More Than Birds January 2010

I forget that there is more to going birding than birds. There are all sorts of plants, mammals, fish and reptiles. I’m weak in all those other categories. I rarely if ever pay much attention to alligators which are plentiful everywhere. Every golf course water hazard has its share of the once endangered animal which gives losing a golf ball in a water trap a whole other spin.

I enjoy visitors from home, so when Linda and I made a plan to go to Green Cay and Wakodahatchee to take some pictures, I was well pleased. As I have mentioned before, these spots are slices of photographer heaven, especially Wakodahatchee. Since our primary goal was to take pictures and that it had been so cool, we had a leisurely start.

It's interesting how everyone can tell you where the really big gators are. Gators are not why I go out into the wild so I nod politely saying thank you to receiving the information. This animal was a beast worthy of view. I’m glad that we did stop because I had a chance to witness something brand new to me. As we were watching, I noticed many air bubbles arising around the middle of the body and then it flexed and undulated its body, raising head and tail way out of the water. If that wasn’t enough on the wonder meter, it then bellowed. The sound was deep, sonorous, and full, with an ominous feel, a cross between a growl and the rumble of an earth quake lasting only a few seconds. It is a sound that is meant to be heard over a long distance. It was not loud but it felt very powerful. The sound was so intense that it rattled in my chest, and I felt a cross between fear and wonder. From a few yards behind us on the board walk came a reply. The group of a dozen people and many cameras among them, pivoted around to find a second animal tucked into the fire flag. The first gator bellowed again and another people pivot. We became like the paparazzi snapping away. I did get a video with my little pocket digital. Linda, having much better equipment, also got stills and a video. My long lens is my spotting scope through which I aim my little camera lens, so I can’t point and shoot.

At Wakodahatchee, there were several people with very large lens, some done up in camouflage, out that afternoon. One man had a whole strobe setup with him. It is a smaller place so the wildlife is that much closer. This time of year the nesting anhingas, cormorants and great blue heron are a big attraction. There are also several alligators and one very large one has inhabited the same spot on the same island for as long as I’ve been going there.

We noticed a flyer for photo workshops scheduled for this winter and Linda and I may attend one later in February.

Also easily observed at either place are species of turtles, especially Florida soft-shell and sliders, fish in the shallow areas, marsh rabbits and occasionally a bobcat and bye bye rabbits!

Oh, yeah. We did see some fine birds in spite of the coolish weather. Most out of the ordinary was one white pelican at Wakodahatchee. An American wigeon can create some excitement here, which we saw at Green Cay. Other sightings of the day were a male painted bunting, black bellied whistling ducks and several sora. Sora are difficult for me to photograph with my setup but I was able to capture in pixels the mega gator at Green Cay and a Florida specialty, a purple gallinule. I need to remember that there is more to life than birds.