The Wandering Disciple

An American Alligator attempts to blend in with it surroundings in a waterway at the Amberjack Environmental Park in Cape Haze. Alligators can be very good at hiding in plain sight. That's why extreme care should be taken near any body of water in Florida. Just because you can't see a gator doesn't mean there isn't one camouflaged near the banks or lurking under the surface. (Photo: January 18, 2015)

When out for a hike, watch where you step. You never know what might be along the trail; a nesting bird, a delicate flower or a slithering snake. Here a harmless black racer snake slithers across the hiking path. (Photo of the Day: January 12, 2014)

A Great Blue Heron in flight over Lemon Lake at Amberjack Environmental Park near Rotonda, Florida.  (Photo: January 12, 2014)

A roseate spoonbill flies high over Lemon Lake at the Amberjack Environmental Park.  The park is 225 acres of scub habitat with over 5 miles of hiking trails including two boardwalks overlooking Lemon Lake.  (Photo: January 12, 2014)

Rotonda, Florida: One of the hidden gems of Charlotte County, Amberjack Environmental Park is a great place to take a hike and enjoy the wildlife of the scrub habitat. The 225 acre park near Rotonda is home to various species of plants and animals including bobcats, gopher tortoise and many species of birds. The park features over five and a half miles of trails. There are two boardwalk overlooks that provide a closer look at the birds wading in Lemon Lake. Below is a map of the trails provided by Charlotte County.  We decided to take a hike at Amberjack on a brisk Sunday morning. I recently read an article in the Englewood Sun Herald about the abundance of birds at the lake so we decided to check it out. We hiked the Red and Pink Trails, both providing views of Lemon Lake. On our trip we saw Roseate Spoonbills, Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets, Anhinga, Wood Stork and a bunch of ducks that were too far away to identify. We also crossed over one southern racer ...