March 29, 2020 - Wakulla Springs State Park

Toward the end of the time we were in Florida this winter, I went to Wakulla Springs State Park and took the boat ride down the river. Here are some photos from that experience.

The alligators sunning themselves on the bank are always a big hit during the boat ride. This one was so big I couldn’t get the entire gator in my photo.

AlligatorAmericancloseWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

We also saw a group of young alligators. Our boat guide told us that the yellow stripes on their tails indicated that these were young gators. Those stripes gradually disappear as the alligator gets older.

AlligatorAmericanbabiesWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

This Anhinga was sitting on a branch with its wings spread. I have always been told they do this to dry their feathers. That is true, but according to the online source Birds of North America, there is an even more important reason. Because their feathers are not waterproof, they provide no insulation from the water. Therefore, the time they spend swimming cools down their body temperature. Letting the sun hit their black feathers not only dries them but also serves to warm the Anhinga.

AnhingaWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

I thought this group of three Double-crested Cormorants made an interesting arrangement.

CormorantDoublecrestedWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

This bird used to be called a Common Moorhen. A couple of years ago its name was changed to Common Gallinule. It is 14 inches long, about the size of a Green-winged Teal, one of our smallest ducks. I’m always impressed by the red shield on its forehead.

GallinuleCommonWakullaSpringsStatePark20200208

An even smaller water bird (13 inches) is the Pied-billed Grebe. The word “pied” means of two or more colors in blotches. The black stripe around its light-colored bill is the basis for calling it Pied-billed.

GrebePiedbilledWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

Limpkins used to easily be seen at Wakulla but for the last several years they have been absent from the park. This year one or two of them showed up again and I hope they will continue to reside there. This is a large bird, 26 inches tall.

LimpkincloseWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

Hooded Mergansers are a common sight at the park. This is a female.

MerganserHoodedfemaleWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

Here’s the male Hooded Merganser. He has a very impressive crest.

MerganserHoodedmaleWakullaSpringsStatePark20200223

I made an earlier birding visit to Wakulla this winter with my friend John Murphy. We saw this snake sunning itself beside one of the walkways. A ranger told us it was a Brown-banded Water Snake (non-poisonous).

SnakeBrownBandedWaterWakullaSpringsStatePark20200208