Everglades locations

The end of next week I'm going to the St Pete area, and for a couple of days in the Everglades. Will be spending most of my time on or around the Anhinga trail, and will include going to Flamingo for part of the day. I'll be there for one afternoon and the following day until around noon. Any suggestions on hot spots besides the obvious Anhinga trail would be appreciated.

In Flamingo there is a place called the Eco-pond. That is usually always good for birds. I have gotten good shoots of several different, from wading birds to warblers. I have seen a lot of white morph Blue Heron at eco-pond. Also the last time I was at Flamingo I got some great shots of Red-shoulder Hawks in the camping areas. Drive or walk around the edges of the camping areas and they just sat in the trees a looked at me. I was shooting them with less then 300mm. One other thing is across the canal from the boat dock and ramps I regularly saw American Crocodiles. Be out on Anhinga Trail as early in the morning as you can. You will almost have the trail to yourself. By 10:00 or 11:00 it will start to become crowded. Have a great time.

I spent 3+ days on the Anhinga Trail last year... each day at sunrise and sunset. If you're there pre-sunrise you'll hear the bull gators bellowing. I also did a productive morning canoe trip on Sanibel at Ding Darlling but there is a fairly unheard of place north of Sanibel called Honeymoon Island. I've never seen so many Osprey in one place. Got some great landscape pans along the road to Flamingo. Don't get so sucked into shooting birds that you forget to do some landscape shots! PS: if you get to Sanibel stop at a place called Perrywinkle Park and ask if they'll let you shoot birds at their private pond.

This was from my visit to Honeymoon Isalnd. Note the fish between his legs. http://www.coloradoplateauphototours.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1166