Alligators Unlimited Airboat Nature Tour

This morning we were up bright and early (5:15 am), so that we could leave the house by 6:30.  The reason?  An airboat tour starting at 8 am, in Lake Wales.  It took just over an hour to get there, because the tour is not exactly in the city of Lake Wales.  Actually, it's practically at the Kissimmee State Park.

For us, the name of the tour was both misleading and accurate.  We didn't see many alligators.  But we did see lots and lots and lots of birds.  So, if you're not interested in looking at pictures of birds, or reading about birds, skip this blog and wait for the next one.  If you are interested, read on.

This airboat tour was not like the one that Alicia and I did in Louisiana.  There, we were in the bayou.  Here, we were in the headwaters of the Everglades.  Unlike the bayou in Louisiana, there is no brackish or salt water.  It's all fresh water, and flows through the middle and south of Florida to the Everglades.  Lots of shallow lakes and marshes.  And the birds were amazing.  My only regret (actually two) is that I didn't bring the bigger lens for my camera (and it was over so quickly).  Walter, Alicia and I were the only ones on the six-passenger boat, and so had our own private tour.  Couldn't ask for anything better.  I would have gladly paid the fellow, Captain Carl, to spend the whole morning, not just two hours, out in the water.  If you want to do something different in Florida, I would recommend this.  You'll see what Florida used to be like before the swamps started to be drained in the 1960s.

 Bald eagle - the symbol of America.

 Part of the swamp.  Birds everywhere.  It's hard to take a picture that doesn't have a bird in it.

  Wood stork in flight.

  Snowy egret.  I don't know how many of these I saw.  They are beautiful birds, especially in flight.

   How now brown cow!  Florida has more cattle per capita than Texas.  It is second only to Texas for cattle ranching.  Cattle ranching is the third largest industry in Florida.  The state has allowed cattle to roam free on some park land, and so it's not unusual to see cattle near or in the swamp.

  This little fellow is a purple gallinule.  He has long yellow legs and walks among the lily pads in the swamp.  Said to be the most colourful bird in Florida.   I can believe it.

  Typical swamp.  Looks like it's solid ground, but it's not.  And, of course, there are birds everywhere.

  There are fish in the water, and that attracts the fish eagle - aka the osprey.  

It was an incredible two hours, and I would do it again.  Loved the experience.