Great Egret with lunch.
Nature Walks – Wakodahatchee, 01.12.18
Wakodahatchee is the another one of the nearby wetlands that I periodically visit. The crowds were here today for the show and such a show. There were five alligators to see and probably a bunch more that we couldn’t see. I saw the biggest alligator that I have ever seen in Florida, sprawled out on a muddy bank with his lady love. I overheard that it’s mating season for the alligators so they’re more active than usual.
Look at the size difference between the mature male and the female gator! Oh, my.
There was also a sprinkling of large iguanas to be found mostly lurking in the trees or lying on the grass.
Male iguana. Non-native species.
The Great Blue Herons, Anhingas and Double-crested Cormorants are actively nesting, while the great Wood Storks are still gathering in great numbers hunting for food and scouting out nesting sites. There were also a lot of Egrets of all varieties, including the Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and Cattle Egrets.
Here’s a couple more of the alligators…
Napping in the Lilies.
Here are some of the denizens of the marsh:
Double-crested Cormorant. Great perch!
Male iguana. I think I saw this guy on my last visit.
Well, there you have it, some photos of my visit to Wakodahatchee. This is a very popular place for tourists and is open most of the year, from sunrise to sunset. The boardwalks are sturdy and as you can see, there is plenty of activity right now as the mating and nesting seasons approach.
Enjoy your weekend!
Namasté,
“Sunny” VaCoupe (aka Eliza Ayres)
© All Rights Reserved, Eliza Ayres, http://www.bluedragonjournal.com
Blue Dragon Journal 
Reblogged this on dreamweaver333.
You have to admire denizens of the marsh that have been around since the Cenozoic. I’ve never seen alligators during mating season, but when I was in the Everglades, I found them fascinating, intimidating creatures.
These alligators are all well fed on the myriad of fish and the occasional bird or rabbit available to them. They are quite fascinating and cause quite a stir when sighted by onlookers. There wasn’t much activity yesterday from them other than observing the usually solitary animals are beginning to bond together. I’m not cognizant of their “customs”, but it was clear the large bull on the island was probably the dominant male in the marsh. He was huge. And he was quite peaceful napping in the winter sunlight.