It’s early morning in the Florida Everglades. The sun has not yet risen but the gradually lightening sky is announcing that it will be arriving shortly. The crickets and other sounds of the night are gradually giving way to the sound of chirping birds and far off in the distance the bellow of an alligator can be heard. Butterflies are starting to flutter and honeybees are starting another busy day of collecting pollen. Near a small creek a Great Blue Heron is walking along the water’s edge searching for fish while keeping a watchful eye on a nearby alligator. A sliver of sun is now visible above the clouds on the horizon…another day has arrived.

As a Florida native I can tell you that watching the Everglades awaken is an almost spiritual experience and almost makes one forget that only a few miles away the hustle and bustle of commuters starting their day will soon begin. The following photographs were all taken at that magical time of day before and during sunrise. It is my favourite time to photograph wildlife and see the Everglades come alive. We cannot take our planet for granted and if everybody spent some actual time exploring it then maybe they would come away with a better understanding of our planet earth.

Sunrise begins a new day in the Florida Everglades.

A female alligator guards her almost ready to hatch nest.

A time-lapse of a single Great Blue Heron as it walked by my camera.

A young alligator enjoys the warmth of the sunrise.

A female bobcat in the woods…as a nocturnal animal her shift ends at sunrise.

A 13 foot alligator patrols the waters of the Everglades.

A 14 footer on a misty morning taking a stroll through the woods towards the water on the other side.

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