Florida Day Eight. Sunrise In Sunrise On My Last Hike In Everglades This Year

I awoke early in Sunrise on my last full day in Florida this year.  Sunrise is located on the edge of the Everglades east of Fort Lauderdale, about 15 miles from the airport. It was my first visit to Sunrise. I planned to hike on the   L35A canal trail  that connected with the North New River Canal near the Markham  Park. I drove  a different route to the park but   took a wrong  turn. Instead of watching the sunrise from the canal  I saw it while driving over the intricate  highway sytem near the outskirts of the city of Sunrise.

I had to take a five mile detour but finally made it to the Markham Park.  The park was open and  was crowded The park was hosting  a Boy Scout  gathering  with large crowds of scouts and their families.

I left the park and followed the North New River Canal along busy Interstate 595 and Route 84.

I walked along the canal,

and followed  the smaller L35A canal ,

until I crossed a bridge over the canal and on a trail above the canal  and over the  vast expanse of the Everglades. 

The sun was  shining  over the reeds in the Everglades.

A flock of invasive monk parakeets  flew over the trails,

and onto the utility lines above the Everglades. This birds are native to South America.

I also saw green  herons,

and great blue herons along the canal.

There were many folks  riding bicycles on the trails.

As I continued on the trail I came to some areas of common reeds and cattails along the trail,

where I saw many birds  in the reeds, including red-winged blackbirds,

common grackles,

great egrets,

and palm warblers in the reeds.

I followed  the trail and came to the campground in Markham Park on the other side of the trail. Here I saw a few folks fishing on the canal.

As I continued on the trail I saw this snail kite  flying overhead, 

a few northern mockingbirds in the reeds, 

and   a pair of American coots and 

I believe, a gray-headed swamp hen swimming in the reed. I thought it was an American purple gallinule. It was the first time I saw this bird. 

I also saw this turtle walking across the trail. I believe it was an eastern mud turtle. I picked it up, gave it  a look, and put in in the grass along the trail. 

I have faced alligators and rattlesnakes on my visits to the Everglades. I always knew there is chance of meeting my demise by one of these critters. I faced another threat on this hike, the trail took me past a gun range on the other side of the  canal with this warning sign  along the trail. 

There was  no gun when I walked out on the trail. I hiked out about 2 1/2 miles. I was  really enjoying this trail, there was a lot of bird activity and I enjoyed the view of the vastness of the Everglades. I could  have walked for  hours. 

However, I had to get my rental car back to the airport by 11a.m. 

Here is a link to a gallery on my  blog web page with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Florida Day Eight . Sunrise birds February 14 2025. 

Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page with some more photos  from my  last hike  in Florida this year. . Florida Day Eight . Sunrise February 14 2025. 

fskokoski@gmail.com

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