as Snowy Egret, Black Skimmer, American White Pelican, White Ibis, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, and Whimbrel. Along the trees on the shore were a Northern Cardinal and a Northen Mockingbird. A Laughing Gull flew over and landed on a pier where it rested for a short while. A Red-shouldered Hawk called as it flew over. It circled a few times before it disappeared, but the calls continued from afar. It was 9:45am, so we figured we'd start inland and see what else we could see.

As we drove down the road, a Turkey Vulture flew low and just a foot or two right over our car. A Swallow-tailed Kite flew over the road and diappeared behind the trees. We pulled over at Mrazek Pond. Most of the birds here were perched in the trees that lined the small pond. Here there were Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, a juvenile Brown Pelican, American Coot (finallly!), Common Moorhen, Wood Stork, and Anhinga. We stopped briefly at West Lake and scanned the water line, but there wasn't much happening except for a few people out in canoes. As we started to leave, an Osprey approached and circled a few times. The sky started dripping again, but not for long. At Nine Mile Pond, we counted Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Vulture, Great Egret, and more Osprey.

Next, we pulled into the turnout for Paurotis Pond. We were the only ones in the lot, except for a wandering Wood Stork. I got out of the car as quietly as I could in hopes of getting a couple of shots, but it decided we were too close and took off. In the trees across the pond, there were a group of twenty or so Wood Storks, apparently nesting. As I set up the scope a car pulled in and a couple got out. They live in the Keys and were up visiting the Everglades for the day. As we chatted, a Roseate Spoonbill flew past and landed in the trees near the Wood Storks. Carol and I had hoped to see more Roseate Spoonbills during the trip, but we found ourselves in the midst of nesting season, and most of them were tucked away in the trees. During the hour we were there, we were able to see a few more spoonbills, as well as Belted Kingfisher, Anhinga, Turkey Vulture, Tricolored Heron, Brown Pelican, Swallow-tailed Kite, Common Moorhen, American Coot and Black Vulture.

About 12:30pm, we stopped at Pa-hay-okee Overlook, a quarter-mile boarwalk that overlooks a "river of grass".It was starting to get windy and really humid, still threatening to rain some more. Not sure if it was because of the time of day or the weather, but there was next to nothing going on. The only birds we saw were Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, and Swallow-tailed Kite in the air, and a crow hanging around in the parking lot.

Carol and I made our way back to Anhinga Trail, arriving just after 1pm. The sky was cloudy, and the wind was really picking up. Many of the fine birds we'd seen the previous evening were all tucked away out of sight. We did, however manage to see Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, and Palm Warbler. We heard a Barred Owl, but after several scans of the trees, weren't able to make it out. On the main path, we were able to watch a Green Heron perch feeding and a Little Blue Heron walking and stalking along the channel.

Around 2:30pm, we decided it was time to head down toward the Keys. But first, I needed a few photos of some Everglades signs. I hopped out at one of the intersections and started to cross the road. A weed was poking my foot, so I reached down to pull it out. It wasn't a weed, though, it was a little red ant. Yeeooow! Suddenly, my foot was on fire. Somehow I got the shot I wanted and raced back to the car to take my Keen shoes off and brush off all these ants. We pulled in to the visitor's center, and after talking to one of the rangers there, I found myself lucky. I had stepped on a fire ant nest, and thanks to the rubber bands around my pant legs, I only suffered about a dozen bites. That was plenty for me!

Carol and I said goodbye to the Everglades. We made a quick stop at Robert is Here to grab a Key Lime milk shake and see the "Southern Most Purple Martin House in the Continental USA", but the only residents there were sparrows. If you're ever in the area, definitely make the stop...the smoothies are worth it!

We arrived at our lodging in Little Torch Key around 5:30pm. The drive had been incredible. The aqua-green color of the ocean was amazing...not like what we see in California. We checked in and dropped our stuff off. Carol treated me to Parrotdise restaurant just down the road. It was a nice walk, windy, but a refreshing windy. We enjoyed conch fritters for an appetizer, a delicious main course of coconut lime Pink Tiger Shrimp with mango peanut sauce, and a perfect Key Lime pie for dessert. A great way to end an awesome birthday!

(Continue to Part Seven)

In the fall of 2006, I assigned myself the task of photographing all the birds in the heron family, over 60 species of birds. I look forward to the travels in the coming years to achieve my goal. I chose southern Florida as my first stop since it is home to about a dozen species of herons, and they're pretty accessible. Plus, southern Florida boasts two morphs of the Great Blue Heron known as the Great White Heron and Wurdemann's Heron.

(...continued from Part Four.)

On Monday, March 26, it was time for Carol and I to start working our way toward the Keys. We'd had a great time on the Gulf Coast side near Fort Myers, visiting Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. We checked out of our motel around a little after 9am and headed south down the Tamiami Trail.

There really wasn't a whole lot to see on our way down toward Naples. But as we waited at a stop light in the middle of town, a Cattle Egrets was wandering around some bushes near a mini mall. I wasn't really expecting to see one at a location such as this, and it turned out to be the only one during the entire trip!

Heading east on Tamiami Trail, we took the advice of people we'd met at Corkscrew and made a stop at Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. (Virtual tour.) We arrived at 11:45am, a little later than we'd expected due to traffic. It was around 80 degrees, humid, and windy. The sky was clear. Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk leads about a mile or so into the the swamp and cypress trees that make up the preserve. Since it was the dry season, there wasn't much of a swamp. The trail begins as a graveled walkway with a small ditch parallelling the path. Here, we noticed two small otters and one of their parents playing the water, but as we approached, they got more serious and disappeared into a hole in the side of the bank. The path soon turns into a boardwalk lined on both sides with bushes and trees. We caught sight of a Red-breasted Woodpecker as it finished knocking and took off. We heard another set of drumming and as we were able to see where it was coming from, a Pileated Woodpecker made flight. A Bald Eagle made a landing approach overhead, and as we found the nest where it sat perched, it tended to two young chicks.

The path ends at a small deck overlooking a small bit of open swamp. Here there was a Great Egret sharing the water with a resting alligator. On our way back we added Gray Catbird, Turkey Vulture, and Common Grackle. There really wasn't a whole lot going on. It could have been that we were there during the time of day when things are usually slow.

Janes Scenic Drive was just a minute or two away. We didn't know much about it, but it sounded good so we headed that way. The drive stars out in the small community of Copeland and on through a couple of small ponds, where a flight of Double-crested Cormorants were gathered. A Red-shouldered Hawk sat perched on a water tower. As we continued, the drive turned quickly into a path lined with dense trees and into the heart of Fakahatchee Preserve. It was hard to get a good view through the trees to see what lied beyond, and the other view, straight up, wasn't providing any hints either. We continued up the road a couple more miles without seeing any signs of birds or other animals, and it was almost 2:30pm, so we found a place to turn around. We made a brief stop at the ponds to watch the circling Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures and then continued on down Tamiami Trail toward the east side of the Everglades National Park.

After hitting a bit of traffic in Homestead, Carol and I finally made it to Anhinga Trail in the Everglades around 4:45pm. It was around 80 degrees with a strong breeze. The sun drifted in and out of the clouds, but the chance of rain looked unlikely. Common Grackles were...well...common in the parking lot. A small pond lined with sawgrass welcomes visitors as they pass by the visitor's center. It looked inviting, but there weren't any birds present. Along the walk is a low wooden rail only a foot or two high, apparently to keep the youngsters from wandering into the small canal runs beside the walk. Double-crested Cormorants were catching some Zs in the little shade that the barrier provided, seemingly undisturbed by the people that were walking only a foot or two away from them. I'd never been this close to them.

To the left, a boarwalk crossed the canal and led into the sawgrass. At the bridge, a Great Blue Heron sat in ambush mode waiting for a passing fish. As we walked out of the sawgrass and onto the open water overlook, a Double-crested Cormorant flew in and landed on the hand rail. We approached closer...and closer...and closer until you could almost smell that fish breath. It wasn't going to budge from it's perch. This was an even better view than the ones we got when we first walked in. As it looked directly at us, we were able to get a good look at those amazing emerald eyes!

Continuing along the boardwalk that led over the water, we were able to get close-up views of some napping alligators. As one of them yawned. I raised my camera, but was a little too slow on the draw. But just then, another one yawned and since my lens was already up, I was able to capture those gaping jaws.

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures intermittently circled and Anhingas hung out in the trees. At a small platform where the boardwalk meets the end of the main trail, a few White Ibises and a Snowy Egret poked around, keeping their distance from the resting gators. A Common Moorhen flew in and stood on a small rock that protruded out of the water. Heading back toward the visitor's center, Carol spotted a Green Heron in hunting mode. We watched as it remained completely still, and poised like a spring ready for any unsuspecting fish to wander by. After a few minutes, a Purple Gallinule flew in to some nearby bushes. It was about a half hour before sunset, a perfect magic hour for pictures, and few photographers took advantage of cooperation of both the Purple Gallinule and Green Heron. The gallinule was a little difficult to get good shots of as it stayed in the leafy branches of the bush. It wasn't long until the sun peeked behind the trees and disappeared for the evening.

(Continue to Part Six)

In the fall of 2006, I assigned myself the task of photographing all the birds in the heron family, over 60 species of birds. I look forward to the travels in the coming years to achieve my goal. I chose southern Florida as my first stop since it is home to about a dozen species of herons, and they're pretty accessible. Plus, southern Florida boasts two morphs of the Great Blue Heron known as the Great White Heron and Wurdemann's Heron.

(...continued from Part Three.)

Sunday was the last full day in the Fort Myers area for Carol and I. We'd spent time at both Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Both places provided a wonderul selection of birds, and after some thought we decided to return to Corkscrew because of the excellent photo opportunities it had provided on the previous visit.

We arrived at Corkscrew around 8am. It was around 70 degrees, the sky was clear, and there was a slight breeze. Out the window of the Blair Audubon Center, which serves as the entrance to the sanctuary, I noticed movement at one of the bird feeders. It didn't take much effort to identify the bird...it was a male Painted Bunting. The colors in this bird are so vibrant and beautiful, and it looks...well...like it was painted. Go figure. Even though I wasn't able to get any shots, I felt especially fortunate to see it up close and be able add it to my life list. Other birds seen near the sanctuary entrance were Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Mourning Dove, and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

On our way to the lettuce lakes, we made a stop at the feeder where we waited for the Painted Bunting the first day. We were able to see a few warblers: Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, and the "Butter Butt" Yellow-rumped Warbler. Carol again took the longer path around the sanctuary, while I headed straight for the lettuce lakes. As I arrived at the lakes, I immediately noticed that there weren't the amount many birds as I'd seen on Friday, though there were still a good variety, including Anhinga, Wood Stork, White Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, and Tricolored Heron. There were also less people. It was a few hours earlier in the day than when we were there the first time, and with the tall trees around, the sunlight also hadn't yet hit the water. Nevertheless, there was still plenty to watch.

Two American Alligators trolled the bottom of the larger pond for some grub, and after a while, one of them decided to mosey on over to the smaller pond. There were more birds feeding and as the alligator made its introduction, I figured there'd be some rustling. Instead, as the gator approached, they simply parted and watched as it passed. As soon as they were about even with its belly, they went back to feeding.

I spent a few hours here watching the birds and talking to the volunteers. Most of them are "snowbirds", just visiting Florida for the winter, and volunteering at Corkscrew a few times a week. What a wonderful way to spend the winter!

After a while, I headed for the northen lake where I'd seen the Belted Kingfisher the time before. (See Part Two.) There wasn't a whole lot of action, but then I heard some drumming. It was much deeper of a sound than I'd heard before. I rounded the corner and saw some movement up in the trees. A Pileated Woodpecker was working his way around a tree. It decided to stop on the side of the tree I was on and start up its power chisel. It was fascinating to watch as this woodpecker tapped a few times to start a hole. Once there was a dent, it worked the right side, then the left. It didn't take long until there was hole an inch or two deep. It was hard to tell if the bird got a meal for its efforts, but it decided there wasn't any more the hole could offer and took off out of sight. What an awesome bird!

I headed back to the other lakes and continued to watch the feeding birds. A flock of Cedar Waxwings flew over. It was a little after noon, and Carol and I were getting hungry, so we headed to the Blair Audubon Center to get some food.

After filling the tanks with some more fuel, we headed back out on the boardwalk. This time I finally decided to walk the full trail and hit the observation deck. What an amazing view!

There was about a 240-degree panorama overlooking the trees that populated the undisturbed back side of the sanctuary, where there are no trails and the wildlife are left pretty much left to themselves. We didn't really see much though, just a perched Black Vulture and quick fly-by of a Turkey Vulture. We hung around for about 45 minutes, talking to the dozen or so people that stopped by. Most of them were fairly local residents, and recommended that we stop at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park on our way to the Everglades.

We continued on, back toward the lettuce lakes. On the way, however, one of the volunteers pointed out a Barred Owl that was snoozing on a branch high in the trees. It was facing away, but I pointed the scope at it anyway and a few other passers-by got to get a good look. I hooked up my camera to it and managed to get some QuickTime video of it preening itself. To watch it, you must have QuickTime installed.

We stopped at the lettuce lakes for a little while before starting back toward the visitor's center. Another volunteer had spotted another Barred Owl. It was facing us this time, but it was still obscured a little by some leaves. Still, it was good to see it. On the way back to the visitor's center, we managed to add Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Gray Catbird, Blue-headed Vireo, and White-eyed Vireo.

A little part of me was sad to leave Corkscrew, but I knew I would definitely be back some day. If you're ever in the Naples area, I highly recommend stopping by Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to visit the birds.

(Continue to Part Five)