Marsh Trail

Late last week I received an invitation from a photography friend of mine to walk the recently opened Marsh Trail located in the Everglades.  It took me no more than two seconds to accept and soon a plan was in place.

Our hope was to arrive just prior to sunrise.  In spite of a delayed start we were heading south on SR 41 just as the sun was peeking over the horizon.  We both noticed the mist rising off of the warm wet surface of the glades and couldn't help ourselves.  We pulled off to the side of the road and snapped our first photos of the morning.



The Marsh Trail is a wonderful spot to walk and observe south Florida's wading birds.  Egrits, great blue herons, great white herons, and an assortment of wood ducks were plentiful.  Unfortunately I don't have a lens with a long enough reach to capture the birds at their best.  I turned my camera elsewear, to the marsh grass, the reeds and other blooming matter.



The colorful marsh grace came alive in the early morning light while the birds soared gracefully overhead.



And so it went.  We strolled along the gravel pathway looking for that special something.  Each with her own vision of the world around us; each with her own way of documenting it.



We met a few others along the way, mostly bird watchers and a couple of other photographers.  (Who else would rise from the comfort of their bed well before daylight to go for a walk?)  But for the most part the trail belonged to us.



There is beauty all around us, found in the simplest gifts of nature.  It's there for the taking.  All we need to do is slow down long enough to see it.

Link to Project 365