The Wandering Disciple

A bald eagle scans the horizon, looking for predators and protecting the nest and egg from invaders. Eagles make the largest nest of all bird species. Once built, the nest will be reused each year by the same nesting pair of eagles.  This nest was found along the Eagle Trail at Cedar Point Environmental Park in Englewood, Florida. The park preserves 115 acres along Lemon Bay. Trails traverse through pine flatwood, scrubs, mangroves and salt marshes packed with native wildlife.  Taken: December 30, 2012 at Cedar Point Environmental Park (Englewood, FL)  UPDATE: After posting this photo from 2012, a member of the park reached out and advised that the eagle nest was damaged during Hurricane Ian. The eagles rebuilt their nest on private property near the park and they can still be seen flying over the park.

Like a soldier defending its fort, a fiddler crab scans the coastline at Cedar Point Environmental Park on Lemon Bay. The fiddler crab is pretty intimidating looking with its giant claw but the claw is used mainly for courtship, not fighting. (Photo: December 6, 2014)

Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the wonderful oasis that is Cedar Point Environmental Park. This small park packs a big punch for wildlife viewing. Located on the edge of Lemon Bay, it has a vast variety of animals including gopher tortoises like the one pictured here and a pair of nesting bald eagles. (Photo: January 1, 2013)

A horseshoe crab washes ashore long Lemon Bay.  A walk along the shoreline will reveal a glimpse of the marine life that can be found nearby.  Horseshoe crabs, sand dollars, sea horses, fiddler crabs, shells and sharks teeth are just a few of the things that can be found while combing the shoreline.  (Photo: December 30, 2012)

A pair of eagles stand guard over their nest at Cedar Point Environmental Park.  The park located along Lemon Bay is home to the nesting pair of bald eagles.  During the winter months you can catch the eagles at their nest, visible from the hiking trail.  (Photo: January 1, 2013)

A bald eagle sits in a tree overlooking it's nest at Cedar Point Park.  The park is home to an active pair of nesting eagles which come back to the park annually.  (Photo: December 30, 2012)

A gopher tortoise crosses the roadway at Cedar Point Environmental Park. The 115 acre park surrounded by water is home to all kinds of wildlife including tortoises, bald eagle, ospreys and more. (Photo: January 1, 2013)

A Bald Eagle watches over its nest from an adjacent tree at Cedar Point Environmental Park in Englewood. The park is home to a nesting pair of Bald Eagles which can bee seen from the park's hiking trail. Click on the photo to see more photos from Cedar Point . (Photo: December 30, 2012)

Englewood, Florida: We decided to break in the new year by taking a nature hike and enjoying the great outdoors. January in Florida is some of the best weather, its cooler with bright blue skies, great weather for getting outdoors. We decided to head back to Cedar Point Environmental Park for two reasons, to see the eagle nest and to hike a few other trails. We were greeted with wildlife as soon as we entered the park. A gopher tortoise was waking down the park road, seems he too wanted to take a hike in the great weather. Once we parked the truck, we tried to hike the Fern Trail. That hike didn’t last long, as we passed the first turn of the trail we came across the trail closure sign. The trail was closed to limit access to the nesting bald eagles. So we doubled back and headed to the Jeep Trail to take a look at the eagles. The eagle nest is located about a quarter mile down the trail and is still open to visitors. On the trail, you will come across a memorial bench...

A Bald Eagle observes its nest from afar at Cedar Point Environmental Park. A nesting pair of bald eagles has been nesting in this park since 1992. (Photo: December 30, 2012)