This is an example of the Wood Stork rookery at the Wakotahatchee Wetlands in Florida. These are just a few of the many storks nesting in the trees. It was noisy, with squawking chicks, displaying birds, clacking of bills in (real or play) fights, and birds flying overhead. I've never had such a close-up and personal experience with the nesting birds--I loved it! 5/14/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com
This Anhinga was photographed along the boardwalk of the Anhinga Trail in Royal Palms in the Everglades in Florida. He was quite cooperative about having his portrait done, which I appreciated, since I only had a small camera without much zoom capability. Most of the Anhingas I saw were fairly far out, perched in trees. This one stayed perched on the railing for quite awhile--finally flying down into the bushes. 5/13/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com
This unusual looking bird was one of the life birds I got on the Florida trip, I had never seen one before, and in the field guides it is called a Purple Swamphen--though local birders were reporting it as Gray-headed. I saw a few of them in a couple of places, wading in shallow marsh water; I saw this one grab up a crab or crayfish of some type. Always fun to get life birds (I had 3 in Florida), as I have seen enough birds over so many years that I don't easily find one that I've never seen before. 5/12/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com
