Shark Valley

Today we drove to Everglades National Park, to the entrance off Tamiami Trail called Shark Valley.  There is a trail called The Loop, which is paved, and on which there is a 2 hour trolley ride.  You can also ride bikes around the 15.5 mile loop, which goes through a portion of the everglades.

We figure we saw at least 100 alligators along the way.  And no, I didn't take a picture of ALL of them, and some I took I deleted.  I took 218 pictures, but managed to get them down to 55.  There are more pictures than usual today, but not all 55 of them, honest!

One of my favorite birds to see was the spoon-billed roseate - so pretty and unusual!

I also really like the little snowy egret.

You didn't REALLY think I would only put in 1 alligator did you?

I've never seen one draped over rocks like this.

This very evasive bird was perched in a tree when I saw him - the least bittern.

A female anhinga drying her wings, and a turtle in the background.  I love the way they grip the tree branch with their webbed feet!

You don't often see these fellows up on all fours walking.  He went across the road in front of our trolly.

Another sight that you don't often see - a gator with it's mouth open.

This is just to show you how close we passed by them on our bikes.  We were often within a few feet of them.  These ARE in the wild, but I think they get very used to people going by on trollies or bikes, and it doesn't bother them.  They are NOT fed in the park, that's why they are not usually agressive.

This heron had its mouth open, but wasn't making any sounds.

Now here is something I bet you've never seen, won't likely see again, and never thought you ever would - alligator poop!  They won't "go" in the water, have to come out onto the land, and often go on the trail.

This thistle is similar to our Scotch Thistle, and the bee looks a bit like a bumble bee.

About halfway through the loop, there is an observation tower.

These are 4 baby alligators - "grunts" .......

.......and Momma gator was on the other side of the path, which we didn't notice til we got back on our bikes to go.  They say that the most agressive ones are the Mommas with babies.

We didn't realize the wood storks are endangered.  They shuffle their feet around in the water til they find what they want to eat, then grab it in their long bills.

You can just barely see Paul way ahead of me on the trail - that's because I always stop to take pictures and get behind.  :-)

The everglades are known as a river of grass.  There is actually water in there that moves from east to west - very slowly!  There are culverts all along the trail to assist it with it's moving.  The alligators tend to hang out near the culverts.

That was a really good day - I sure enjoyed it all!