Swamp Creature

So, we went to Corkscrew Swamp on Sunday and made the long trek to see the Ghost Orchid. I have to say, it was a little disappointing. There was only one bloom (three buds) and it's so far away, you can't see it with the naked eye. I'm sure if we'd gotten to see it when it was in full bloom, it would have been more impressive.

The best I could do was take this uber-lame picture through the spotting scope. Pathetic, I know.

Still, it was pretty cool to see something so rare, kind of like the first time I saw the Giant Pandas when they were on loan to the Toledo Zoo. Except Pandas are much bigger. And cuter. And easier to see from a distance of 100 feet.
Corkscrew Swamp is one of the most popular birding spots in Florida-- but we only saw a handful of birds there on Sunday. We saw one alligator, which made Cory happy (though we saw two, if you count the dead one on the side of the highway that was being devoured by about 20 vultures. Come to think of it, that's where we saw the most birds of the day, too.

Really, the most interesting thing we saw at Corkscrew swamp was another form of flora, these beautiful wild hibiscus that were growing there.

Oh well. Hopefully, the orchid will bloom again next year-- and maybe we'll get a better look.