Florida Keys to Torry Island - February 13 to 17

Our stay in the Florida Keys was brief but memorable. We headed out of our "Kampground of America" (KOA) and started back up the Overseas Highway. The KOA facilities are top of the line and they go the extra mile to make your stay enjoyable and safe.

We stopped briefly at Big Pine Key for another look at the diminutive Key Deer. This buck just wandered in front of me as we walked up the path to Blue Hole.

Our next stop was Bahai Honda State Park where we hiked along the east and west nature trails. The white sand was largely covered by a mat of reddish seaweed but the view was beautiful. 

Most of the beach was empty of birds so we returned to our RV and headed out of the park. As we passed over a stream that emptied into the gulf we saw hundreds of shore birds foraging in the outlet waters. It was a secluded section of the beach with no parking for a mile in either direction.I parked on the gravel shoulder and hiked back to the action. From the bridge, I was getting great shots of the wading birds. A passing motorist lended out his window to ask some distracting questions. Without taking my eye off the lens of my camera I responded to her inquiries. When I looked up I realized I was talking to the park ranger who was telling me to move my RV. Such are the perils of birding.

Least Sandpiper (123)

We walked up the ramp to the old highway bridge until we got to the section that was removed to prevent further exploration.

Our next stop was Crane Point Museum and Nature Centre at Marathon Key. We had a refreshing walk through the shady mangrove forest. It was nice to see a nature area in the heavily developed Florida Keys.

Before leaving the keys we stopped for a snack of world famous key lime pie. It was tasty.

We ended the day back at the Miami Everglades RV Campground.

February 14
It was time to head back up north along the Atlantic coast of Florida. We decided on a last visit to the southern Florida Coast and went to West Lake Park in Hollywood. Traffic was fierce but thanks to Magellan we made it to this tropical island sequestered in the middle of sprawling suburbia.

The view from the tower at West Lake Park.gave a good overview of the expansive size of this urban park.

West Lake

The park is right on the edge of the Atlantic ocean and is covered by an extensive Mangrove forest. We saw a goodly number of birds as we hiked around this refreshing park.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Palm Warbler

We had no luck finding an RV park in the sprawling suburbs north of Miami so late in the evening we headed inland toward Okeechobee Lake. We had had enough of the big city traffic and congestion.

It was dark as we arrived at South Bay beside Lake Okeechobee. We had Magellan directions to a campground but the Magellan batteries died as we were getting close to our destination. We made some educated guesses, and with a little luck, made it to the campground. 

February 15
It was a beautl ful morning when we woke up in the Torry Island Campground. We were parked in an extensive RV park with a beautiful swamp on all sides. I do chuckle at the concept of a beautiful swamp but such is the perspective of avid birders.

There were channels through the swamp for boats to access the lake. We had an enjoyable day wandering around the paths through the camp and hiking trails into the swamp.

  Torry Island

Common Moorhen

Red-winged Blackbird

Caspian Tern - molting into spring plumage

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Glossy Ibis

At last, a good look at a Glossy Ibis. We had been looking for this bird throughout our swing through southern Florida. As often happens Emma spotted it first. She is getting good at birding. She is at the point where she knows when she sees something unique. Once she focuses me in the right direction I put a name to what she has seen.

White Ibis

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egrets have a very stately way of walking for such a small heron. I try not to anthropomorphize birds but these little guys seem to be doing a great impression of Robert De Niro in Taxi ... "You talkin to me?".

Great Egret

I'm always amazed at how long a herons neck is when fully extended.

Green Heron

Loggerhead Shrike

Common Moorhen

There were an amazing number of birds in the Torry Island area. Then again, it was South
Florida and we were in a big swamp.

Glossy Ibis

Cattle Egret

Rough-winged Swallow (125)

Tricoloured Heron

Painted Bunting

This painted bunting was not attracted by a bird feeder so I had to follow him through the swamp as he foraged among the reeds and bushes.

Purple Gallinule

Green Heron

Loggerhead Shrike

The Loggerhead Shrike is robin sized with small feet like other perching birds. However, the hooked bill tells the story as this bird is all about preying on sparrows.