It was high time to commence BirdingPI.com’s 15-year plan for expansion into the tropical latitudes. Stage 1: find office space in Miami, FL. First part of stage 1: Exit Miami, FL as fast as possible for birding in the amazing Everglades, & worry about the rest later!
These shots at or near famous Shark Valley* @ Everglades National Park. Plenty of American Alligator, but sadly, no sharks. (Alligator content forthcoming.)
Birds at Shark Valley visitors’ center:
From the visitors’ center, it’s a flat 14 km (15 mile) round trip ride/walk to the observation platform. Great for viewing wildlife, not so great (on foot) in hot weather. Tram tour was approx. 2 hours at USD $30-ish pp. Plus $30 to get through the main gate to park. Not cheap, but worth it if time/money permits. (Guided tram tour covers wildlife and local history, plus stops for birds/alligators and at the observation platform.) Seasonally, be prepared for rain.
Birds: lots and lots of GBH and Great Egret.
Wet view from top of observation platform as heavy rain moved through:
Thoroughly soaked there and on the tram ride back to the visitors’ center. Bless you Nikon camera weather sealing.
Runner up for ‘bird of the day,’ great sighting of beautiful Little Blue Heron. Slate-gray/blue body, red neck, black-tipped beak:
No contest for ‘bird of the day,’ with several sightings of the amazing Anhinga. Range primarily Central and South America + Caribbean, but as far north as SE coastal US including here in Florida. Female has brown/gray/black neck:
Male is essentially entirely black:
Great to see a beautiful (and wet) Red-shouldered Hawk:
[* Original name for this spot something like Shark River Valley Slough National Park; the Shark River being named for sharks that breed at its mouth by the ocean. Shortened by National Park Service to “Shark Valley” = sounds cooler. (Source: Shark Valley tram tour guide.)]
[Editor’s note: re. American English idiom, ‘high time’ means ‘overdue,’ not under the influence of narcotics. Although hard to tell the difference from this post.]
The prize winner has to be the “Wet Heron!” If looks could kill! Nothing like being in a rain shower.
I imagine the master photographer must have felt the same way, since HE got soaked, too!
Not only soaked, but the temperature dropped so much it was actually cold! And it’s so warm generally in Florida in Aug/Sept, no one’s bringing along rain jackets or other warm gear.
very nice work.