Its that time of year!

I saw this guy outside of my gate when I came home earlier today. Its breeding seasons now, so one never knows what they are going to stumble upon!

Can you imagine stumbling across this?

Python vs. Alligator!

I am visiting the Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands before the summer returns to explore some of these giant reptiles that are playing havoc on our indigenous species.

911 call: 'There's an alligator in my kitchen!'

911 call: 'There's an alligator in my kitchen!'

This alligator made himself at home in Pinellas County.

Authorities say 69-year-old Sandra Frosti of Oldsmar found the 8-foot long alligator in her kitchen late Monday night.

She says the gator must have pushed through the back porch screen door and went inside through an open sliding glass door. It then walked through the living room, down a hall and into the kitchen.

A trapper with Animal Capture of Florida removed the alligator, which had been cut when a plate was knocked to the ground. But no one inside the house was injured.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Today, David, Melissa, Cor, and myself visited the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. It was a beautiful day with lots of sites! It was hot; however, the breeze helped make the heat manageable. Being that it is prime breeding season; there was a lot of action! We saw birds mating, a 3-4' water Moccasin, many gators (making up for yesterday!), a few iguanas, turtles galore, as well as a 9-10’ alligator catching a turtle, crushing it, protecting its catch from a smaller 4-5’ alligator, then eating its meal. I am still learning my camera, the lens, and all of the features/settings. The pictures below are I ascending order of them being shot.

Turtle roll call

A hiding alligator partially sunning himself

A sunning turtle makes a nice pillow!

An alligator hidden by the duck weed, waiting on a prey to fall into his trap!

Water Moccasin

Its breeding season

12-16" alligator

Crunch!

The catch draws another specimen to explore the commotion

The 9-10" alligator moves to safety to finish crushing the turtle

Snap, crackle, & pop!

Purple Passionflower

Frank gave me a clipping of the Purple Passionflower vine about 10 months ago. It has taken started to spread and bloom. This is a pretty flower that does attract some butterflies, but not as much as the Red Passionflower vine will.

I am starting to think that this is a Red Passionflower. Even though I am color blind, the flower does look red to me; however, colors can vary during different seasons, amount of consistent heat, and with the amount of sunlight. Additionally, the flowers are not clustering like the red varietal typically does?

Frenchman's Forest and Riverbend

Today, we visited the Frenchman's Forest and Riverbend Park.

We stopped at Frenchman's Forest first. This a nice nice park with numerous Palmetto Palm hammocks and huge Live Oaks whose canopy create large shaded areas, as well as a nice medium for the various air plant species. We did not notice any of the Butterfly Orchids that are listed on the park's website. We did not see many critters. We saw several bird species, many squirrels, a few butterflies and dragonflies, a woodpecker, and a gopher tortoises. This is a nice park.

Wood Pecker

Giant Air Plant

Spanish Moss

Fern Covering the forest floor

Termites have created a nice home for some critters

The beautiful canopy of a Live Oak

The Woodpeckers really got this tree! There are several holes that completely go
through the tree!

A great example of a Palmetto Palm hammock. The park is loaded with the hammocks created by this species of palm.

A Gopher Tortoises. schlepping around the parking lot.

On the way to Riverbend Park, we noted these orchids and the Bromeliad below growing in some trees next to a well planted house/yard.

We walked the Riverbend Park. It was a nice long walk (several hours). Again, we did not see many critters. We mostly saw Squirrels, a few raccoons, a Black Racer,a few butterflies and dragonflies, as well as a few water birds. Halfway through the walk, the bone spurs on my left heal really started bothering me; however, I did complete the walk. This park is still being developed, so not all of the paths are open to the public. The park does have nice bike paths! Next time, we may bring the bikes; then, my ass will be hurting instead of my left heal!

Giant Air Plant

Mocking Bird

We noted the posted warning signs several times; however, no gators were to be seen today!

Black Racer