Return to Everglades Holiday Park

The rain finally let up on Tuesday….sort of. It was still gray and overcast but I was scheduled for the Everglades tour. A big double Decker bus worked it’s way down Ocean Drive and stopped right in front of the Crescent Resort. My ride had arrived.

DSC_2213 copy

I climbed to the open air top deck but the ride was only to the ticket office.   When it was my turn I was directed to a smaller van operated by “Luis”. When we finally headed out he had a full load. It was a good thing we were in the van too . The skies opened up and it began to pour!

DSC_2110 copy

Just before we reached Everglades Holiday Park the rain stopped. It was still very overcast but at least it wasn’t raining. Even if it started to rain again, the airboats at Holiday Park as covered.

DSC_2123 copy

Our pictures were taken as we stood inline and then it was time to board.

Holiday Park

I passed the time waiting getting a kick out of the local grackle. They were into everything!

DSC_2111 copy

After a brief safely talk we were on our way.

The first thing I spotted was an Anhinga, the “snake bird” of the Everglades. They call it that because of its long neck.

DSC_2112 copy

DSC_2116 copy

Next up were the cormorants perched on the warning sign.

DSC_2113 copy

With no sun, alligators were in short supply. We only saw one.

DSC_2117 copy

But we had fun with a family of Purple Gallinule.

DSC_2127 copy

These funny birds walk on top of the vegetation.

DSC_2124 copy

We had a whole family join us including a pretty young chick.

DSC_2130 copy

DSC_2128 copy

On the way back to the dock we spotted a huge iguana perched in the trees.

DSC_2137 copy

He was a beautiful specimen on the one hand, but kind of depressing on the other as this is an invasive species. Along with pythons they are wreaking havoc on the native animals of the Everglades.

 

Posted in animals, Birds, Everglades, Florida, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , .

4 Comments

    • He was a big one for sure. I’d never seen them with that orange colored fringe before. Its sad to think they are upsetting the eco balance of the Everglades.

Comments are closed.