The birds along the water's edge were fewer, but there were a few in the wet woods.
This large alligator was on familiar ground along the far shore.
We walked a trail we hadn't visited before. The high water was evident here as well, but this great blue didn't seem bothered.
The water made for some interesting geocaching and the first wet socks of the vacation.
Myakka always has a share of interesting hides which fit in with the park.
The middle of the main road through the park is no place for a turtle especially on the weekend.
Even if it is an alligator snapping turtle. Our activity around the turtle gathered others who worked to warn approaching cars while waiting for someone to have the courage to move the creature off the road. The group effort was successful. The stories of the jaw force of these animals is phony legend, but the shape of their mouths do permit the easy removal of a human's finger.
We moved on to a familiar trail where we had spotted a number of birds on a past visit. The trail paid off once again with a spotting of a black crowned night heron and an anhinga eating its fishing find.
We spotted at least eight bald eagles for the day. We made a stop to a boardwalk and viewing platform where we have twice seen a pair of eagles. The eagles were absent as were most shorebirds, but we made a few sightings.
Alligators are amazing and powerful animals. This one did not look good. A park service employee confirmed that it was dying. It was sad to see one of these powerful creatures in its last days.
We were nearing sunset, and the Sunday crowd was mostly gone. We stopped for a return walk on the canopy bridge. So far, it hasn't yielded wildlife wonders, but the suspension bridge is wonderful for bouncing on.
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