Miami
Shortly after arriving in Miami, we headed to Oleta River State Park. This is a small park in North Miami Beach that still keeps a little of the Mangrove habitat. (Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
Mangrove
There were some water birds in the park, such as this Spotted Sandpiper and Great Blue Heron.
Spotted Sandpiper
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
There are other wildlife, such as this Monarch butterfly, and this huge spider (likely a Golden Silk Orb-Weaver).
Monarch Butterfly
Spider
We made a visit to Everglades National Park. We had spent extensive time here in 2006, so this time we made a relatively quick visit. Just outside the visitor center, we spotted this Cattle Egret.
Cattle Egret
Then to our favorite place in the Everglades -- Anhinga Trail. There were many Black Vultures hanging around there; in fact, park staff put up signing warning vulture damages of vehicles.
Black Vulture
We took the Anhinga Trail, all the usual suspects were there.
Anhinga
Purple Gallinule
Tricolored Heron
Tricolored Heron
We continued to drive down the road inside the park, stopping at several places, encountering more birds.
Turkey Vulture
American Crow
Eventually the sun set over the Everglades to end this day.
Sunset over the Everglades
Sunset over the Everglades
The next day we drove across the causeway to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. Cape Florida Light stands sentinel on the tip of the key (island).
Cape Florida Lighthouse
Cape Florida Lighthouse
Key Biscayne is just across the Biscayne Bay from Miami and offers a nice view of the Miami skyline.
Miami
Inside the part, what's most striking is how tame the White Ibises were -- they acted like barnyard fowls and would forage close to the picnic tables.
White Ibis
White Ibis
White Ibis
We also stopped by Matheson Hammock Park, a small spit of sandbar jutting out into the Biscayne Bay with a lagoon in it. This makes the "hammock" look like surrounding by water inside-and-out. With the Miami skyline in the distance, the scene is picturesque, and this was our favorite park around Miami.
Matheson Hammock
And here I had the best birding. Several species of wading birds were foraging in and round the lagoon, and the noisy Boat-tailed Grackles also paid visits.
Least Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Boat-tailed Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
In a tree by the parking lot, a Great Egret was nesting there, with its full regalia (breeding plumage).
Great Egret
Great Egret
Our hotel was the W Miami (then known as the Viceroy Miami) near the mouth of the Miami River, the view from the balcony was very nice.
Mouth of the Miami River (from hotel balcony)
Mouth of the Miami River
And it was here I saw my first Manatee from the hotel! This one leisurely swam into the river from the bay.
Manatee
Near sunset, Boat-tailed Grackles came to roost in trees.
Boat-tailed Grackle
On our last day in Miami, we walked around town, stopping at the Metro-Dade Open Space Park where the Dropped Bowl with Scattered Slices and Peels sculptures are installed.
Sculpture
Sculpture
And of birds, some proud Feral Pigeons were strolling around. These introduced birds establish themselves everywhere and sometimes are treated as nuisance, but they are really beautiful birds regardless.
Pigeon
