Recapping 2015: The Everglades

After spending two months in the Baja.....

I returned to another season of guiding.  This and the following entries are the highlights of my 2015 Season!

THE EVERGLADES

This was my first time guiding in the Everglades! I was astounded by the diversity of plant life. There are many delicate orchids but the alligators, like the one pictured, are not so delicate. Large concentrations of alligators are found this time of year because April is a dry month, and that leaves them with few places to inhabit.

I had first encountered Anhingas, also known as the Water Turkey or Snake Bird, in South America. They continue to intrigue me because unlike most water birds they don't have oil on their feathers. This means they have to dry their feathers in the sun after swimming before they can fly.

Camping on islands of shells in the Ten Thousand Islands chain of mangrove and kayaking amongst manatees were other standouts in this area. Native tribes have built these islands of shells in the shallow waters off the coast of Florida. Finding the manatees was like a game of hide and seek because, although large in size, the manatees are also shy and fast. Quick get aways are their specialty.