![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq0siqZNIjJDUsUHcCWUh7U45te_hJ3t2ftzoRcSrHSxzdO_FMoqezVVIIkGrtaRHxhUtrhCWLsTOJEww_z6DOaWpqu4CPF3mlKxzeiHp0SG3O_5GO7YbTnNEqU6CrOq8We22zRXPSieU/s1600/1.jpg) |
An alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, watching from the grass. |
While I was visiting Gainesville, Florida last week, I spent a day at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (
click here to see the park's webpage). This remarkable wild spot is a National Natural Landmark yet is only a 15-minute drive from downtown Gainesville.
It's a little piece of old Florida. Well, not so little -- there are over 22,000 acres with trails, boardwalks, picnic spots, campgrounds, and more. It is crawling with wildlife. I saw turtles, dragonflies, caterpillars, wild pigs, wading birds, coots, rails, and alligators,
lots of alligators.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg6T70S47wr8TpJzTs9N4oYQ1UyfWKydiy9X08gH8be-SJFYKoc8nv8XtsRcM_PkzIlw1CgzTKKrANcMVFTciDulba9HP7QM-CR42qtrQIkJcEnlQ1sRbFvJTa73FQ3cDNq81Jq0XZwUY/s1600/2.jpg) |
There's one. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6BiGnt7YTEtpaMKddC_pt2OSIGMIYloiAR1QyFsptg2oceCZaG6iE_kNBKF34dvAkb7xSFqdKHMmwV_wzQahfXMnvzudkWG3wS6xPO9jLBaCNxF2r_PwokOxHRP_gIo-OofjkFgDlFvi/s1600/3.jpg) |
A little one. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH08Qh08pyF1uPZCuHB8ai_CUyb5jAEzmD6Ri0bS-Qi3-BiywwJmmjZXvAmIX1KWS3N_HLlRQ4uqRETrEYkvWLzd2XscQrmCZGEB-qrjCVl_7fqpzT_3IhvOvVcWLSp8i2ncRx1oKPUyZv/s1600/4.jpg) |
Another one. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PcRtl-2oPjSnKR8X2wDDEewa1V84rBwKbuY4NIfGKozthv4ZKx_dzC4cUd2MMyeaDEGuRH17YgLHLVbW6hK9K43VRrLJrmMuHBCDbWxZ1ubOQjbj3Qzj62hL1GvogG-5s67IHuXaxMrm/s1600/5.jpg) |
A bunch of them! Click to enlarge and check out the one with its mouth open. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeL37Plk7AK5uQ0V_5gmcBxb3bzSQjS5W3NxZZe5nTiJDFjrwUz3_2JW_eXHWF-Zp_7gL_fivcqrWP8qSVL6uVsBQR2l-s0YgMPEX-lPcOLk2hm_pn3KsZQdbkLc7FZ_Q_OGnjl9PWg2sM/s1600/6.jpg) |
A tricolored (used to be Louisiana) heron, Egretta tricolor. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbrNFMe5qIwdYCkpLBK7X9mtGNntfcrLYNv4Bq9b8a_iGtx9Eg8YtUOetJoZq2KLDhRSPPLX0wBOjj5Dv6T6OHhgJ09rBzQ9vHzKtDi9HBkG-lVyU04VUl-3gqL4wRt8zjItk8GGopYWF/s1600/7.jpg) |
An American coot, Fullica americana. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho87Z7l3KSWwRvKJA7kj1NLHnlrgfUWX9Xn0cPQt2_WFLmJaERu8iFohhTRAqLwu2gvvV81yVBri4lVjyIQ5lptPUr5-QTyACYoqO90cX1606qvEboeojEd1gjcO9XQwe6BM22h7IU9doh/s1600/8.jpg) |
A cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD2EW23MyCy3z72ZpyTsKN0s0xnC4ed3WpZ8oXmKwZu0Y7-EIxmYSDTI0pAHUlWmxs8ld_Os4n_NMTIAQ2EScthCNKJfUd-_qt1J_BFIuq3lKT_QP50PSqdFphwM3efQCnkACDibI7YYW/s1600/9.jpg) |
A perched anhinga, Anhinga anhinga, and a flying snowy egret, Egretta thula. |
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