Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller
Date: December 4, 2023
We paid $10 to drive the special Black Point Wildlife Drive, right in the heart of the wildlife refuge habitat. This 7.7-mile road took us through and past wetlands, shallow streams and mudflats, grasslands, shallow ponds, and other habitats. We saw hundreds of migratory birds such as green herons, egrets, spoonbills, ibises, anhinga, and other wading birds. In the sky overhead, two eagles circled us. We also saw many alligators along the stream beside the road sunning themselves and giving us the evil eye. Stop #9 of twelve stops along the road about five miles along Black Point Drive, we parked, ate lunch in the car, and hiked some of the Cruickshank Trail. This five-mile mowed grass trail took us along a dike surrounded by salt marshes. Large, beautiful birds were everywhere as well as smaller wrens and bitterns. Fortunately, no alligators crawled out to make a surprise appearance. We also saw one large turtle. We climbed an observation tower to look out over the marsh land, mangroves, and spot birds. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here. Photo #5 is my favorite. If you look really close, can you find the eye of the alligator?
