Corkscrew swamp - March 4th.

Corkscrew swamp

Temperature: 26 degrees, cloudy with small showers

When we first walked into Corkscrew we got a nice greeting from a guide there and also some information about the history and background of Corkscrew swamp. For instance, Corkscrew swamp was originally 800 acres when it was bought for 200,000 dollars but has now been increases to 1300 acres. The trees are on average 800 years old with some being even older. The reception we were in had been elevated to 19 foot where the swamp itself is 17 foot. Logging was banded in 1956 when the cypress tree's ecological value was realised. 

Painted bunting spotted outside the feeder in Corkscrew Swamp- photo courtesy of  Sam Whittaker.

Corkscrew swamp was an amazing experience for me as it offered a fantastic array of plant and animal species and I really enjoyed just walking around and taking in the sights. Just outside the reception was probably where the most birdlife was spotted as there was Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), Painted buntings (Passerina ciris), a red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) and an indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) all around the feeder outside.      

The sign accompanying the Cypress tree which gave lots of interesting history on the old tree.

There was even more unique plant and animal species spotted along the walkway with some birds of prey being spotted such as the red shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) spotted roosting afar at the peak of a tree. We got a nice surprise when we were sheltering from a short, heavy shower when a racoon casually walked along the railing past us and scaled a tree! I found some of the Cypress trees to be really impressive and really enjoyed reading the histories of them which were available to read on signs nearby the trees.  

The Roosevelt Cypress tree.