Ted and I just came back from six days in Florida. We had wonderful weather and photographed a wide variety of birds. There were hundreds and hundreds of Coots, and they show up in a lot of my images.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 19, 2023
There were a fair number of dragonflies about when we went to Orlando Wetlands in April, but no closeups as they were over the water or in alligator occupied grasses.
A good supply of gnats over the Coots’ heads kept a few dragonflies busy.
A wider view of the Coots, with palm tree reflections in the pond.
Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 23, 2022
American Coots run and flap to get airborne in an splashy display.
Sometimes they are just relocating, as they did in this case, to get away from the edge where I was walking.
They quickly settled down into another small group further out in the pond.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 23, 2022
I had hopes that these three American Coots would synchronize their swimming direction or angle for a portrait composition.
They circled, they zigged and zagged, they separated and came back together, but an organized group shot was not to be.
Eventually they did all turn their heads in the same direction, almost.
