Florida Adventure

Alligator at Big Cypress Swamp ~ What big teeth you have....what big eyes you have....

Mom Anhinga with Babies ~ I found this nesting Anhinga sitting quietly on her nest. I was surprised to see two baby-heads pop up next to her. Even the babies have very long necks!

Baby Anhingas ~ A view of the nesting mother Anhinga with her little babies.

Soft-shelled Turtle ~ This very odd-looking turtle climbed out of the water and onto the bank. It was about 2 feet long and raised its head and neck like a periscope. Note its funny little snout-like nose.

Halloween Pennant

This appears to be a male of the species. This fluttery dragonfly had a rapid wingbeat, with widely separated wings. It would light briefly on grasses, allowing only very brief views and pictures.

3 Black Vultures Sitting on a Rail ~ I can almost hear this as a childhood jingle, but this was a real-life scene in the Everglades. I couldn't resist capturing the moment.

Anhinga Aria

~ This Anhinga looked like he was either singing opera, or maybe just yawning. At any rate, I thought it was a funny look. This photograph was taken on the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palms in the Everglades.

Minding the Kids ~ This Mom alligator was sunning along the trail in a State Park. She was watching "the kids", so none of us approached too close. This shot shows two of the four young.

Black Vulture Close-up ~Everywhere we went in southern Florida, there were lots of vultures, both Turkey and Black Vultures.

Anhinga Along the Trail ~ This view of an Anhinga shows how long and thin its neck and head are, and check out that long tail.

Baby Green Herons ~ These were two of four young herons hanging out along the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palms in the Everglades. You can still see a few white wisps of baby fuzz showing through their "grown-up" plumage.

Spider Overhead ~ This spider was along the trail in a botanical garden. It was silhouetted against the blue sky, showing its interesting shape. I liked capturing the small spider as well.

Spider on the Trail

~ While walking and birding in a botanical garden on Key Largo, I saw this interesting looking spider overhead on the trail. My insect field guide gives short shrift to spiders (since they aren't really insects, I guess), so don't have a clue what it is.

Common Gallinule ~ This gallinule was photographed on the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades. I liked the way his reflection reveals the plant life under the water.

Female Four-spotted Penant

Female Four-spotted Penant ~ After working in Paulson, I believe this is a female Four-spotted Penant. This pretty dragonfly was flitting and lighting at the edge of a lake in the Everglades.

Cape May Warbler ~ I love these beautiful little birds. They were migrating through the Keys while I visited there.

Cape May Warbler ~ This beautiful warbler was feeding at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West. He let me get several shots of him at close range.

Green Lizard Portrait ~ I loved the bright color and the texture of this lizard's skin. It was photographed on Key Largo. This shows best at larger sizes.

Iguana at the Lake

~ This pretty iguana was overlooking a small lake in a botanical garden on Key West.

Green Lizard ~ This bright green lizard was at the side of a path on Key Largo. He was very fast, but did allow two shots before he disappeared.

Four-Spotted Pennant

Four Spotted Penant ~ I'm not familiar with Florida dragonflies, but after combing through Paulson, I believe it is a male Four Spotted Penant. It was flitting along the edge of a lake in the Everglades.

Male Four-Spotted Pennant

Four Spotted Penant ~ Another dragonfly view on the side of a lake in the Everglades.

Hangin' in the Mangroves ~ This iguana was about 6 feet long, and was sunning on top of the mangroves over the water at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West.

Alligator Reflection

~ I liked the pose of this alligator with his reflection, in Big Cypress Swamp, Florida..

Iguana in the Mangroves ~ This large iguana was perched on top of the mangroves hanging over the water at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West.

Munching Iguana ~ It was fun watching and shooting the feeding iguanas at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West. Each iguana had different colors, patterns and textures.

Open Wide

~ Ever seen an iguana tongue? Here's your chance--what a cutie! Photographed on Key West.

Key West Iguana ~ This pretty iguana was in a botanical garden on Key West. I liked his colors and the brightness of his eye.

Green Iguana ~ This small iguana was about two feet long, and eating plants on the grounds of Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West. I liked his color and patterns, and in this shot, his circular position, to see the full extent of his long tail.

Seeing Double

~ Some stops along the Loop Road in Big Cypress Swamp had 5 or 6 alligators sunning on the waterway's banks. I liked this one because of the reflection and the big "smile" on his face.

Cape Florida Lighthouse and Palms ~ A view of the lighthouse at Bill Baggs State Park, south of Miami, Florida

Chuck-Will's-Widow ~ Funny name for a funny-looking bird! Thanks to some birders from New York, who showed me where this bird was roosting after a night of insect-catching. It was the first time I'd seen this bird, and it was very exciting to see it. Although he appeared to be asleep, he was keeping an eye on me as I photographed him.

Chuck-Wills-Widow

~ This bird was photographed at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West. This was within a few blocks of "the southernmost point" of the U.S. This noctural bird was in its daytime roost.

Blue-winged Warbler ~ This pretty warbler was photographed at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West, Florida. This was my first sighting of this species. It was very acrobatic, and I had shots of it upside down and every which way before I got this one that actually show what bird it is.

Alligator Sunning ~ I saw many, many alligators in my travels in Florida. They seem to like to come out of the water and sun themselves in the afternoon. This was one I liked because of his open mouth.

Purple Gallinule ~ This beautifully colored bird was walking around on the grass near the mangroves and waterway on the way to Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve.

Purple Gallinule ~ This beautifully plumaged bird was walking around on the grass on the way to Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve.

Alligator Smile

~ Close-up view of this alligator.

Air Plants in the Mangroves ~ The various epiphytes living in the trees had red blooms and added a touch of color to the mostly green and brown landscape.

Palms on the Beach ~ These coconut palms overlook the beautiful turnquoise water.

Mangrove Swamp ~ This spot was in Big Cypress Swamp, on a back road, with views of the mangroves, alligators, and birds everywhere.

Cape Florida Lighthose ~ This historic lighthouse from 1884 is in Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne south of Miami. It has a stately look surrounded by gardens and dunes.

Sea & Sky ~ The Florida seas were a beautiful turquoise, with white sand beaches. These were coconut palms along the beach.

Laughing Gull ~ The Laughing Gulls are the "default" gulls along the southern Florida coast. They are noisy and very snazzy with their black heads, red bills and white eye crescents.

Magnificent Frigatebird ~ I hadn't seen Frigatebirds for many years, and appreciated all over again their sharp angled shapes as they fly over.

Royal Tern in Flight ~

Royal Tern Flying In ~

Yellow-crowned Night Heron ~ This small heron was walking on the beach at Dania Beach State Park, near Ft. Lauderdale.