This is Part III in a mini series on Sawgrass Lake Park in Florida.
This nature park is FREE and a great place to visit on vacation. If you'd like to find out more about the alligators, waterbirds and wildlife that I have encountered and photographed
just click here
ALLIGATOR at Sawgrass Lake Park
BIRDS and Turtles at Sawgrass Lake Park
Yesterday, I saw my first ducks at this park,
right near the bridge to the nature trails and boardwalks.
Nana of seven cutie pies fame identified my mystery bird photo in my previous post as a juvenile ibis. Apparently before they molt into a white ibis, they start life out with brown and white feathers.
As luck would have it, I captured a young bird at a stage when you can clearly tell that he is all baby fuzz.
As cute as can be .....
... all fuzzy like any bird baby.
He was across the water from me, too far away to get a real close up, but it's clear, he is a little fuzzball Ibis baby.
Preening and fluffing those feathers .....
... looking pretty ....
Just look at those wings!
I decided to walk on to the lookout tower by the lake.
Today there were no alligators or herons or egrets in sight, but I watched several pretty butterflies and dragonflies flit by, way too fast for my camera.
So I'm wandering off for a look at the scenery and the landscaped areas of the park to enjoy the beautiful weather.
The park is a popular place to have a picnic or lunch. 
Strolling along the water enjoying this lovely day.
I see the same pair of ducks still hanging out by the water.
Got duckie-tude? ....., staring me down:)
OK, I got the message, I'm moving on.
Detecting movement along the riverbank I get my camera ready.
It's a family of black ducks,
feeding and moving at amazing speed.
On the opposite side,
there is a pretty pond
with benches all around.
Except, the benches are none too close,
they are actually up on a couple of hills,
overlooking the lake.
I wonder why, .....
Then, I think, well it is a nice vantage point and a pretty view of the lake.
until,
I see the familiar
DO NOT MOLEST OR FEED THE ALLIGATORS
sign.
I take my time photographing and walking all about and just watching the butterflies.
Another bridge, at the other end of the park, also leading to the nature trails and wooded area.
On the way back to my car
I spot a green heron, just like the two I saw the other day,
fishing along the water's edge.
The water is like a mirror, I can see his shadow reflected in the water.
As I pass by one of the last picnic areas .....
I stop in my tracks.
An Anhinga is perched nearby. 
I moved in a little closer ... and closer ... and came away with several nice shots that I will post in my gallery and in a later photo essay.
As I was leaving, I admired the beautiful magnolia tree.
Then, .....:)
I climbed up on top of the picnic table to get a shot of this
magnificent magnolia blossom.
I hope you have enjoyed today's trip to Sawgrass Lake Park in Florida.
Thanks for tagging along.
To see Part I and Part II just click below
ALLIGATOR at Sawgrass Lake Park- Photos
BIRDS and Turtles at Sawgrass Lake Park
Have a great weekend everyone! .
All images taken by Rose H. - copyright 2009
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Comments: 54
Thank you, Rose. This is a lovely series of essays.
Natalie - It's nice to know you enjoy my photo essays. Thank you so much for commenting on all my work.
Rose, these pics are gorgeous, it's like I'm right there!
Stacey - Thank you for tagging along and no force marching in this neighborhood either:) ...xcepting the gator maybe:)
Beautiful photo essay. The sign "do not feed or molest" cracked me up - do people actually molest alligators?? Sheesh you would think the molestors would end up being the food so isn't it redundant? LMAO
Kimber - Molest? Moi? I'm told the kids do throw stuff at them and some people try to feed them. Alligators cannot be tamed and they will shoot them if they start coming around humans.
I think only the stupid molest the alligators, lol.
I agree Kat - you would have to be stupid to molest them.
Rose - it is sad that kids do this. People who try to feed them and ultimately lead them to their deaths are sad too.
The sign just seems funny to someone like me who only knows about alligators from the local zoo and animal planet on tv!
It's actually a law in the whole State of Florida: Do not feed or molest alligators.
Folks can be really dumb about it, never thinking of anything but the audience - but alligators cannot be tamed, as Rose pointed out, and if they lose their fear of humans, they have to be destroyed. Very sad.
awesome shots
those black ducks remind me of coots
Vivian - Coots - that's what Richard thought they were too. Good, now I know how to spell it I can look them up and give them their rightful name next time.
Actually, the black duck family are Common Moorhens. We have a ton of them around my area!
Lisa - thank you. I'm still learning about all the birds in our area. Amazing what photography and gather can lead to:)
You keep out doing yourself Rose. Beautiful photos along with your wonderful commentary.
Thank you for posting your photo essay at Pretty Pictures.
Excellent!!! I really enjoyed this essay very much! Beautiful place to visit! Great photos you took! Thanks so much for sharing it with us! Wish I could give you 1000 points for it!
Ginger - Thank you - you made my day:)
Great photo essay. Thanks for posting it to our Spring09 group here on Gather.
This was simply GORGEOUS, Rose! I absolutely LOVED it! I've seen only one ibis before one morning when we lived along the Russian River at Guerneville. It flew right over the house as I was standing on the back (uncovered) porch.
I envy you so much your green heron photos! I want so much just to SEE one! Did you ever get a look at that drawing/painting that lady on the Bright Birders site did?
Oh yes, I looked it up right away. I thought she did a great job!
Very nice photo essay
Beautiful photos and essay. So the Ibus have brown feathering whenthey are young?
Marianne - yes, as juveniles they have some brown feathers which was the last essay picture - that one was more mature. Eventually they turn all white. Amazing the things you learn on gather.
Marianne - did you notice this anhinga is black and white like he should be? ... not purple - like when I over enhanced the color?:)
Beautiful photos!
Rose, I have been there - and you got glorious shots!!
Cristina - if you were there, then you were 10 minutes from my house. If you kept going on that street without turning off to the park, you'd be in front of our place. So now you know where I live:)
Rose, this was in 2000. Did you live there then?
No:)
Gorgeous photo essay Rose! That looks like such a peaceful place to spend the day! I loved your photos!
I want to see an ibis just like this, how beautiful, you have excellent photos of this one. I'd love to visit this park too, what a wonderfully inviting place. BTW, I don't see this in my group, I just know you meant to post it there;)
Nana - Of course I did:) I'll have to go see what happened.
Some awsome pictures!
As always, wonderful photos! The ibis is so neat :)
Yeah, it finally arrived! Thanks Rose, I can now feature it in my group.
Nana - THANK YOU for the feature!
This was perfect for my mood Rose! (Yes I know, need to come by more often.) My favorite bird was "Got duckie-tude?", they get some interesting expressions. I also loved the twisting tree. I wish (when I know where my camera is) my photographs came out this good. Thanks!
Chana - my pleasure. Duckie - tude he he - I had to look twice, actually lowered my camera to see if he was really staring me down. Too funny.
Beautiful magnolia. And those baby feathers look so soft!
Sherrie - that's what I was thinking. I wish I could have reached across and touched those fuzzy feathers.
WOW....so many beautiful bird shots and lovely places to linger...
Great photo essay!
What a cute baby bird. You really captured the beauty of the place in this post. All of the trees, the moss...the colorful birds, paradise! The photo of the magnolia is one that should be framed...perfection.
Wow, you got some amazing shots! Nice photo essay!
your pictures are absolutely beautiful! I totally enjoyed this photo essay from you :-)
That park looks pretty I wish it was closer to me.
This is a very nice essay Rose. You took some great shots.
This is fabulous. What beautiful colorful birds you captured. I think all these shots are wonderful and the park is so beautiful.
I really enjoyed your essay. You must be in South Florida or is it around St. Pete.
The water reminded me of Cambridge. Thanks for sharing this visit.
Great job and beautiful scenery.
very nice rose!!
Loved this photo essay!
Another wonderful photo masterpiece Ms. Rose!!