Everyone tells me, “You HAVE to go to Payne’s Prairie Reserve to see the gators. You will see many, guaranteed. Always lots of gators out there.” Sure, right. I have a wildlife jinx. When I visit a spot with guaranteed wildlife, they all scram.

Time is flying though, and I only have a few weeks left here. I decided, after another person declared that I must go, to check it out a few days ago. Wow. Guaranteed gators, that’s for sure.

The hike at the northern end of Payne’s Prairie (La Chua Trail) is odd. The trail is wide and open, passing through wetlands. At first, the wetlands are more like a canal, then it widens into a shallow lake (water levels vary all year, it was low that day). About a mile and a half out, it looked more like tidal flats at low tide. The trail at different points:

The trail is not the odd part. That would be all the gators lounging along the shorelines. And, the signs which state that the gators are often on the trail/road too, so be careful where you step!

Here is a gator path from the water up onto where I was walking:

Trail the gators made to climb onto the walking trail!!!

This was gator mania. At first, I saw one or two, then six or seven, then dozens. Everywhere, every size. On the way back, one was on the shoreline closest to me and was only a few feet away. I did not see him until I was nearly on top of him.

Below, some photos, most using a zoom lens. Still, the were only 40 feet away, at the most. Some, much closer.

I encountered lots of cool birds, too!

Sandhill Cranes, who just migrated into FL

Ducks huddled over, I could not see their markings

Little Blue Heron, slate blue

Anhinga! Spreading it’s wings.

Moorhens

Sandhill Crane

Glossy or White-Faced Ibis

Not sure yet! So many shorebirds look like this!

Working on this one too!