A Visit to Everglades National Park, Part 1 of 2, Shark Valley, Miami, Florida, USA

The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve at the southern tip of Florida. Often compared to a grassy, slow-moving river, the Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species.

The road/path shown above is the access into the Everglades at the Shark Valley entrance. 

Mostly, along the road, it's just humans on foot, bicycle, or tourist tram........



Sometimes, however, other species like this Great Blue Heron can be seen walking along, too. Although these are animals in the wild - in their natural habitat - they are accustomed to seeing human visitors to the park and I think tolerate a closer proximity than I would have expected. All these images were captured along the road's edge with my point-and-shoot camera that has a 28-105 zoom.

A Great Egret looking for food in the water.



I enjoyed watching this Great Blue Heron high-steppin' across the water as he began his takeoff run.



Airborne.



And away he goes.



Meanwhile, this Anhinga, a bird who swims under water for food, was warming and drying his wings as a Black-crowned Night Heron sat nearby.



This turtle also enjoyed soaking up the warm sunshine from the relative safety of his hard shell.



A Purple Gallinule punctuates the greenery with a bright splash of color.



Another Black-crowned Night Heron just hanging out.



If you arrive early enough, you might catch one of the Everglades nymphs watering the flowers........



......or visiting with a friend....... but they must be careful.......



....since not all the critters walking alongside the roadway are friendly.