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
This is one of the many alligators I saw while traversing the marshes and swamps of Florida. Fortunately there are lots of boardwalks built through the swamps, allowing safe travel and gator viewing! Although not a huge gator fan, I found them an interesting part of the environment in such a different area. 5/11/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com
This egret nest was spotted at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Florida. I liked the way Momma Egret seemed to be carefully tending her chicks--perfect for Mother's Day! In this one place there were nesting Wood Storks, Cattle Egrets, Anhingas, Great Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Great Blue Herons and probably a lot more I didn't see. Everywhere I looked there was something new to see--I was in heaven! ;-) I won't be posting or commenting for a couple of days. 5/8/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com
