Everglades ramble part1

   I got to do the first two days of this ramble with my son  and his family . Nothing like getting to introduce the grandkids to the Everglades . Right at the first section of the walk this gator came zipping down the canal like he was late for dinner .

   Then in quick succession , a good sized turtle ( mid pic ) , a gar and a cilchid . Unfortunately these two nonnative ,  invasive species of fish seemed to be predominant throughout the area .

   There were enormous multi-colored grasshoppers everywhere along the paths and boardwalks .

   The air plants were in full bloom with great color . They are a parasitic or symbiotic plant .

   This turtle was quite a character and seemed to show up just for the kids . He swam up , pinned a flower down , and proceeded to take a few bites out of the flower , then slowly swam off .

   I'm pretty sure this was a crocodile . It had the shortest body I've ever seen on an animal this size . Several people walked right by him , either not seeing him or thinking he was a log . When the kids spotted it , one lady said she wanted to follow them around because they had such sharp eyes .

    Interestingly the Visitors Center had tarps you could use to cover your vehicle to protect your finish from buzzards roosting in the trees . Buzzards must have some pretty good paint remover they spread around . 

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  The next day the kids rented a boat and we went to the Florida Bay section of Everglades Park . Absolutely beautiful ! We fished our way around the Blackwater Sound . A couple of barracuda , a bonnethead shark , and a good sized nurse shark later and we went through a pass towards Duck Key .

   Also known as Bird Island , this small key is a bird sanctuary and protected nesting site . About a hundred yard perimeter is clearly marked No Entry . The air over the island was filled with continuously circling birds .

   North Nesting Key is a great hangout for the boating crowd . A dock , campground , and portable toilets are available . As hot as it was , I think the portolets would be a refuge of last resort . 

   The bottom here was not at all what I expected . It was a white , soft  clay or marl . I sank in

up to about mid ankle , but then again I have plenty of ''ballast''. It was shallow and warm so we all jumped in and played for a while .

    A great time was had by all , and all slept great that night .

Savannah NWR ramble

   

   Just outside of Savannah , over the big bridge crossing the Savannah River , down the road a piece , hook a left on US 17 . The Refuge will be on your left a mile or two . The visitor center was closed on this  quiet Sunday morning so I grabbed a trail map and started the four mile circuit through the Refuge .

   The road winding through moss draped live oaks was a good place to catch a little shade .

   The gators must be having a bit of a weight problem because the Rangers have signs all over the place admonishing you to not feed the gators . Or maybe they are just reminders to watch your small children . 

   A hike around the end of the Diversion Canal resulted in some interesting sights . According to the information provided by the Refuge's radio system , the abandoned  rice fields and dike system was built by slave and Irish immigrant labor . There was enormous money in the rice crops . Most of the states Waterfowl Management Areas are also old rice plantations . 

   I don't know if it was a giant hatch or if there was a giant dragonfly convention or what . These guys were swarming in an area less than a quarter acre .

   The flowers blooming along the way were dazzling and every where you looked .

    I'm still learning proper bird names so any help or corrections are appreciated . I think these are Ibis .

                                                             
    Great Blue Heron

                                                         
    Red wing Blackbird

                                                                   
   Cranes

                                                                         
     Egret

                                                     
     A small murder of crows

                                                             
   Great Egrets

                                             
   An American Bald Eagle dropping in .

                                                                 
    More Egrets

    Anahinga . Also called the snake bird for it's habit of swimming under water with only it's long neck and head sticking up above the surface .

                                                           

    Great Blue Heron 

                                                         

    Ducks and Terns

                                               

 Sliders ( yes , I know they aren't birds )

    The marsh was in full bloom . While it is not a true marsh , many of the rice fields look like they are reverting back to marsh .

   April/May is a great time to visit SNWR . Temps are still fairly cool , the stiff breeze blows most of the biting bugs away , there is a plethora of wildlife , and there are tons of things in bloom . It is also part of Georgia's Coastal Birding Trail .