There are two parts to this national park. One is in Homestead. The other part is west on 41 closer to Naples (Shark Valley). The first photos are of the Homestead part.
An anhinga and her baby. The anhinga nests were SO active!
Not sure what this bird is.
Pretty bluejay
Cormorant. He was playing with me!
Great blue heron.
Gorgeous purple gallinule
Wood Stork
Little green heron - with a gator photobombing my pic!
Funky little green heron - he was all flustered!
Little green herons
An anhinga and his buddy the turtle
FISHIES!
Soft shell turtle
Nice sighting: A swallow-tailed kite
He is chasing a bald eagle!
Osprey
The moon and a swallow-tailed kite
The moon and a wood stork
Butterfly on a gator's back
YIKES!
Lots of alligators!
Despite the fact that the alligators are used to being around people in this national park, they are STILL wild animals. This one was coming up out of the water, with very little space between him and these people taking photographs. There were even people who let their kids get very close. They are used to people, yes, but that doesn't mean that one won't grab you and drag you into the water!
Just looking for some warm sunshine!
More of the park
This kid had it made!
I love my time spent in this beautiful National Park!
The day concludes with a FANTASTIC milkshake from Robert is Here!
SHARK VALLEY
NOW, on to Shark Valley. This is a birdwatcher's dream. As soon as I got out of my car, I started seeing this awesome bird, a juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron. I was VERY excited to see this bird, to say the least. Every step you take, you see more and more birds and alligators. It is truly a beautiful, peaceful place! I LOVE this National Park!
An anhinga. Look at those eyes!
Some screaming, bratty baby anhingas. The nests were full!
A tiny, baby gator. There were lots of babies here today!
Black-Crowned Night Heron. There were SO many here today!
Lazy Gator
Little Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
LUNCH! Fishing without a fishing pole!
A Moorhen (I think)
A prancing Snowy Egret
If you make it out to Shark Valley, be sure and stop by a beautiful memorial for the 110 people killed when a plane crashed into the Everglades. It is 5 miles south of Shark Valley.
On May 11, 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board. In 1999, on the 3rd anniversary of the crash, a memorial in the Everglades was dedicated to the victims. The memorial is 110 concrete pillars that point to the location of the crash site eight miles to the north. The 110 pillars represent the lives of those who perished in the crash.
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