Along the Great Florida Birding Trail...

To start off...

Cloe sent me this picture of all four of us on the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades.  Just a note to let you know that she is the author of a great resource book for hikers called "Fifty Hikes in Northern Maine". We are very proud of our friend!

Another resource that we have been using is the guide to the Florida Great Birding Trail, provided free at the Visitor Center at the state borders.  So, this past week we were camping in the Collier-Seminole State Park, south of Naples on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida (west coast), and using the birding guide to plan our daily adventures.  One place we visited was the Rookery Bay Estuary Research Center.  In the courtyard of the Visitor Center, we found some alligator statues and Latona couldn't resist acting out.



                  In addition to visiting the amazing Educational Center, we hiked the local trails.

Walking through the Slash Pines on the Snail Trail, we could see results of Planned Burns - used in Florida to control devastating results from the very common lightning strikes.

We also saw Resurrection Fern on bark of tree before rain.

and Resurrection Fern after the rain!  This fern actually can be so dry it looks dead.

Bloom of the Coral Bean.

We also took a second visit to the Corkscrew Swamp and another hike on the wonderful boardwalk through the Bald Cypress.  We learned from the information posted along the boardwalk that Cypress trees are the oldest living things on earth, and that the largest stand of virgin trees in North America was right here in the Sanctuary.

                                                          Some of the smaller trees and the Cypress knees.

Throughout the Sanctuary, we saw dew on the Alligator Flag.

and the Leather Fern...

Pink Lichen on the Cypress...

and a "baby" Cottonmouth taking a nap.

A final stop I want to share with you is Tigertail Beach, Marco Island.  This is a very popular beach both for humans and birds.    The beach is popular for shelling as well as nesting.  Many spots on the beach are closed off as "Critical Nesting Areas" for Plovers and other shore birds.

When we approached the area, we saw a lagoon and a "path" across the water to get to the beach on the Gulf.

After we make the journey across the lagoon, we arrive on the beach and start the search for the "peeps".

Success!  Wilson's Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlins

Piping Plover

Willets and Dowitchers

Wilson's Plover

All in all we saw Snowy, Piping, Wilson's and the Semi-palmated Plovers.  There also were large populations of Egrets, Willets, Dowitchers, Dunlins and Herons.

In my mind, these last photos are some of the most beautiful that Latona has taken.  She did a study of the Little Blue Heron we found on Tigertail Beach.  Here are only a few of the shots.  The little crab is trying to get away but to no avail. The heron was very successful and had a great lunch while we watched.

One final treat happened as we left the beach area.  We had seen that the Burrowing Owl nests in the area.  After talking to one of the rangers, we learned where to look, and we found several nesting holes and got a good look at these adorable little owls.

Now it is time to sign-off before I lose this post (almost did that a few minutes ago)!  As we look back on the visits of the past week, we also share that it was a week of celebration for us - the anniversary of the beginning of the hike on the Appalachian Trail and all our many journeys together!  It is also the week of the birthdays of two grandchildren - both Lyla and Simon.  We wish them the happiest of celebrations and we look forward to seeing them soon.  Our planned date to return home is May 1.

Happy trails and be well!  Love and hugs, Us