Everglades National Park, Day 5 – Tuesday – February 12, 2013

Day 5 – Sunrise, Eco Pond, Tree Walk  

Since we arrived at Flamingo, it has been quite windy.  Actually, that’s a GOOD thing!!  When the wind is up, the bugs are down;o))  So we have been bug free since we arrived.  But there are comprises to be made.  As much as we would like to kayak some of the open water of Florida Bay, the winds are too strong for that.  So today, we decided do the 2 hour Tree Walk with the ranger.  But first, there is the Sunrise to see and a visit to Eco Pond!!  

Nancy went alone to see the sunrise and check on things at Eco Pond today. 

I was being a bit lazy…my bad;o(( 

 

Looks like I missed a beautiful sunrise!!

 

 

First Bit of Daylight                                                   Ibis Beginning Their Day 

First Peek of the Sun                                                                Getting Brighter   

WOW… What a BEAUTIFUL View!!!

The Walk-in Tent Area sure does have the best views in the campground!!!

 

Perhaps you remember how hard Nancy tried to get a good picture of an American Kestrel when we were at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.  Today, as she headed from viewing the sunrise toward Eco Pond, she saw a Kestrel high in a dead tree on the side of the road.

The American Kestrel is North America’s littlest falcon.

It is roughly the size and shape of a Mourning Dove and hunts for insects and other small prey. 

The rising sunlight sure made for a great photo!!

Nancy could see that it had something in its right claw?? 

Well alrighty…. frog legs for breakfast!!!

 

Eco Pond was much quieter than usual.  Not many birds or birders!!!

But there is always something to see:o))

Momma Osprey and her chick

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Tricolored Heron                                                          Wood Stork 

White Pelicans

 

A new bird to us – Black Necked Stilt

 

The Tree Walk with the ranger was at 2 o’clock.  Since I had been basically lazy all morning, we decided to ride over to the visitor center a little early and see what we could see before the walk began.

We headed down the Guy Bradley Trail toward the Visitor Center and Marina.

We didn’t get very far before we saw an Osprey enjoying his lunch and another circling overhead!!

 

 

A little further along the trail we saw another hawk. 

We think it is a young Red Shoulder Hawk, but we are not sure.

Over at the Marina, a Little Blue Heron was getting a bit wind blown.

 

Of course we had to check the favorite sunning spot of the Crocodiles.

Yep, there were two of them just taking a little snooze;o))

 

 

We locked our bikes at the visitor center and met the ranger who would lead the Tree Walk.

We headed first to the Guy Bradley Trail where we learned about Mangroves.

Red Mangroves have the branching roots.

Black Mangroves are very dark and have pencils (pneumatophores) sticking up all around them.

I love the name of this vine – Knickerbean:o)) 

We also saw Wild Papayas along the trail!!

 

Next we headed toward the parking lot.  There are two predominant trees here.

First, the West Indian Mahogany

These are magnificent trees that remind me of Live Oaks in South Carolina.

Mahogany Seed Pod and a Mahogany Seed

The other tree has the coolest name: Gumbo-Limbo

These unique trees stand out with their reddish bark.

We had heard about Strangler Figs and probably had seen one before but just didn’t know what we were looking at. Here is a picture of a Strangler Fig that has completely engulfed a Palm Tree.  Can you see the Palm there in the middle??

The Ranger explained that birds eat the small figs produced by the Strangler Fig and then deposit the seeds high in the host tree.  In this case the Palm Tree.  The roots grow down and use the host tree for support until they reach the ground.  The Strangler Fig does not kill the host tree!!

We ended our walk near Florida Bay and this lovely Sea Grape Tree!!

 

The Tree Walk was well worth the time. We were familiar with the Topical Palm Trees but it was so interesting to learn about the other trees that make up this beautiful tropical landscape!!