Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida, was beautiful to visit this time of year. There were no bugs, it was cool out, there were plenty of hawk nests, and wading birds were all over. It was a great day.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
CORKSCREW SWAMP
The boardwalk is shaded for 90% of the walk through the Swamp
FANTASTIC SIGHTING!
Swallow-Tailed Kite
FANTASTIC SIGHTING # 2
A Limpkin
The Black-Crowned Night Heron is pretty common
here, but I can never get enough of seeing them!
He was taking a nap!
Red-Bellied Woodpecker (there were a lot of them!)
Baby Downy Woodpeckers (so cute, but wouldn't stay still!)
The Irises were in bloom all over
Cypress Knees
A wasp was inside the leaf - you can see his shadow on the right
Lots of new, green growth all over - despite the low water level
Lettuce beds - this is where alligators hide
Mother gator with babies on her back!
NICE HAWK
Many, many wading birds
More Ibises and Egrets than anything else
