I left you on the Atlantic shore of Georgia. Going to visit friends on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, I cuted through the land and joined Florida, stopping at two State parks preserving the forest swamps. The weather was not in the game and since I haven’t received the kayak that I ordered yet, I was a little frustrated not being able to bury myself in these swamps full of life…
 
 
1. Pine forest in the rain…
 

 
 
2. In the morning, not far from my camp, a deer…
 

 
 
3. Wild turkeys were also there in their typical environment.
 

 
 
4. They are often small group of 6-10 individuals…
 

 
 
5. A greater yellowlegs.
 

 
 
6. Small train station on my way…
 

 
 
7. Still a forest swamp in the Apalachicola National Forest, with an incredible atmosphere in the rain with bird cries, croaking frogs and crickets rattles, a jungle atmosphere! 😀
 

 
 
8. The “bear claw swamp” is aptly named! The Florida black bear is present in these forests and some can weight up to 300 pounds.
 

 
 
9. Then I reached the Gulf of Mexico. Here mirages on offshore islands.
 

 
 
10. The coast south of Apalchicola Forest is beautiful, still rather preserved.
 

 
 
11. Nice inlet.
 

 
 
12. I was visiting friends living in Panama City Beach, a seaside resort known for its emerald coast, is white sand and the “Spring Break” which is the scene of many excess each spring for two weeks … But the buildings built along nearly 30 km completely distort that coast.
 

 
 
13. The day I arrived, I could see a beautiful but cold sunset, with a strong offshore wind…
 

 
 
The following day, I went to visit the St. Andrew State Park that protects the end of a spit of sand and was able to observe various birds.
 
 
14. A female red-breasted merganser.
 

 
 
15. A turnstone
 

 
 
16. A willet.
 

 
 
17. A sanderling with a wounded leg. I managed to approach it at two meters, super close.
 

 
 
19. A great heron, a different specie than in Europe.
 

 
 
20. And while I was going to go, I just saw a neck out of the water and then disappearing again … I approached as much as possible to discover an anhinga! He walks underwater to hunt and head out for a few moments to observe and breathe. It seems to be one of the oldest birds on our planet…
 

 
 
That’s it for today. To be follwed in a few days… 😉