Day 22 - January 16, 2018 - The Circle B Bar Reserve

We spent the day at the Circle B Bar Reserve.

Admission is free.  The "Discovery Centre" is very educational, and the extensive reserve is a wonderful experience.

We didn't see nearly as many alligators as in previous years, but did see a half dozen large ones.

And we saw the monster 20 footer (well, part of him - from 75 yards away).

We saw wild pigs last year, but a highlight today was seeing a litter of piglets beside the path.

The sow was about 75 yards away, eating at the side of the marsh.

Apparently, she had been there for over half an hour.  She must have grown up on the reserve and become used to humans close by because she never showed any concern about her litter.  I waited patiently for another twenty minutes and she finally started back to the litter.

The recent cold snap had killed hundreds of Tilapia (not surprising- they're foreigners - illegal immigrants as it were).

Resulting in dozens and dozens of Black Vultures overhead and in all of the trees along the water's edge.

And on the ground, eating fish.

They don't leave much behind.

Saw lots of other birds, including these Roseate Spoonbills.

And White Pelicans.

Lots of Great Blue Herons, including this one on its nest.  Note the head of one of its chicks showing above the nest.

A pair of Barred Owls a long way off.

Purple Gallinules.

The usual mix of Egrets, Cattle Egrets, and Limpkins.  

Plus Anhingas drying their wings.  Nicknamed Snakebirds (only their neck and head are above water when they swim), they resemble, but are apparently not related to, Cormorants.

Other sightings:

And a curtain call for Mrs. Pig and family.

We were at the Reserve for over four hours and each walked more than five miles.  All in all, a wonderful day!

We picked Jo-Ann up on our way home and brought her to Orange Lake for dinner and two more games of Hand and Foot.  Modesty prevents me from commenting on the results.

Tomorrow we hope to golf.