There’s nobody here. I’ll be first. No bellowing megaphoned voiced tour guides, just me and the natural world. That’s the way I like it. A great white egret escorts me on my way, though staying just ahead, and never giving me a profile shot for the photo that would lead the eye into the depths of a picture. There’re alligators basking in the sun on the banks every ten yards or so, an osprey nest is high atop an old bald cypress tree, there’re turtles, a myriad of birds, and fish jumping. The marsh grass and brush rise high above the waters’ edge in the beginning, then mangroves are the dominant plant and form a tunnel that, today, with the low water, eliminates anything that needs more than a couple inches of water. My kayak does just fine as I paddle south on the Turner River near US Rt. 41 in Big Cypress (www.nps.gov/bicy/) in the everglades northeast of Everglades City, Fla. Then my world freezes. This is what I knew could be seen this morning.
    As I was about to launch my kayak, a young lady arrived and asked if I‘d help carry her kayak from her car to the launch area. Did I want to be help? No. Did I help? Yes, but I decided to be courteous not sociable. As I went down the river I knew she was behind with the potential to screw up this phenomenal natural opportunity to view nature. I glanced over my shoulder; she was on her way. I was blocking her egress, but too bad for that - I was courteous once. I wanted the photos, the opportunity had happened and I figured she owed me one for helping her.  
    I was closer to a bittern (a rarely seen water bird, kinda like a heron) than ever before.  It was amongst the grass and could only be partially seen. Maybe it would move into unobstructed view for my camera. Blocking the way or not I was not moving! Great is not produced by dozens or a burst of pics, then manipulated in a computer. One special real life one is, and persistence is the way. The grass partially hid the bird in each photo, but this is the way the bitterns’ world is and my photos show it. The bird hasn’t moved for five minutes; it has way more patience than me, plus there’s much more to see, I bet.
    I motion towards what I’ve been watching and photographing, just in case the gal didn’t realize it yet! She smiled, had already seen it and she asked if I’d lost my keys. I thought ... I remembered dropping them, but not picking them up. I checked my pockets, and she said she’d found some and put them near where I launched my kayak. I had held her up and she found my keys, so she was one up now. I thought about the fee to duplicate an automobile key with a security chip, like mine, and decided to go back and get them. So much for being first down the river! Maybe by the time I get back the bittern will be in plain view.
    That didn’t happen. It was gone. I did pass some nice people from Martinsburg, West Va.., and they said there was an alligator with babies at the end of the mangrove tunnel. I’d already gotten a photo of a mother alligator with a baby on her head.  As I came out of the tunnel, there was a seven foot gator in the water with dozens of babies on her back, tail, and head. I shot photos from the sun side then with it behind me, knowing at noon any photo would be contrasty. There was no shade to help, but the bright light was even across the scene, and I wasn’t missing a fantastic opportunity.
    Oh yeah, they say don’t ever get close to a mother alligator that has babies. You may come up missing a part of you that you came with! She was placid, as have been all alligators I’ve seen in the last thirteen years I’ve been around them. Wow!  Once again I’ve seen something most people never see in a lifetime!!!  
    As I was about to leave the parking lot, the gal I’d helped, then held up, got back. Of course she needed help again, and of course I helped. She had a very nice smile; maybe I should’ve been sociable – story of my life!
    For more go to my galleries @ http://picasaweb.google.com/o.c.fotoguy2009 (all may be purchased).  The May/June 2011, “Audubon Magazine” has great photos and an article, “Stepping Out,” on page 67 describing the tunnel on the Turner River, @ http://audubonmagazine.org/features1105/truenature.html.  
    Wow, the sun is winning the weather war. Sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine! The wicked hawk from the north is retreating. We’ve received ample Spring showers to make the garden grow, so we may have ripe tomatoes and sweet corn for July 4th, and the crabs are biting! I caught two dozen. That’s summer! Hopefully, the sun may induce you and yours to want to do a family photo on the beach here in OC.  If so, give me a call (410-289-733), send me an email (ocfotoguy@aol.com) or go to PhotosAsYouWantThem.biz.  EZ2CY photos on the beach are a SHORE THING!