Tuesday 1st March - St David's Day

An ecology day today (Ben says and gators & gals!!) We went to the Big Cypress State Park near Everglade City and saw loads of alligators and different species of birds. We called in at the first information centre and were privileged to see a manatee swimming around in the water at the back of the centre. It was warm and sunny and is a favourite spot for them. On our two off-road detours we saw many basking alligators as well as different birds and a snake. On one board walk the cypress trees were fascinating growing out of the water. The whole area is covered by swamps for as far as the eye can see with raised roads and very few houses, which were on stilts or on the top of raised mounds.  Notable birds seen today were great egret, blue-grey gnatcatcher, northern mockingbird, american bittern, least bittern and a juvenile little blue heron.

Most of a Manatee



Here is the tail as he dived



Just come a bit closer

He has his beady eye on Liz

Well camouflaged American Bittern

We arrived back at the hotel at about 7pm having had a long day out.

Cyprus Trees growing in the swamp

Juvenile Little Blue Heron