

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 17, 2023
A single Tricolored Heron was hanging out at the rookery area. It’s a bit early for them to be nesting, and there was no sign of breeding colors.
He had figured out there were easy meals to be had: the water was teaming with minnows which of no interest to the alligators.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
February 6, 2023
I took these images from a boardwalk, above the action, in the late morning when the sun was nicely angled into this corner.
From this angle I could really see how the bird was rotating his wings, not just flapping.
The maintenance crew had been flushing the water in this pond.
I could see the bottom suspect that it is some kind of cement or manufactured material to hold in the water and ensure the alligators can’t burrow out.
This fellow wasn’t having great success on cleaning his shoulders, which may explain why he kept at it.
Taking a pause…
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023
Or, how a White Ibis stays white.
I spotted this White Ibis off the edge of the boardwalk, glistening from his bath.
I figured I’d missed the action but a couple moments later he took another turn.
He was really rotating his wings…
…sending water all over.
The wiggly lines in the water are reflection of the wire fence at the back of the rookery area that keep the Alligators contained.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
February 6, 2023
A Roseate Spoonbill walking a branch after landing, still flapping his wings.
Prime spots to the left were already occupied.
Fortunately for me, he stopped right there with a nice background created by a shedding tree.
And he settled in for a bit.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023
A female, or possibly immature male, Anhinga was perched atop a gnarly dead tree branch above my head.
She sat there for quite awhile, just looking around. We were back at St. Augustine this past week and many of these dead and dying trees have been cut down. They are being replaced, three huge palm trees were being installed while we were there.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023