Long Pine Key and The Anhinga Trail

From Flamingo we went on to Long Pine Key, which is actually closer to the Royal Palm gate than Flamingo. The park is a lot smaller, but very neat. No hookups. Our site was E28. Nice and level and very roomy. We only stayed one night as the main reason for going to Long Pine Key was to take the Ranger led walk on the Anhinga Trail.
This was the highlight of our trip to the Everglades. Birds galore, alligators and beautiful plants. Again I will let the pictures tell the story.

The start of the trail.

Blue Heron

Stork

Vulture.

Anhinga

Female Anhinga

Wood Stork

Blue Heron

Blue Heron

An Anhinga drying it's wings

I spy with my little eye!

Storks and Herons (I think)

A Green Heron.

On the prowl.

Alligator jumping out of the water to catch a bird in the vegetation. Darn near scared the living daylights out of me!

The Alligator has caught his prey. Look at the fullness on the left side of his throat. He is almost completely out of the water, except for his tail.

Michael on the boardwalk along with the rest of our group.

Bromeliads. Air Plants that have no roots.

Mangrove trees full of birds.

Our very knowledgable guide, Charlie Wilson.

info boards.

Beautiful bromeliads

Mama Anhinga on the nest. On the left, one chick is visible.

Lurking in the vegetation.

Such evil looking reptiles.

Safe above the water and the alligators

Dee on the boardwalk.

Male Anhinga

Female Anhinga

Male Anhinga bird

What makes the Everglades?

If you look very careful you can see a turtle between the two yellow rocks.

Anhinga Trail info board

Pesky Vultures!

Some people come prepared and cover their cars while they are on the trail.

Site E28. Long Pine Key Campground

Plenty of room to park the car on the driver side.

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Everglades National Park - Mrazek Pond

During our stay in The Everglades we drove past a pond with a lot of pink birds. I immediately thought they were flamingoes, but on further enquiry at the gate we were told that they were probably not flamingoes but Roseate Spoonbills. Flamingoes have not been seen in the area for about 15 years, according to the ranger. We went anyway to see what there was to see. The crowd of people at the pond showed that there was something special going on. So back we went to check it out. The pond is shrinking due to the lack of rain and from what I have been able to find out, the birds congregate here because the fishing is so good for them. we saw so many birds. Roseate Spoonbills, herons, ibises, storks, egrets, squadrons of pelicans, coots and a host more. It was a wonderful experience. While we were there I started talking to a lady and I detected an accent hidden under her US accent. After some questions it emerged that she was from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and was born in the same hospital that I was and had been living in the US for about 40 years. Truly a small world.

Here are some photos of the birds.

The pink Roseate Spoonbill.

Roseate Spoonbill looking for food.

An Anhinga or Snake Bird with a fish in it's beak.

Pelicans

A congrgation of birds on the banks of the pond.

Lots of birds.

This is truly a magical place and I would recommend anyone who goes to the Everglades, to go and spend some time at Mrazek Pond. Take your camera and a tripod.

 

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