Florida Birding 2000

Monday, May 1st, Continued
Now it was decision time. Actually, I had already made the decision but had to finalize it. (This is a point where you will not want to follow my lead.) The tram trip takes a total of two hours - that includes a 20 minute stop at the tower. Certainly that is not enough time to spend in a place like this, is it? How can I get more time and see more things? Obviously, walk back to the visitor center. It is only 7 miles away. I spoke with the guide and made her promise that they would pick up my body if they found it on the road. I had planned on getting some bottled water at the observation tower. I should have realized that since no one could stay at the tower, there would be no reason to have any facilities to purchase anything there. Before I started on my way back, I took several large gulps of water. And off I went.

I didn't go too far (in fact, I was still in the tower area) when I saw a little trail. I walked down it and met a man who pointed out a rather large alligator in the water. It was swimming around, looking hungry, he said. I think he was a little afraid of it. Suddenly I saw something leap out of the water in front of the gator and then go splashing back in. I had no idea what the animal was, but it must have agreed with the man - the gator was hungry. The trail was blocked off and I couldn't go down it. I went back to the tower, sucked in some more water and then proceeded back.

It was hot out. My camera equipment and binoculars were heavy. It was hot out. The shoulder strap on my camera bag was chafing my shoulder. It was hot out. I walked on, looking for good things. It was hot out. I didn't see good things. It was hot. As I walked along, I would hear splashes in the water as animals dove in before I could see them. The road back was different than the one we came in on. I didn't see any of the large flocks of birds that I had previously seen. I didn't know whether to blame this on different habitat, time of day, or my usual luck. I was very disappointed and very hot. The camera bag was heavy. I stopped to try and take pictures of some of the flowers and other vegetation. However, the motion caused by the breeze prevented me from getting closeups. I did not complain about the breeze. I was surprised to see a Spotted Sandpiper. I saw several Purple Gallinules walking on lily pads. Much more appropriate behavior than the flower eating gallinules of yesterday. Three bright red Northern Cardinals flashed across the road. A much slower Soft-shelled Turtle plodded across the road. I don't know whether the turtle or I moved faster. It was hot. I admired some butterflies - small with yellow on the margins of the wings, spotted whitish on the inside.

I continued on. The road has mile markers painted on it. I couldn't believe how unfar I had gotten. It was hot. The camera bag was heavy. Turkey Vultures soared overhead, obviously thinking I was going to be their next meal.

Another large turtle sat on the side of the road. I watched it for a while and took some pictures of it. The soft shell turtles are odd looking.

Further along, I came across a small water hole with a Common Moorhen and an alligator in it. The alligator was moving around and trying to take some bites out of a sandbag (used to allow water but not vegetation to pass through some culverts). The alligator would turn around and the moorhen seemed unconcerned. It was comfortable at a distance of three feet or so from the gator. I got some good close looks at the Common Moorhen as it went out of the water. I had never paid attention to the top of its legs before. They are bright yellow with multicolored patches of the same red and white as on its head. (Unfortunately, they don't show in the pictures.)

I continued on trying to decide whether to stop and ostensibly look at things (but really to rest) or to get back to the visitor center as soon as possible. Just after I passed the "only" two more miles to go point, I took a funny step and had a severe pain on the ball of my foot. It hurt every time I took a step. Maybe the tram would have to come for my body. But after a few minutes the pain went away. I continued on and heard a strange bird sound coming from some shrubs. Surprisingly, the little bird that made it did not fly away. In fact, it even came close when I pished. It was a little flycatcher with wing bars. Very big eye rings. Yellowish. The calls it made never stopped. I finally decided it had to be a Least Flycatcher. Good find for me.

I passed the one mile left mark, then with about a half mile left, I found a Limpkin probing in the mud. I took a lot of pictures that probably won't be much good, but the more pictures I took, the longer I could rest. Finally moved on.

With the visitor center in sight, everything seemed to get heavier. I had to constantly switch hands with the equipment. Finally arrived at the center at 3:00PM which meant I had been walking for more than four hours. Bought a 20 ounce Fruitopia Lemonade, got in my car, turned on the air conditioner and then drove across the road to the Miccosukee Diner. Had several lemonades there as well as lunch. When I finished my meal, I was so stiff that I could hardly stand up.

Nice way to end a very long day. (Only 41 species for the day - 66 for the trip so far.)

Florida 2000