A Visit to the Everglades

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. I was nearing my 5gb limit and had to wait until a new billing period cleared the counter.

We drove up to the Everglades this week to see the wildlife there.

 This is the black vulture. They like to eat the rubber off of the windshield wipers and peck the tires of your car. You're advised to tie plastic bags to  the wipers to scare them away.

 This black vulture is deep in thought. They have a great sense of smell which is rare to birds.

 This is probably a tricolored heron.

 Another heron

 This an anhinga, also known as a "Snakebird" beacause it looks like a snake when swimming. Like the comorant, which we have on Hidden Lake, the anhinga dives for fish then dries its wings in the sun. They both grunt instead of sing or quack.

This is a woodstork. Storks bring babies but swallows bring jewelry.

 We think this is an anhinga with seasonal plumage.  He might be Big Bird's illegitimate offspring.

Nap time for Mr. Gator.

We saw this barred owl resting in a tree. He had his partner with him but shortly before I took this photo she silently flew away.

The everglades looks like the African plains. The white trees ahead are cedar trees. They look dead in the winter.

Close encounter with a comorant.