In Search Of Snails & Back To Shark Valley - (Ochopee, FL)

Well, we have four registrations so far for the Fall Rally in Pennsylvania (see this Forum thread for registrants).  That's a great start.  :)

As for the Spring Rally in Tennessee (see this Forum thread for registrants), we'll likely be full by this weekend.  We don't like the rallies to get too big, and we've already accepted more registrations than we had planned and filled more sites than we originally set aside.  That's a good problem to have, but if you haven't registered yet and intend to go, time is running out quickly.  :)  We'll be starting a waiting list once registration is closed as there might be late openings if there any cancellations.

With our morning routine behind us, it was too pretty to let the day get away.  Temps were in the 60s, but the sun was shining and there was no rain in the forecast.

We decided to go back to Shark Valley (see prior entry from Jan. 21), but on the way, we thought we'd check out a portion of the Big Cypress Loop Road and see if we could find the colorful Florida Tree Snails.

We've heard a lot about the 27-mile Loop Road, but the Preserve website says a portion of it in the middle is "closed".  While they technically can't close it because there are local residents, the rangers are "strongly discouraging" travel on the Loop Road because it is in such bad shape.  They were telling us there are crater-sized potholes and while it is passable, it's not fun and it gets really tiresome after a few miles. 

But on the end that starts nearest Shark Valley the road is paved, a little rough in places but paved, to the Loop Road Education Center and the Snail Hammock Trailhead.  And "yes", we went looking for, of all things, tree snails.  :)

We found the trailhead ....

 

 

and proceeded down the very short trail loop (.2 miles) looking for Florida Tree Snails.

Here's Linda's video tour.  :)

 

 

Linda was the first to spot one over our heads on a smooth-barked tree.  She was pretty good at finding them and eventually we saw them more at eye level.

 

 

The first time around the loop, we saw about a half-dozen.  But as we learned where to look, the second time around, we saw over twenty.

During the dry season, they attach themselves to the trees and make a tight seal.  The sign at the trailhead says they will die if people remove them and that seal is broken.  We did find this one on a small twig that hadn't yet sealed itself.

 

 

There were some pretty colors and patterns.

 

 

It was just one of those things that most people don't do when they are here, so we thought we'd share these interesting creatures.  :)

 

 

Oh, and Linda also videoed me in one of my awkward positions trying to get a picture.  :)

 

 

It was a tiny little critter and I wasn't able to get just the shot I wanted, but it will do.  :)

 

 

From the Snail Trail, we drove a few miles farther east to Shark Valley.  They had put up the "Parking Lot Full" signs and there was a line at the entrance booth.  The parking lot is pretty small for such a popular place.  So, we turned around and parked out on the side of the Tamiami Trail where we noticed others were parking.

We took the bikes off the rack and rode them into the park.  I had my receipt from last Friday which was good for seven days, so we just showed that and went right in.  It was just a nice day, and our main goal was to ride the 15-mile loop for some exercise and walk the three trails.

But it didn't take us long before we were off the bikes taking pictures and videos.  :)

Last week, we were thrilled to get glimpses of Purple Gallinules.  Today, we saw about a half a dozen out in the open.  :)

Linda took this video of one of them with a Green Heron.

 

 

As Linda mentioned in the video, the Purple Gallinule has extra long toes making it look like it has oversized feet.  But they are perfectly designed for walking on the lily pads.

Here are my photo contributions of the gallinule .....

 

 

and the heron.

 

 

Now, it was our intent to just enjoy our ride and the wildlife and not take too many pictures today.  But there were some things that just had to be photographed ... like this Pied-billed Grebe with a very big fish ... for a grebe.  :)

 

 

There's more to the story.  This grebe popped up in front of us with the biggest fish we've ever seen a grebe catch.  Well, it also popped up in front of this Anhinga.

 

 

As soon as the Anhinga saw the fish, it went after it.  But the grebe did its "grebe thing" and walked on water to get away and save its catch.

 

 

By then, Linda had the video camera out and she captured this fascinating footage of the grebe releasing and re-catching the fish.

 

 

Welcome to Wild Kingdom with Howard & Linda.  :)

Okay, so the grebe drama ended and we continued our bike ride.  We didn't have anything else quite that interesting, but under this Limpkin perched in the trees, ....

 

 

was this tiny bird that we didn't see the last time we were here.

 

 

That's a Sora.  Hadn't seen one of those in over two years. 

Okay, so we were able to put the cameras away for quite awhile.  But, eventually, I had to get a couple shots of the Roseate Spoonbill.

 

 

This one wasn't quite as bright pink as the ones we saw the other day when we got rained out, but it was the best we could do.  :)

 

 

They are very interesting birds and they are beautiful in flight with their bright pink plumage against a green mangrove background.

Okay, so near the visitors center is the Bobcat Trail.  We didn't see anything special there.  And a couple miles down the road is the Otter Cave Hammock Trail which is a .25-mile trail that has some interesting holes in the limestone, but with quite a bit of foot traffic, there wasn't anything to see today.

So we were down to our last trail, the Borrow Pit Trail at the end of the West Road on the path leading to the observation tower.  I took this shot of a Snowy Egret in one of the pit ponds.

 

  

But, just beyond that, we ran into a little problem.

 

 

Yep, a few of the local residents decided that this trail was closed.  :)

 

 

I had resisted taking any alligator photos all day ... until then.  :)

Since there was nowhere to go around, I'm afraid we can't tell you anything about the rest of that trail.  :)

So we got back on our bikes and rode along the 8-mile east side road back to the visitors center.  Though we were following the rules and riding against the tram traffic, it's easy to see why many people ride down the West Road and then back up it again instead of completing the loop.  There is much more to see along the canal than out across the grassy everglades on the east side.

Don't get me wrong, the east side is pretty cool if you haven't already been spoiled by the west side.  :)  In fact that West Road in Shark Valley pretty much spoils you for all your wildlife watching in the "glades".  It's a bird, turtle, and alligator photographers paradise.  The animals are so used to people, you can get closer than anywhere else.  And the variety coupled with lots of natural feeding and territorial activity make it a great place to spend the day.

It was a great day with much less wind than last Friday, and we got in our exercise, walked a couple trails, and saw some interesting sights.  If you enjoy wildlife, Shark Valley is like a natural zoo where you can get closer to the animals than in a "barriers and bars" zoo.  Sometimes, a little too close for comfort.  :)

Back home, Linda got out her Grill-It and made some cajun tilapia with a salad and some black beans.

Then it was the usual emails, TV, reading, and going through photos and videos.  We're both "working" a good 4- 6 hours a day, seven days a week, but it's on our terms and we get lots of long breaks to do some rather interesting activities we can share with you.  :)

Thanks so much for your support and allowing us to be a part of your lives.  :)

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Comments

[anita payne]

Love the pics of the Purple Gallinule. Especially the ones walking on the lily pads.

But who was that skinny guy doing a WW comercial while pretending to take pictures of a lizard.
I am enjoying the tours of the Everglades except for those GATORS.
Mom

[KarenInTheWoods *]

I have never ever heard about the tree snails... how cool is that?

I can see why you decided that trail was closed and went around the other way. I would too!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

[Nancy Crawford]

Once again fabulous photos of the birds, snails and gators. Double wow with sugar on it!! Thanks for the journey. I am loving the Everglades.

[Dee Walter]

Never heard of tree snails. I'm learning a lot through your travels. Still not sure if I can do what you do being that close to nature, so I'll just follow the blog.

[Ali and Charlie]

We're really enjoying your exploration of the Everglades. We hope to get down there in the next couple weeks, so your info is much appreciated. This is what makes your website far superior to any magazine I could subscribe to. (Sounds like a perfect justification for a donation to RV-Dreams to me - if anyone is looking for a justification!) :-)

[Melanie White]

All I can say is you guys are very brave to be walking in the "gator" park. They just can come out of anywhere?? Whew....I don't think that kind of hiking is for me!

[roger and dianne]

Dianne and I bought Townie bikes after riding Linda's at the SC rally. We did the Shark Valley thing on rental bikes a couple of years ago. We want to do it again with decent bikes. It is a not to be missed adventure.

[Brother Jon]

Really, really enjoying the videos, Sis, and Howard, your photography is just getting better and better. I'm so glad you all decided to do less workamping!

[Sherry]

Boy you guys are making me envious! If it weren't for a furnace, we'd be right there with you. Those snails were great and a gator blocked path.....life sure is GRAND!

Sherry
www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com