The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is such a beautiful place, I could not resist another visit here this winter, especially since it will probably be at least two years before I can return.
No matter when you visit, there is always something new to see. Last time I was here in December, there had been a lot of rain, so there was more water in the swamp. There were not as many wading birds this time, but the ferns and other swamp plants looked terrific, plus the bald cypress had started to grow their summer leaves, so it was worth seeing it again.
After seeing my photos, I hope you don't let anyone tell you that a swamp is ugly or boring!
Everybody stops at this sign at the beginning of the 2.5 mile boardwalk because it is fun to see what birds and animals other visitors have recently seen.
Note the no longer "bald" cypress! This area contains some of the huge virgin cypress that were protected from loggers way back when.
If you come here, plan on spending at least 3-4 hours walking the boardwalk, including stopping to listen for birds and to look for small things.
As you walk, it is important to look down for the small things, like flowers or tiny plants.
Since there was rain yesterday, the resurrection ferns are no longer dry and dead-looking but have "resurrected." They live on the branches of trees, and each frond is only about 6" long.
I used to have an aunt who did not believe me that the green stuff she saw in ditches and wet areas was not "pond scum." In reality, as the next could of photos will show you, the green stuff is thousands of tiny plants called "duckweed." Ducks love to eat these plants, hence their name.
These tiny duckweed plants just float in the water. They have roots, but do not root into soil.
Did you know the "flags" we plant in our gardens also grow well in very wet places, and even sometimes in standing water in ponds.
Lots of lizards in this swamp.
I don't know what these tiny plants growing on this log are, but they are an example of why you need to stop and look when you visit this place.
"The woods are lovely and dark and deep." And these swamp "woods" have a lot more variety of plants growing in them than a northern woods.
This is a small resurrection fern growing on a different fern.
A couple of the old, really huge bald cypress trees!
This lizard is looking for a girlfriend.
This small, but well-branched tree, contains an entire village of air plants growing on its branches!!
This is a hunched-down great blue heron just resting on a tree branch.
An anhinga drying his wings.
A red-bellied woodpecker.
The last part of the boardwalk goes through this very wet grassy area. On the left are bald cypress, and on the right are pine trees, growing on ground that is maybe a foot or two higher.
I'll miss this lovely place until next trip to Florida.
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