Florida: Corskscrew Swamp

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, run by the Audubon Society, is located inland from Naples, Florida. There is a 2.25-mile raised boardwalk trail that takes you through a pristine Florida environment that includes a pine upland, a wet prairie, a cypress forest, and a marsh. There was plenty of wildlife all around. Friendly Audubon guides wander through the park and point out various wildlife that the uninitiated may miss. Based on one guides advice I spent about twenty minutes watching the nest of a couple of red-shouldered hawks incubating their eggs. According to the guide they would take turns incubating while the other went hunting. After about 20 minutes one will get impatient and call out to the other to return. Sure enough about every 5 minutes or so you could here one call out. I did end up seeing the hawk later as the pictures testify.

Red-shouldered Hawk

More Florida "flatscape"

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Florida: Edison and Ford Summer Estates

Toward the end of the 19th century Thomas Edison built a summer home in Ft. Myers Florida. When it was built the only access was by boat the the area was thought of as a jungle. Now it lies smack in the middle of downtown Ft. Myers. Quite a nice set of digs if you ask me. There are three homes (Edison's, Edison's guest house and Ford's) and a couple of his workshops. There is also a massive banyan tree that cover an acre of land right in the middle of the parking lot, sort of. Its worth seeing and takes about a half day though I only spent about 2.5 hours there.

Edison Summer Home

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Florida: Myakka River State Park

Myakka River State Park is located about 25 miles East of Sarasota. It is a great place to see wildlife and typical Florida "flatscape" (its beautiful, but I struggle to call it landscape). More than once I've seen bald eagles there but never got a good shot. I took an airboat tour of the lake which was entertaining. There you can also see: Sandhill cranes, aligators, armadillos, herons, osprey and so on. There is also an a canopy walk, hiking trails, nature trails, boating, etc.

Sandhill Crane up close

Myakka River

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