Happy Mother’s Day
Boy it’s been busy at work! I’m not really complaining because this is when I make the $$$ that pays for all my little jaunts but I think we’re setting new records this spring! Anyway, that’s why I haven’t had time to post much.
As anyone who has followed along for any time knows, I want to go to every state for a vacation. Even some of the more “boring ” states have lots to share if you are just willing to do a little research. As I’ve said many times, one of the best vacations was to South Dakota but when I told people that was where I was going they always asked “What’s in South Dakota”?
Now Florida is home to the snow birds, Mickey Mouse and the world’s longest stop lights. (That’s so all of us senior citizens with slow reflexes have time to react) Yet I keep going back. If I took all my visits to the Sunshine state and used them toward my goal of visits to every state, I’d be almost done! I go to Florida at least once a year, sometimes more and it never gets old.
I love the animals, mostly birds. They are colorful and abundant and there’s lots of things to do besides Disney and Universal. I lean toward places like Gatorland and eco-safaris, botanical gardens and airboat rides.
I’ve spent most of my time in the Orlando area but I’ve made jaunts to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Key West, St. Pete and St Augustine so I’ve pretty much covered the state and I’m still not bored. There’s still more to see.
This winter I have a longer trip than usual planned. I know I will miss the kitties staying away that long but it made more sense to do one long trip and save on air fare than to split it up so I’m spending 4 days in the Orlando area and then moving down to South Beach for 7 more days. Can’t wait and can’t wait to tell you all about it.
For now I will leave you with a few Egret photos from the “breeding pond” at Gatorland.
It was stepping out into a watery wilderness a mere 7 miles from the headwaters of the River of Grass. Anyone local will tell you that you are too far north for the Everglades. They think of the southern end, near Fort Lauderdale, Shark Valley, Holiday Park, but the shallow waters start somewhere and East Lake Tohopekaliga is a good a place as any to explore if you are near St. Cloud, FL.
We tried a smaller airboat ride than I’ve done before. We floated out with Wild Willy’s and it was worth the effort to get there. Located in a RV campground on a dead end road, Wild Willy’s uses 6 person airboats, smaller and more personal than the bigger airboats I’ve been on on the past.
Our captain said he was the one and only Wild Willy. I’m not sure if that’s true or just what they all say but he was a crusty fellow who did his darndest to give us a fun and educational ride.
Without a word he used the airboat to coax birds into the air or drift quietly past them so I could get the best possible photos. Big difference from the frustrating experiences trying to get photos on some of the big airboats.
Willy pointed out an eagle nest with two eaglets while Mon and Dad perched in the tree tops a few trees away keeping a close eye.
Baby alligators chirped for mama gator and birds were everywhere.
One of the first we spotted was an osprey with a fish for lunch half as big as he was.
A great blue heron “photo bombed” some smaller wading birds…just because he could.
We scared up a flock of white pelicans.
We spotted quite as few Purple Gallinules.
I got a predator bird in flight. It was hardly more than a spot in the sky when Willy pointed the airboat toward it. I heard him say it was very rare and that he’d taken birder’s out days at a time looking for one. But I didn’t catch what he called it. So here’s my mystery bird. Any idea what it is?
