9 February 2017 Crew

We started our day with a return to the Bird Rookery Swamp. We visited here on our prior visit for what became one of my favorite hikes of all time. I was happy to make a return visit if only for a short walk. Before we reached the parking area, we made a roadside stop to look at a few wood storks.

The parking lot had signs warning of vulture attacks on cars. We were laughing at the signs, but added what few plastic bags we had to the georental. I don't know if it worked, but the rubber was intact on our return.

Even before we reached the boardwalk, we passed a number of coots and a nice heron.

We didn't walk far past the boardwalk. There was a wet area which was a bird hot spot on our last visit. Today the area was quite save a heron. While we were there a nature walk group was returning from a visit. We stopped for a moment as they were passing through. We saw a swirl alongside the trail followed by a gator popping on the bank with a large catfish. It is very strange being that close to an alligator feeding and hearing the bones of another creature being crushed. In my moment of shock there were no pictures. ;(

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was crowded. We had gotten used to visiting places with few people. The trails here were loaded with sights.

The early boardwalk was a good location to spot lizards and a number of butterflies including a ruddy daggerwing.

We spotted the very attractive swamp lily during our walk.

The black racer was difficult to spot in the vegetation.

The Florida Red Belly was a new turtle for us.

We started our journey at Corkscrew Swamp with plans to complete the earthcache. As our walk continued on, we both realized the earthcache was not interesting and was actually detracting from our time at the center. We put it aside not long after completing a water depth exercise.

The variety of herons was amazing.

Turtle Congo Line

Our last stop was a return to CREW for a late afternoon walk. After a very close visit with a gopher tortoise, we enjoyed a quiet, late afternoon walk.

Regrowth after a burn

At the end of the day, we were treated to the rise of the snow moon. It was a strange name for a moon rising over the southern Florida landscape.