Charleston, South Carolina
Southeastern USA was very hot this time of year. Driving from Charleston to Miami with a lot of crisscrossing in Florida, I experienced daytime temperatures between 30-36°C (90-100°F). This was of course a challenge coming from Northern Norway, but with A/C in the car and in motels at night, it was kind of OK.
On this page I show a few photos from the trip. Having visited the region in 2001, I decided to revisit some of the most interesting wildlife preserves. Although nice, I still prefer the western states. At times it feels too crowded in Florida. The inland might be more authentic and less crowded, but the extensive retirement home building all over the state ruins this natural wonder. Here I totally agree with Carl Hiaasen, and his cynical view on residential development in the Sunshine State.
On this page some of my impressions from the region are shown.
Charleston
Charleston
Charleston
Charleston Waterfront Pier
Charleston
Conference at Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston
Dredging in Charleston Harbor, May 2019
Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus), South Carolina Aquarium
Fish, South Carolina Aquarium
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), South Carolina Aquarium
First stop, at Givhans Ferry State Park, just east of Charleston, South Carolina
Rental car, a 4WD Jeep Compass. Luckily, it came with a navigation system, which was actively used
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
I think this is Water Spangles (Salvinia minima). Looks similar to an invasive plant I saw in Botswana, introduced from Brazil (Kariba Weed, Salvinia molesta). Water Spangles in native to North America
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides), South Carolina. An non-parasitic epiphytic plant common in Southern USA
Spanish Moss flowers
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee boardwalk
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Goethe State Forest, Central Florida
It's hot outside! 96°F or 36°C
The Goethe Giant, a 920 year old Bald Cypress tree (Taxodium distichum), Big Cypress Boardwalk Trail, Goethe State Forest
The Goethe Giant
Beehives in the wilderness, Goethe Forest, Florida
Florida landscape
Protect the Manatees!
Crystal River waterfront
Crystal River manatee boat trip operator
Crystal River canal with divers looking for manatees
Crystal River manatee
Manatee tail with propeller scars
Manatee spring, Crystal River
Manatee boat trip in Crystal River
Charlie's Fish House Restaurant in Crystal River
Shop in Crystal River
White beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Canal in St. Petersburg
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Florida
Lake Apopka
Lake Apopka
Heavy algal bloom. Must be plenty of phosphorus and nitrogen here. Lake Apopka, Florida
Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands (Viera Wetland)
Travelers Inn, Okeechobee, Florida
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is located approximately 25 miles north of Okeechobee
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Watering hole with a small alligator. Ranch near Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Location for Swallow-tailed Kite and Crested Caracara. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
My rental car was overheating in the hot weather. This is how far I got (LaBelle City). I called Alamo, and they sent a tow truck to pick up the car, and drive me to the nearest Alamo office in Fort Myers. There I got a new car, and was on the road in less than 4 hours after my first call to them. Very good service from Alamo, the car rental company!
The tow truck driver
Bridge on Estero Island
Replacement rental car, a Jeep Cherokee this time. Better on the highways, but not 4WD and no navigation system
One of the fenced areas for Burrowing Owl, Cape Coral, Florida
Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, Was here to look for the Black Skimmer, not the other "birds"
Black Skimmer habitat, Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg
Flamingo Motel, Bonita Springs, North Naples. For once, a very nice and clean motel with a great pool area
Had an Island Quesadilla at Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, Siesta Key Village
What a Florida or US holiday really looks line. With a lot of time spent in the car driving
With many lanes in each direction and heavy traffic
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Giant airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata), Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Gumbo-limbo Tree (Bursera simaruba)
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Southern Florida agricultural water irrigation canal
Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6
Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6. Excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus, found in stormwater runoff pose a risk to the Everglades. These nutrients flow from lawns, farms, roadways and other developed areas. When a nutrient, such as phosphorus, enters this ecosystem in excess, plant growth is stimulated, producing an overabundance of undesirable vegetation. Cattail and other species respond with vigor, crowding out native wetland plants such as sawgrass and preventing the sun’s rays from reaching plants in the water. Stormwater treatment areas are constructed wetlands that remove excess nutrients. They play a vital role in protecting and restoring the Everglades.
Stormwater treatment areas are built specifically for improving Everglades water quality. However, their vast, shallow waters and rich plant life also make them outstanding habitat for wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6 is supposed to be one of the better birding spots in Southern Florida.
Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6. Turned out to be closed off to the public when I visited
Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6
Marco Island
Everglades City
Island Cafe, Everglades City. Had alligator nuggets here. Tasty!
Everglade warning
Corey Billie's Airboat Rides, Everglades
Airboat speeding. Hold on to your hat!
Airboat fun in the Everglades
Airboat captain petting a docile alligator
Demonstrating the teeth of a young gator
Gear in the car, Camera, cell phone, sun screen and some other mess :)
Into Everglades National Park in the morning on the last day
Wildflowers in May in the Everglades National Park
Everglades plain. Nice to experience it in the green season!
Spanish Moss and a bromeliad in the Everglades National Park
Everglades dry land
Everglades forest
Eco Pond, Flamingo, Everglades National Park. It was almost dried out. Biting bugs were out in numbers here ..
Boat tour in the Everglades National Park
Coastline at Flamingo, in the southern part of the Everglades
Flamingo Harbor, Everglades National Park
Fuddruckers burger restaurant, Miami
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Trail around the ponds in Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Fern in Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Had to arrive when they opened the park at 7 o'clock in morning to find the Roseate Spoonbill
J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Restaurant snack in Florida City
Homeward bound - Manhattan, New York