Florida Day Seven: Key Largo. Another Hike In Dagny Johnson State Park And Back To The Everglades.

It was my last day in Key Largo  during my recent visit to South Florida.  I wanted to watch the sunrise in the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park . So I was up before dawn on Tuesday  and driving to the park in the morning twilight. The park is located about 5 miles north of my hotel on Ocean Drive in Key Largo.

 I arrived at the park and  began my hike  on the trails in the hardwood hammock.

It was still very dark under the thick canopy of trees.

I enjoyed my walk  on the wooded trail in the dim light. It was very peaceful . I only heard the sounds of a few birds, northern cardinals and gray catbirds,  and  some crickets.  The  trail,  under the hardwood trees of the Key Largo hammock meander through the failed land development that became the State Park.  I took a new trail that was opened through the hardwood forest,  

that led to an inlet and primitive kayak camping ground along the ocean.

I have watched the sunrise here many times, but not this morning. Clouds on the eastern horizon obscured the rising sun.

Although I was disappointed not seeing the sunrise I was excited to see a frigate bird soaring overhead. I love seeing these large magnificent birds that soar over the  tropical waters. I  have never seen one this far north before.

I also saw another less attractive bird, a turkey vulture soaring overhead.

I left the ocean and followed the trail to the groves of mangrove trees  growing near the ocean. where I  was hoping to see more birds and other wildlife,

 however the only critters I saw were golden orb spiders,

and brown anole lizards.

I walked along the mangrove trees, seeing gumhead flowers, and

morning glory flowers blooming along the trail.

I came  to an area where the  trail entered some  some wetlands. I often seen water fowl here.

The trails were flooded this year.

However I did see some water fowl , one American white ibis flew high overhead,

 I was again  disappointed with the few birds and  other wildlife I had seen on this visit to Florida. . However, as I began my hike back I did see a white eyed vireo,

and  this prairie warbler.

The prairie warbler almost seemed curious as I walked past it singing in a tree.

It reminded me of the gregarious black capped chickadees back home in Pennsylvania. These birds often seem to enjoy the company of a human on a cold Winter day. I watched this pretty bird and continued on my hike back to the entrance to the park. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike Florida Day Six  Key Largo Dagny Johnson State Park  birds March 24 2024,

This time I  took a trail trough the middle of the hardwood hammock,

 although there was no more bird activity I saw this Julia butterfly, and

these interesting invasive balloon vines.

I hiked along a small pond created as part of the residential development that failed. I often would see herons or egrets here but not this year.

I finished my 3 mile hike again, a little disappointed I didn’t see more wildlife. I was glad the swarms of mosquitoes that usually encounter weren’t present this year either.  I ended my hike early, I had to check our of my hotel by 11 a.m.   Here is a link to a gallery with some more photos from my hike. Florida Day Seven,. Key Largo Dagny Johnson State Park  . March 24 2024

I headed back to my hotel, showered,  checked  out and was on my way back to Florida City and the Everglades.

 I was hungry and had to stop for lunch . I took the back road again. the highway  along the Card Sound, and stopped at Alabama Jacks for lunch .

I love this remote place.

I sat along a canal and had a bowl  conch chowder, and a delicious blackened grouper sandwich.  I also had  a nice conversation with the waitress. After eating I drove to my hotel in Florida City, I was early but a room was available. I settled in, edited some photos , but was soon on the road again, headed back to the Royal Palm Visitor Center in the Everglades National Park.

.“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Laura Ingalls

 Wilder

fskokoski@gmail.com

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