Bald Cypress Trees, Otter Lake – St Mark’s NWR
[Carrabelle Day #9 2025-03-06 (Thu)] This afternoon we went to Otter Lake just outside of Panacea FL. This is part of St Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge. Our goal was just to scout it out and look for either wildlife or scenic photo opportunities (presumably to return to at dawn sometime). Here we found some of those cool looking trees that grow in the water way down south. I had to reverse image search them on Google – there’re bald cypress (or swamp cypress) trees and they usually feature Spanish moss hanging from them. They’re so beautiful!!!
More bald cypress trees
In a few trees there were large nests. Near one nest a long way from where we could stand there was a bird. Even using an 800mm lens it was hard to make out but a tight crop looks like it might be an osprey. That would make sense here.
Osprey and nest??? I’ll be back!
Between the cypress trees and nesting birds here this is a place that I will return to at dawn sometime to get good light and hopefully active wildlife.
Ochlockonee River State Park
Next, nearing sunset with nice light, we stopped at Ochlockonee River State Park which turned out to be a beautiful place to walk around and grab a few photos with just the iPhone.
Back at base for the night.