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Posted by Alex Harper on 00:51:31 06/12/06
This evening two fellow herpers (or reptile enthusiasts) and I headed down to Everglades National Park so see what was out and about after the rains. Arriving at about 5:00 we headed over to Research Road first. Here we heard hundreds of Oak Toads, Florida Cricket Frogs, and Little Grass Frogs. Waders were out and about in high numbers. Common Ground Dove, Eastern Bluebird, and Eastern Meadowlarks were all seen.
Just after the Long Pine Key Campground, we saw a huge group of Wood Storks, at least one-hundred. Common Nighthawks were out since it was pretty dark. Two Eastern Kingbirds were seen as well. The biggest surprise of the day was a male Snail Kite flying over a saltmarsh. Realizing Apple Snails like freshwater, he headed back northwest towards more freshwater (which was on the other side of the road).
As the sun went down activity in the park picked up. Common Nighthawks were impossible to miss, and four Barred Owls were seen. Now, more frogs and toads were calling and taking over the roadway. Southern Leopard Frogs, Pig Frogs, Cuban and Squirrel Treefrogs, and Southern Leopard Frogs were seen and heard. Two American Alligators crosses the road in front of us, as well as a Striped Mud Turtle. The only two live snakes we saw and photographed were yound Florida Banded Watersnakes. A beautiful dead Corn Snake was seen towards Royal Palm.
We headed up to Chekika in hopes of finding some more herps. We saw many more of the same as far as frogs, but did find a very nice Island Glass Lizard. This species is pretty uncommon. A Chuck-will's-Widow called the night away at one location.
The outing ended in Miami Shores with their life looks at the worlds largest gecko: the Tokay Gecko.
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