Myakka: A prelude to state parks

Weather predictions were for another blown out day. Other than the unfavorable winds, the day was expected to be gorgeous.

Rather than waste the day indoors, D. and I decided to head to Myakka River State Park for a few hours of birdography. We packed the Canons into the Deville and headed out.

Birding with at camera is always a hit and miss proposition. If we emerge with one decent shot after a full day of shooting, I consider it a good day.

We arrived at the park a little later than we normally would because I was doing the "should I fly or shouldn't I fly?" shuffle all morning and wasn't confortable with my decision until after 8:30. This turned out to be ok because at our first stop, the birdwalk, we were treated to a 20 minute display of how a heron catches and consumes a tilapia that looks too large for it to swallow.



It was a great photo opportunity and the volunteer ranger, B., made it educational as well.

From there, we headed to the powerline road and had the opportunity to photograph alligators (a nest of 6 babies under a foot long and, a short distance away, the mother at over 12 feet long), an anhinga eating its mid morning snack, some wild iris, egrets, an osprey nest (have some decent shots of the male bringing fish back to the nest) and a nest of bald eagles with chicks.

And this was all before lunch!!! I must say that watching all of those fish being consumed kinda set the stage for a grouper sandwich. The only problem was that we were having too much fun and decided to eat at the concession stand in the park which doesn't serve grouper sandwiches. We ate what they served and headed to my favorite part of the park, the canopy walk. If you have never been to the top of the 74 foot tower, it is worth the trip. I even suggest splurging and paying the 25 cents for 2 minutes use of the telescope. They have a plaque with a list of things to view, their location and distance from the tower. Heck, it's worth the quarter.


There was not much to photograph from the top but on the way back we were able to photograph a yellow rat snake as it made its way up an oak tree.



From there we wandered through the gates marked "Meadow Sweet Prarie" and down the quiet pathway. Nothing to photograph but a nice respite from the kids at the canopy walk.

We ended the day back at the birdwalk where a warbler was nice enough to pose for a few minutes.



Although no flying occurred, the day was really great: low-key, low-noise, low-stress.

Oh, so what does any of this have to do with flying? Stick around... there is more...