The Wandering Disciple

Alligator viewing at Myakka River State Park offers one of the most authentic glimpses into wild Florida, where the slow-moving river and sprawling wetlands create the perfect habitat for the iconic American alligator. Often seen basking along the banks or gliding silently through the dark water, these ancient reptiles are a powerful reminder of the state’s untamed ecosystems. As one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks, Myakka preserves a landscape that has remained largely unchanged for centuries, giving visitors the rare chance to observe alligators thriving in their natural environment, just as they have since long before Florida’s modern development.  You can see more photos from Myakka River State Park here . Taken: January 11, 2009 at Myakka River State Park (Sarasota, FL)

A Great Egret flies high above the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park. A large member of the egret family, the Great Egret flies with its long neck tucked in and its long legs outstretched.  The Great Egret is just one of the many species of wildlife you will encounter on a visit to Myakka River State Park. The 37,000 acre state park is home to a wide variety of animals including over 100 species of birds.  Taken: November 11, 2014 at Myakka River State Park (Sarasota, FL)

 A White Tail Deer lays low in the underbrush at Myakka River State Park. Deer are a prey species in the wild and use their fur coloring to try to blend in with the underbrush and avoid the eyes of their predators.  Deer are just on of the many species of wildlife you will find while visiting Myakka River State Park. The popular state park in eastern Sarasota County features a long drive through the park and plenty of hiking trails that allow you to observe the animals in one of the best preserved habitats in the region.  Taken: November 29, 2013 at Myakka River State Park (Sarasota, FL)

A red shouldered hawk sits atop a snag at Myakka River State Park in eastern Sarasota. The park is home to many birds of prey like this hawk and much more. The red shouldered hawk sits high above on a perch in a tree or utlity pole scanning the ground below for small mammals. They soar in and catch they prey undetected. Red shouldered hawks are plentiful in the Southeastern US and range up the east coast and along the west coast. (Photo: December 25, 2020)

A little blue heron chomps down on a catfish it caught along the banks of the Myakka River. On any given day, a trip to Myakka River State Park in eastern Sarasota County will reward you with tons and tons of wading bird fishing for food along the river. The river is the smorgasbord of life and is your best place to see an abundance of Florida native wildlife in their natural environment. (Photo: December 16, 2018)

Christmas 2020 brought an upgrade to the arsenal as we added a Canon T7i to the camera bag.  What better way to try it out than a trip through Myakka River State Park for some wildlife photography.  It was a blustery day for Florida and not too many animals were out playing but we did manage to see a bunch of deer, some wading birds and this red-shouldered hawk.  (Photo: December 25, 2020)

  A Great Blue Heron catches a catfish along the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park.  The river is filled will many differed species of freshwater fish and as a result is a lifeline for the animals living along the river.  Wading birds, raptors, mammals and many more can be seen looking for lunch on the river's banks.  (Photo: September 19, 2018)

A loveable raccoon climbs a tree at Myakka State Park in eastern Sarasota County. The raccoon has earned the nickname trash pandas due to their scavenging through trash cans and dumpsters. Found throughout North America, raccoons are easily identifiable by their masked faces and ringed tail.  (Photo: September 7, 2018)

An American Alligator can be seen just lurking beneath the surface of the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park in Eastern Sarasota County. The Myakka River is home to thousands of these prehistoric reptiles. Alligators are cold-blooded and rely on the river and its banks to regulate their temperature. (Photo: July 4, 2018)

 A wood stork comes in for a landing along the Myakka River in eastern Sarasota County.  Found in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America and the Caribbean, the wood stork is a large wading bird. The wood stork forages by touch so it can be found along shallow waters looking for food.   The Myakka River State Park is rich in wildlife and on any given day you can see wood storks and much more wildlife along the banks of the river.  (Photo: January 13, 2018)

A group of wading birds enjoy a feeding frenzy along the banks of the Myakka River.  On any given day, wading birds like these spoonbills, ibis, and herons enjoy the bounty that the riverfront provides.  There are great places along the river at Myakka River State Park to watch these birds at work.  Because of the great wildlife watching opportunities in the park, Myakka River State Park is a designated stop along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.  (Photo: November 13, 2016)

Water, it is the lifeline of the forest. Whether it be a stream, lake, river or ocean; any body of water is essential to a healthy ecosystem. From the water to drink to the fish to eat, there is so much benefit to the forest watering hole. Take bank of the Myakka River here at Myakka River State Park. A short hike to the historic weir will lead to a riverbank loaded with action and tons of wildlife to observe. (Photo: December 27, 2015)

A 76 foot climb up the observation tower leads to a stunning view of the Myakka River State Park that was once only available for birds. The view from the tower gives a panoramic view of the park and its namesake Myakka River. From here you can see just how big the park is, at 37,000 acres it is one of the state's largest state park. (Photo: June 28, 2015)

The mighty Myakka River flows through the Myakka River State Park. Well not really mighty but how about wild and scenic. This 72-mile river stretches from Hardee-Manatee County line and flows south into the Charlotte Harbor. In 1985, the Myakka River was designated as a wild and scenic river by Florida Legislature. (Photo: March 1, 2015)

A Happy Thanksgiving from Donten Photography to you and your family. Enjoy your holiday with friend and family. Today's holiday photo of the day is a wild turkey roaming the forest at Myakka River State Park. (Photo: November 23, 2019)

An osprey flies high over the Myakka River on a sunny Saturday morning at Myakka River State Park. The osprey is one of the many raptors that can be found at the park. They soar over the river waiting to dive down and grab a fish to eat. In flight, the osprey has a distinct kink in their wings resulting in an "M" shape while flying. (Photo: November 23, 2019)

Sarasota, Florida: Today we took advantage of the cooler weather by taking a trip to Myakka River State Park. Cooler weather usually makes the wildlife more active and today did not disappoint. On a trip through the park, we saw quite a bit of wildlife. Here is a look at what we saw today: American Alligator  Common Raccoon  Black Necked Stilt  Eastern Gray Squirrel  Great Blue Heron  Great Egret  Least Sandpiper  Limpkin  Little Blue Heron  Osprey  Red Shouldered Hawk  Tricolored Heron  White Ibis  White Pelican  White Tailed Deer  Wild Boar  Wild Turkey  Myakka River State Park is located at 13208 State Road 72 in eastern Sarasota County. The park is open daily from 8am to sunset. Admission to the park is $6 per car. Click on the photo above to see photos from today’s visit as well as the entire Myakka River State Park photo gallery .

Rising high above the forest floor is Myakka State Park's Canopy Walk. The suspension bridge allows you to walk through the canopy of the forest and get a view once only available for birds. At the end of the bridge, the there is a 75 foot observation tower taking to high above the canopy for a panoramic view of the park. (Photo: December 13, 2014)

Forget thirty minutes or less delivery times, this Osprey takes delivery to a new meaning from river to dinner in a blink of an eye. Most fisherman spend hours along the banks waiting to catch a fish but Ospreys like the one pictured here make it look easy as they swoop down, snag the fish and enjoy their catch. (Photo: November 15, 2014)

A pair of wading birds hide in the tall grass along the banks of the Myakka River looking for their next meal. Wading birds like the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret are just a sample of the wildlife that can be found along the river. The river is a source of life in the park, bringing animals to its banks for food and water. (Photo: November 11, 2014)