My family and I spent a week in southern Florida over the holidays and while we were there, we took in some of the wildlife refuges and the Everglades. Regrettably, the weather was not exactly picture postcard worthy, but I still enjoyed the trip. Florida is always a good spot for bird photography.
Tropical Botanical Garden
One of the first places we went was the Tropical Botanical Garden just south of Miami. Featuring several hundred acres of native plants it provides a spectacular backdrop for bird photography. The garden also houses a butterfly pavilion so it was cool to see that as well. The highlight was a crocodile sunning itself along the shores of the one the many lakes in the garden.
Crocodile, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Great white heron, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Great white heron, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
White ibis, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Blue morpho butterfly, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Butterfly, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Butterfly, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Tricolored heron, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Tricolored heron, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Tricolored heron, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Orange iguana, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Green iguana, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Green iguana, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Green iguana, Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Bill Baggs State Park
Our next stop was Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne. I had wanted to see the lighthouse but the grounds were closed due to renovation. I settled for shooting some birds along the fishing pier. I found a snowy egret and a great egret. I also spotted a small raccoon wandering the picnic shelter.
Snowy egret, Bill Baggs State Park, FL
Snowy egret, Bill Baggs State Park, FL
Snowy egret, Bill Baggs State Park, F
Great egret, Bill Baggs State Park, F
Great egret, Bill Baggs State Park, FL
Raccoon, Bill Baggs State Park, F
Brown pelicans,, Bill Baggs State Park, F
Brown pelicans, Bill Baggs State Park, FL
Brown pelicans, Bill Baggs State Park, FL
Iguana,, Bill Baggs State Park, FL
Everglades National Park
The following day we took a trip to the Everglades. I had never been so it was a chance to see something new. Most of the southern section of the park is made up of seagrass marsh. There was a constant smattering of birds but no mass collection of anything. We walked the Anhinga trail. I did get to see a great egret gulp down an anole, though. I also spotted a few manatees and a crocodile at the far end of the drive.
Great egret eating anole, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Great egret eating anole, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Great egret eating anole, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Great egret eating anole, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Great egret eating anole, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Great egret, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Great egret Everglades National Park, FL
Flying Great egret, Everglades National Park, FL
Flying Great egret, Everglades National Park, FL
Great blue heron, Everglades National Park, FL
Great blue heron, Everglades National Park, FL
Alligator, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Alligator, Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, FL
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
The last place we stopped was the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville, FL. This is a spectacular refuge that boasts a number of bird species. I spotted several kinds of herons, spoonbills, and many ospreys. I had fun watching the osprey snag fish. I just wish the light wa sa little better to highlight the birds.
Osprey with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Osprey with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Royal tern with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Royal tern, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Royal tern with fish, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Blackbirds and Snowy egrets, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Blackbirds, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Green ibis, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Green heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Roseate spoonbill, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Roseate spoonbill, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Roseate spoonbill, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Moorhen,, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Moorhen, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Pied-billed grebe, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Great egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Great egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Great blue heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Cattle egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Cattle egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Cattle egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Snowy egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Snowy egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Snowy egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Snowy egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Snowy egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Little blue heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Anhinga, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
White ibis, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Alligator, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
