This place is one of my favorite places in Florida, and though I visited today, I will almost certainly visit at least once or twice again this winter. There is always something different to see because the water level varies and this causes the number and types of birds who are here at any one time. In addition, I was told by the ranger that not all of the migrating birds from the north have arrived yet. So, maybe my next visit will be at the end of January or beginning of February.
If you have never been here, I strongly encourage you to put this place in your high priority "bucket list." You will not regret it. (And before I forget, there is good parking for bigger vehicles like mine. Just follow the signs and turn onto the grassy area just before the main parking lot.) Click here for more information: https://corkscrew.audubon.org/ Also, they are open 365 days a year and that also includes the gift shop which has some really neat bird shirts!
Here are some photos that show my most recent visit:
The boardwalk is 2.5 miles, though you can cut a section of it off, if you choose. If you really want to see birds, I strongly recommend you walk quietly and softly on rubber-sole shoes. Also, it helps to stop every once in a while and just listen for a splash or a rustling in the greenery, indicated a bird is nearby.
This part of the boardwalk enters the bald cypress tree area. They are the tall trees with greyish bark and no leaves during the winter.
On the other hand, the Corkscrew has some open areas that attract different birds than the cypress areas.
I was alone on a stretch of boardwalk, so I was standing still listening. I heard a splash and found this American Bittern catching snails. He/she was very shy so it took several photos to get photos of all parts of the bird. He looks a little like a limpkin, but he has vertical stripes instead of spots like the limpkin does.
I had never seen an American Bittern before, and he is the only bird I have ever seen with stripes on his beak. I stopped several noisy groups that were behind me, put my finger to my lips to shush them, and showed them this bird. If you walk too quickly on this boardwalk and talk, you will never hear or see birds, so a lot of people are disappointed in this sanctuary.
Lots of different lichens on trees. Last time I was here, a squirrel was eating these.
Such a beautiful place. The green stuff floating on the water, by the way, is a tiny plant called "duckweed" NOT pond scum!!!
Wonder how much these ferns would sell for in a greenhouse? Also, note the air plant on the center tree.
A lot of plants growing on the trunks or bases of trees.
A ten-year-old boy had spotted this tiny snake and pointed it out to several of us. I tried looking this up by searching for black snakes in Florida that were about a foot long. I could not find any with the spots that were on this one and with the coloring on his lower face. I give up on this one because I could not find a photo that perfectly matched this one. Maybe a juvenile cottonmouth or a southern water snake or a black snake of some kind!!
There were several covered observation areas in the swamp, but a lot of them lost their roofs in the last hurricane. This one at least still has its sunshade!
The smaller stems around the bottom of the tree are stranger figs. They do take some nutrients from the host tree, but generally support it in a hurricane. They also produce a fruit which is eaten by a lot of animals and birds.
This sign points out one of the largest bald cypress in this virgin cypress forest.
More really big cypress trees in the next few photos. These huge trees used to be nesting places for endangered wood storks, but climate change has caused these birds to nest farther north these days.
More photos of this lovely swamp.
A swamp lily.
This red-headed woodpecker was being very noisy!!
A bit hard to see his face, but this is a little blue heron.
This tree truck is holding onto the boardwalk railing!
Ditto for this one.
Heading back to the visitor center.
Several of use saw the back of this bird, so we first thought it was a barred owl.
Finally, it turned around and we saw it was a red-shouldered hawk. We were told at the visitor center that it was a young bird, so his reddish shoulder marking has not yet developed.
Such a pretty bird!!
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