so is the pink bird a Flamingo?
i did not realize they had a shovel bill
really great adventure & pics

Spoonbill.

No Flamingos this trip... they are very rare to see as I've only seen one that I could get a picture of in the 100s of the times I've been there. It was by itself on a flat that was so shallow I had to paddle a couple of miles around it to come in from a direction that was deep enough to push and paddle close enough. Took me over an hour of trial and error to get within 40 yards of it and got a few pictures that when enlarged were almost acceptable. It was on a day that was a blue moon on Jan 1 many years ago.

Awesome post. Thanks for sharing.

Finally made it home yesterday afternoon. Took the long way home... Georgia, northern Alabama, and then back across.

I did stay and fish one more day (Wednesday) at Flamingo as the torrential downpour Tuesday night ended. Ft.Lauderdale International Airport was closed due to flooding with 7 inches of rain and reports of 10 inches in 24 hour period closer to me in south Miami.


Tuesday night at motel.


I've never seen so many water soaked hawks as I did on the drive into the park. They either wouldn't or couldn't fly as I could walk up much closer than usual without them flying off.





Spotless red... dropped it trying to get the other side but no spots there either.


Plenty of jacks around.


Baby croc.. only a couple of feet long. Hoped its mom wasn't nearby.

I did do other things as after the first few days I was looking for less strenuous things to do.


Took US 1 to GulfStream Park... about 3 hours on this day. Had 7 bike riders come by, all on only their back tires. Was driving and shooting.. this was the only one I got between traffic.

Ended up at the Gulf Stream Park... for a few races and pictures.




This sculpture is inspiring. Took the pic above on race day, stopped back by to take pictures of it at night the next day leaving town. (below)



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_and_Dragon

Found this drone video that gives a better view of how massive this thing is. Gulfstream Racetrack in background at end of video.

how did you do at Gulf Stream

I did great! Total loss of $36 on two longshot bets... using names and numbers only. Saw that on the day before there was a horse running named Don't Tase Me Bro. I just enjoy watching all the folks scream in pain or in joy at the finish line. Tried to call my old horse racing friend Michelle but her number had changed and couldn't make contact. She found out I was in town and called me as I was leaving. We have a return visit to the track next time. So I thought I did great.

that photo is a classic

Great blog and pictures, as always. Welcome back.

That trip left me wanting to catch some fish... hit Murvaul today.

I always enjoy watching your trips Iconn... Thanks for taking the time to post them!

Thanks, I enjoy taking and sharing my pictures. Never try to hide where I'm fishing as if someone is familiar with the place I'm fishing, I'm sure they have special memories of it as well. If it gets someone to go fishing or helps someone starting out, to catch a fish, even better. Now the pictures are becoming more important than the catching. I took the picture below on my July trip to Florida, Everglades. It didn't dawn on me that it looked like a butterfly until someone mentioned it to me. Most incredible sunset I've ever seen. It only lasted about 30 seconds before the clouds moved and covered it all up.


Many of my most memorable catches have been near this area, called Christian Point. Supposedly the name came after it was used as a mass grave site for the bodies that washed into the area after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Over 400 killed in the Keys and it was the first Cat 5 hurricane to hit Florida, with winds between 200 and 250 mph.

Some of my favorite old pictures of Flamingo.










July 4th, many years ago. Last cast.


Last time I kept a fish from Flamingo was about 15 years ago. Caught these three at the very end of the day on my last 4 casts. The snook was just under max you could keep at the time, 32 or 33, red just under max you could keep of 27" and trout was 22". Cooked all three and my cat, Smoke, preferred the snook... me too.