North along the Gulf Coast of Florida

As we left Key West we stopped at Big Pine Key to watch again for the endangered Key Deer.  We found eleven including this dog-sized Buck.  It is amazing how they survived the brunt of the eye of Hurricane Irma.  It was great to see a Short-tailed Hawk soar over us.

For the next week we stayed at the Jolly Roger Park near Marathon.  Each evening, everyone gathered at the Tiki Island to watch the sunset.  A group of people blew the Conch Shell three times as the sun touched the water, when it was half way down, and when it sunk beneath the water.

Scrawled Cowfish (Boxfish)
Found along the seawall at the Jolly Roger

Needlefish

Spiny Lobster - over a foot long

Horseshoe Crabs

Six-lined Race Runner

Saltwort in bloom

We then drove back to Flamingo in the Everglades National Park for 2 days.  Then spent 2 days visiting our friends Bud & Patti Myers in Fort Myers.

Wood Stork fledglings with adults

Our first of the year Swallow-tailed Kite

 Wilson's Plover 

Anhinga - body submerged

Yellow Rat Snake

We then spent two nights at Myakka River State Park enjoying the beautiful live oaks filled with birds and other wildlife.

Canopy Walkway

Armadillo under our RV

Tufted Titmouse

Myakka Lake, full of shorebirds in the distance

We then spent four days at St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge staying at Newport Park at the top end of the refuge.  One of the first birds we saw was this beautiful Swallow-tailed Kite soar in and out of the pine trees chasing insects.

Boat-tailed Grackle in nuptial plumage

Little Wood-Satyr

Abundant Sora Rails

Purple Gallinule

Pair of Bald Eagles

Clammy Ground Cherry

Willet grabs a Shrimp

Last Blue Moon until 2020

Lighthouse at St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge

Pine-woods Clematis

Tiny baby Lubber Grasshoppers

Cotton Rat Mom greets youngster

Curious Young Raccoon

Shorebirds at St. Mark's

Ruby-throated Hummer visits Musk Thistle

Blue-flower Butterwort

Ochlockonee Reflection Pond

We then spent a day at Ochlockonee River State Park.  Main goal was to photograph the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.  We also found some rare white squirrels and a Piedbald White-tailed deer with her fawn.

We were blessed with a very successful morning in the fog before we left for Alabama.


Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann