Big Cypress National Preserve

American Alligator

Our final stop was Big Cypress National Preserve, which is just north of Everglades National Park. When Everglades National Park was established in 1947, Big Cypress was originally intended to be included; but, because the land had not been purchased from its private owners, Big Cypress was released from the Park system. It didn't become a National Preserve until 1974.

The most biologically diverse region of the Everglades area, Big Cypress While comprises wet cypress forest and mangroves. It is home to orchids, Alligators, snakes, birds, Manatees, Florida Panthers, Black Bears and the Florida Sandhill Crane.

Our first stop was the Oasis Visitor Center, which has a canal running in front of it. The diversity of wildlife in that one stop was amazing.

We saw several large alligators up very close ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: American Alligator

... and, some smaller ones, too (and, all the Gators seemed attracted to Caty; they followed wherever she walked) ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: American Alligator

We got a good view of a Green Heron with its neck extended.

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Green Heron

It really looks different in this pose than it does with its neck tucked in, like the one we saw along the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades.

Everglades National Park, Anhinga Trail: Green Heron

We also saw a several Great Egrets ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Great Egret 

... the Great Egret's smaller cousin, the Snowy Egret (with breeding plumage) ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Snowy Egret

... and a magnificent Tricolored Heron, also with breeding plumage ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Tricolored Heron

... that showed off ...

Its striped neck ...

... and its lovely wings

We also got very close to a rare Great White Heron ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Great White Heron

We saw lots of Anhingas airing their wings ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: female Anhinga

But, a really big treat was an overhead view of a male anhinga fishing. You can see why the anhinga is often called the snakebird (its head looks like a snake sticking out of the water) or the water turkey (look at that tail!) ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: male Anhinga

In some places the canal were so clear, we could see fish, including an armored catfish ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Armored Catfish

... and an Everglades Oscar ...

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: Everglades Oscar

We also stopped at the Big Cypress Swamp Visitors Center in hopes of seeing the manatees that normally congregate there. But, alas, we were not to see any manatees on this trip! Then, we headed on to Everglades City, which I already covered in my Everglades blog.

As rich as our wildlife sightings were at Big Cypress, we were disappointed (but not surprised) that we didn't see a panther or a bear. But, we did see lots of gators ....

Big Cypress Preserve, Oasis Visitor Center: American Alligator

And, that is what it's all about.

Trip date: December 27, 2015-January 3, 2016