Everglades pics - many, many pics

When I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago, I was able to visit the everglades. :cool: This was my first real attempt to take wildlife pics, I'm pretty happy with how some of them came out.

First, a few willett pics that I took on the beach.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/nwheat/willet4.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/nwheat/willet2.jpg

On our everglades trip we first stopped and walked a short way into the Fakahatchee swamp. If you read The Orchid Thief, this is where the orchids were stolen from.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...chee_trail.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/nwheat/anole1.jpg
Bald eagle nest with babies hiding from my camera
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...eaglenest1.jpg
The trail ended in an alligator hole. The momma that dug the hole was elsewhere but there were still several hanging around.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...alligator1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...alligator6.jpg
This ibis was foraging really close to all those gators.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/nwheat/ibis3.jpg

Next, we went on a boat tour through some mangrove islands (10,000 islands area) near the gulf.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...oveislands.jpg
Lots of osprey nests - no manatees, though.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...anateesign.jpg
This one had a very curious baby!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...eywithbaby.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...ywithfish2.jpg

We stopped a few random areas along the way for pics, too.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...galligator.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...igatorhead.jpg
This limpkin was kind of far away, but still a cool find.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...t/limpkin1.jpg

The last part was an airboat ride. Very hard to take pictures here, but so many alligators!!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...alligator1.jpg
Yellow belly slider
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...ellyslider.jpg
Softshell turtle
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...hellturtle.jpg
Skink that was in our boat
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/nwheat/skink2.jpg
Great egret
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...greategret.jpg
Great blue heron
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...tblueheron.jpg
Black necked stilt
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...eckedstilt.jpg
Green backed heron
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...ckedheron2.jpg
Moorhen & her chick
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...nwithchick.jpg
And the cows that hang out with the gators
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...owsngators.jpg

Another day, we drove through Ding Darling wildlife refuge.
My favorite little blue heron:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...blueheron3.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...blueheron1.jpg
Snowy egret
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...nowyegret2.jpg
Roseate spoonbill
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38.../spoonbill.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...ittleblues.jpg

We did see one snake, very briefly. Most likely a black racer, although there was some discussion that it may have been a young indigo. It was a great trip and I'm glad I finally took the time to do it!

Where are all those killer pythons I heard about

Nice photos, I think I saw the same Eagle nest ;)

Gorgeous pics, Nancy! I love the skink and the YB Slider:) Lots of gators!

How often do people spot manatees down there!?
That would be the best thing to happen to me. Swim with manatees.. :P

Lovely trip! I have to go to Yellowstone before it blows, and the Everglades is next on my list!

Great pics Nancy!!!!

I love the one of the snowy egret! SO pretty!!!!

That looks like so much fun!!!!!

Thank you for sharing Nancy!

wow no pythons but they obviously have a non native problem with those cows

Thanks everyone! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

Where are all those killer pythons I heard about

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You know, I didn't see a single one. ;)

Great picture thanks for sharing!