Critters of the swamp

Actually it’s swamp and marsh and woodlands and coastal plain and mangrove islands and mudflats. This is a pretty amazing place from a geology/hydrology/ecology standpoint. They have a number of well done Ranger programs that do a nice job of educating on it. The more I learn the more I appreciate how unique and irreplaceable it is.

Crocodile. He looks pretty much like an alligator to me. There are real, subtle differences; but with that many teeth I have trouble concentrating on the subtle differences.
43 kinds of mosquitoes including the salt marsh mosquito that has the nastiest bite of them all. Thank goodness for a pretty constant mid-day wind that has kept them at a tolerable level. This place is off the list during wet season for sure!
Alligators, there a lot of them here too.
Wading and shore birds; quite the assortment. Warblers and songbirds, just a few.
Dozens of wood storks moving between a field and an island rookery. They are canopying and hopping about and circling as they vie for the best roost and try to impress the ladies. With a 5 ft wingspan and bold black and white coloring it is quite the act to watch.
Roseate spoonbills like odd looking ballerinas cavorting around in their pink feather tutus.
Manatees cavorting in the marina. Mostly we just saw noses as they lolled around in the shallow water. They hung around for over an hour.
Dolphins cruise in on the bow of a fishing boat. Florida bay is shallow and muddy and they say filled with dolphins. We didn’t venture out there but a couple of dolphins showed up to give us a little show. They rode the bow waves in then goofed around a little while before they decided that the marina bay wasn’t just right for them.
Overall, this Park is not as teaming with obvious wildlife as you might think. We have to look for it. It is worth it.

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