Located about as far south as you can go by road in the state of Florida, other than the Florida Keys, is a locale known as Flamingo. All that’s left at the end of the long road from the Miami Area is a visitor center, a campground, a marina and a make-shift restaurant.
Flamingo was devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Wilma and the recovery is slow. The visitor center is located about 40 miles from Florida City / Homestead, which are located on the eastern edge of the Everglades National Park.
Flamingo sits on the shores of Florida Bay. This is not the tropical Gulf of Mexico / Caribbean paradise you might expect to find here. The waters are silty and shallow and not very inviting for a swim. However, the birds love it. If you look closer at the small mangrove island in the above picture, the branches of the trees are full of large sea birds.
To get into the Everglades National Park for day-use purposes, the price is very reasonable. For a pass that is good for up to seven days, it will cost just $10 per vehicle. A yearly pass can be had for the low price of just $25. The year pass is good for a full year from the date of purchase – not from some arbitrary date like other parks commissions.
Florida Bay is littered with these small islands that are a paradise for the birds.
This tiny island is nothing more than a tree growing in shallow water. Yet, it is refuge for many birds – several visible in this image.
Just inland from the Flamingo Campground is the Eco Pond. The water is brown sludge, especially in February when this picture was taken. The water by that time of year has receeded considerably in the dry weather.
The highlight of the Eco Pond is this nest of Bald Eagles. There were three young in this nest. Just behind the two standing up, there is another with just his head popping out.
Yet another view of the Eco Pond.
A view of Florida Bay from the Flamingo Campground. There area 235 sites at the campground that can be had for $16 per night. There are 40 serviced sites that will cost $30. This campground is a birder’s heaven.
A crowd of Willets on the shore of the Flamingo Campground. Not sure what they were hunting for since the water was so murky, they couldn’t even see their own toes.
Check out the following HD Video taken the same day as the above images:
