One of the reasons for visiting the Naples area is to go to the Everglades. Today we finally make the trek. We drive past a number of ponds where storks, egrets, herons and ibis are foraging for food. Kingfishers sit on power lines survey the world. Surprising, we don't stop. Our destination is the National Park Visitor at the west end of the park.

When we arrive at the park we are nabbed by the local tour operator and are told about two tours they offer. We opt for the tour on the large boat that takes us out into the ten thousand islands. The islands are mostly Mangrove islands, full of Mangrove bushes.

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The islands continue to grow as the bushes drop dagger like seeds that start new bushes.

I was a little disappointed in the tour as we didn't see as many birds as I had hoped to.

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We did see lots of Cormorants, Royal Terns, Sea gulls, Osprey and Pelicans.

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Here in the ten thousand islands were man made structures
are non-existent, you'll see Pelicans in the trees.

The dolphins made the trip worthwhile and memorable. The captain found a couple of dolphins feeding. We watched them for a few minutes when the captain said he noticed a change in the dolphin's behaviour --- the dolphins want to play. The captain told us to stand at the back of the boat and what the wake, then he put power on the boat.

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After a minute or two the dolphins appeared swimming and jumping in the wake. I got some great video and Ed got some amazing photos.

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This is not a dolphin doing contortions, but two dolphins one surfacing and one diving.

Leaving the Everglade City and Everglade National Park we drive into Big Cypress National Preserve. First stop is Big Cypress Swap Welcome Center where Manatees are regularly spotted. Luck is not with us this time as we don't see any Manatees.

The smallest post office in the US is in Ochopee (all that's there is the post office and a house across the road).

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This post office was a tool shed in it's previous life, now it has an air conditioner on the back wall, sorting shelves on the side wall, a desk/counter that lifts so the postal work can enter or leave the building and sliding doors patrons open to speak to the worker. Don't be surprised if the post office is closed when you arrive, bathroom breaks require a 3 mile drive.

Next stop is the H.P. Williams Roadside Park where there is a canal and a boardwalk. We see a few aligators and a number of birds including Anhingas.

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The Anhinga is also called a Snakebird. It's easy to see how it got it's name. It sits in the water with it's body mostly under the water and just the long neck sticking out.

The last stop of the day was at the Oasis Visitor Center still in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Here we saw lots of fish and alligators.

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The water was brackish in colour but still very clear. You could see the fish just beneath the surface. There were at least 4 different varieties of fish.

Ed and I were standing watching fish make bubbles as they came to the surface and alligators sunning. One of the alligators started to swim, so I started videoing it --- a swimming alligator is more exciting than a sunning alligator. All of a sudden there was action.

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I don't know if the alligator decided a fish treat was in order or if he just wanted to dive but Ed caught him in mid jump and I caught all the action on video.

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Can't forget the turtles. We saw several swimming around coming up for air every now and then.