Driving over 2,000 miles and through eight states, I arrived in Everglades City in southwest Florida last evening.It is an amazing place with wildlife and nature all around.
The most common birds are the Northern Mockingbird, Common Grackle and Eurasian Collared Dove here in town and as you get into the wetter areas there are Great and Cattle Egrets, Moorhens and Gallinules, and Ibis.
I crossed through Panther territory on the road in and eventually want to visit and maybe volunteer at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge run by US Fish and Wildlife.
I left the mountain retreat in Tennessee yesterday and made my way to Georgia where I would drive through to Florida later that evening.
The north was wooded and lush and full of life and then the land changed.
After getting through Atlanta, a sprawling city with its traffic jams and congestion, I headed south and the landscape became more sparse and dry.The wildlife became less abundant and the diversity of plants was no longer.
As the sun was setting I entered Florida!I felt so at home, like I always do, and it was comforting.The sky was filled with white birds against the dark sky, egrets of every kind.The lakes and swamps became numerous and the saw palmettos along with the typical palm trees dominated the landscape.What a great way to end the day.
What an incredible day yesterday driving through Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The day began with my first Great Egret flying overhead. It was a beautiful sight; the bird was in full breeding plumage looking like a bride with her veil trailing behind her.
I went by the St. Louis Arch and it was bigger than I had imagined; gleaming silver on the bank of the river.
Crossing into Illinois the trees got more numerous and forests covered the land. I took a break at Rend Lake and the birding was incredible as well as the weather and view of the water.
I went through Superman’s home, Metropolis, and saw a huge statue of him. It was quite a site and totally unexpected.
After crossing the Ohio River I went into Kentucky. Large, picturesque mansions dotted the landscape with the typical green rolling hills and horses you would expect. There were a lot more waterways than I expected and imagined living on the edge with my private dock as so many do.
Making my way into Tennessee the landscape changed again, “Mountains”. After driving on mostly flat land it was a pleasure to gain some elevation. I passed through Nashville and what a pretty town it is. I stopped for the day at the Smoke House Lodge, a fabulous Best Western, in the Mountains of Tennessee. It included cabins, a lake, tennis courts and an outdoor pool. I had fun exploring the grounds and birding. My day ended with a chorus of frogs singing me to sleep. Bliss.
Yesterday, The day started with a fly over by a Great Blue Heron which is a positive sign for me.
As I approached and drove through the Flint Hills of Kansas, much to my surprise there were fires everywhere; acre after acre, even up to the roadway, were on fire, charred or smoldering.If this were to occur in Colorado we would have a major disaster on our hands.
Upon entering Missouri, the “Show Me” state, I was amazed at the beautiful trees.The landscape was dominated by beautiful neon purple and white trees, Redbud trees that is.They bloom for a short time in the spring and it is spectacular; so lucky to be here for this.
Another incredible sight was the cliffs on the east side of the Missouri river.These cliffs were about 100 feet tall and the white of sunlight; a great contrast to the gray blue water of the river.
In the afternoon I started to notice how many ponds there were, everywhere.Each watering hole had at least one youngster with no shirt and no shoes with a fishing pole and it reminded me of my Grandpa.In my younger days I remember my grandfather, Chet, having figurines, toys and pictures of this very scene and wondered if it reminded him of his childhood here, where he grew up.What a great way to spend time.
As the day was ending I went to a meadow behind the hotel.I laid down in the grass smelling the sweet flowers in the air and looking at the clouds and for a moment I went back to childhood.Take the time, it’s worth it.
The 5–Day Odyssey to begin a new job in the Everglades began yesterday morning.It is the longest road trip yet, over 2,000 miles from Denver, CO to Everglades City, FL at about 400 miles per day.
After leaving the winter setting of brown, leafless plants and trees on the eastern plains of Colorado I was pleasantly rewarded with spring in Kansas.It was a beautiful mix of colors, textures and wildlife.
Imagine…..
A coyote using the rails as its highway to a destination unknown and pausing to watch me pass by.
A Prairie Falcon swooping in front of my car as it chases a Robin hoping for a meal.
The flowering trees and bushes in white, yellow and pinks filling the air with a sweet smell.
A colorful Pheasant awkwardly crossing the road moving just in time to see another day.
The freshly rolled Hay Bales, 10 feet in diameter, dotted over the fields as far as the eye can see.
The beige hillsides with black cows standing proudly on the ridges.
The Red-tailed Hawk nests lining the roadway every mile or so brimming with parents roosting or hunting to provide for the young one to come.
The green fields of the spring crops with periodic groups of Wild Turkeys communing.
And finally….
The limestone fence posts contrasting against the earth, shining white in the light of the setting sun.
Fabulous spring morning at Barr Lake yesterday. The lake still had ice but pockets of water around it had fantastic waterfowl, Redheads paired up, Wood Ducks and Common Goldeneye. The trees were thick with Downy Woodpeckers pecking at the tree bark and Canada Geese were in the fields feeding. We walked along the canal to the east and down to the blind; saw 19 species in about 2 hours.
Following is the complete list: European Starling, Dark-Eyed Junco (Pink-sided), Canada Geese, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, American Robin, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, Swainson’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Harlan’s Hawk (Dark Morph), Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Ring-billed Gull.
More good birding to come...migration is just around the corner!
