Two-Years Ago (01-January-2018) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 12: Big Cypress National Preserve. Clyde Butcher’s Retreat.

Prior to starting the drive back home, I got images of birds in a tree above the pond outside of Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. A Great Egret, and a Palm Warbler.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Egret in a tree outside Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Galley. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Palm Warbler in a tree outside Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Galley. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Palm Warbler in a tree outside Clyde Butcher’s Galley. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Pine Siskin in a tree outside Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Galley. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 10: Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage.

Baby Alligator with five mosquitoes, next to the back pond at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage, Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. I didn’t realize that the baby alligators were this colorful. Momma gator was nearby keeping an eye on how close I got.

Baby Alligator with (5) Mosquitoes. Next to the Back Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage -- Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Baby Alligator. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2014 Road Trip. Day 9: Big Cypress Swamp.

While staying at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Bungalow, I went for a “Swamp Walk” in the Big Cypress Swamp with Kristen and Angela. Before the trip, I got a pair of waders from Cabela’s. Not really sure what I was getting into, I only took a walking stick/monopod and my trusty Leica X2 travel camera. It was a lot of fun — and we didn’t see any alligators or water moccasin snakes. Just the week before, one of the invasive 15+ foot Burmese pythons was caught nearby.

Follow the leader into the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Follow the leader into the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Time to get your feet wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Time to get your feet wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Feet are now wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Feet are now wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (09-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 9: Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage.

Welcome sign at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage. I then went for a walk and found a small alligator next to the back pond. If you look close there is an out of focus mosquito on the other side of the alligators head. It has to be pretty tough to get through the alligators skin. I was wary because I knew that momma alligator was probably nearby.

"Attack Mosquito on Duty" sign at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage. Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
“Attack Mosquito on Duty” sign at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage. Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Small Alligator Next to the Back Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage. Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 190 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec). Image converted to B&W using Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)
Small Alligator Next to the Back Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage. Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 190 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec). Image converted to B&W using Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)

Sunday (09-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 9: Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage.

Welcome sign at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage.

"Attack Mosquito on Duty" sign at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage. Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
“Attack Mosquito on Duty” sign at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage. Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)