Shark Valley II - 2005

Blue Heron in Flight. (don't miss gator in corner) All images in this Gallery taken with Canon 20D and Canon 70 - 200 IS USM zoom, handheld with Image Stablization turned on. Shutter Priority at 1/1000 sec. All images taken at Shark Valley in February of 2005 between 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Anhinga capturing and eating a fish. Sequence shot with base image of Anhinga tossing fish in the air, second shot (inset) catches fish head first, third shot Anhinga opens gullet and swallows fish whole, head first.

Shark Valley west trail behind main entrance. The best shooting is in the first 300ft. of the trail. Located about 20 miles west of the Florida Turnpike on Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street). Everglades National Park (entrance fee). Opens at 8:30, get there early for parking. Best December thru March.

Green heron Butorides virescens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 25 inches Sexes similar Small, short-legged and short-necked heron Yellow legs Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it Black cap Blue-gray back and wings Adult: Chestnut neck White chin White stripe down center of neck Immature: Reddish-brown and white streaks on head and neck Extensive white spots on wing coverts Similar species: No similar species. Least Bittern is much smaller with buff head and neck and buff patches on wing coverts.

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga Identification Tips: Length: 28 inches Wingspan: 47 inches Large, dark waterbird with long, loosely-jointed tail Very long, thin neck Long, pointed bill Often perches with wings spread to dry them Often swims with just head and neck above surface May soar for extended periods, like a hawk Adult male: Black head, neck and body with white plumes and edgings on wing coverts Adult female: Tan head and neck Black body with white plumes and edgings on wing coverts Similar species: Cormorants have hooked bills, and shorter tails and necks. NOTE: Bird Identification Information courtesy of Patuxent Bird Identification website: http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/framlst.html

Heron with Gar

White ibis Eudocimus albus Identification Tips: Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 38 inches Sexes similar Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wading bird Long, decurved bill Holds neck extended in flight Adult: White body plumage with black tips to outer primaries. Bill and facial skin pinkish-red Red legs Immature: Brown head, neck, back and wings White belly Orange bill and facial skin, Dull legs Similar species: Adults are unmistakable. Curlews are much smaller, mottled brown and black with white necks and bellies and usually with a distinctive head pattern. The white belly of the immature White Ibis distinguishes it from Glossy Ibis and White-faced Ibis.

White Egret Eating Small Fish

Ready for my close-up. Photographer with long lens taking picture of alligator about 3 ft. away.

Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 44 inches Sexes similar Fairly small, stocky, short-legged and short-necked heron Bill medium-sized and pointed Tucks neck in close to body in flight and at rest, rarely extending it Adult: Red eyes, legs yellow Black bill Black crown and back White face, throat, foreneck, chest and belly Blue-gray wings Two long, white, filamentous plumes extending from back of head in alternate plumage Juvenile: Eyes yellowish to amber, legs dull greyish Yellow base to bill Brown head, neck, chest and belly streaked with buff and white Wings and back darker brown with large white spots at the tips of the feathers; spots especially large on the greater secondary coverts Immature: Acquires full adult plumage in its third year First year birds are similar to juvenile, but have less extensive spotting on upperwings and a dark cap Second year birds resemble the adult, but have a brown neck and wings contrasting with darker brown cap and back Similar species: Adults are unmistakable. Immatures can be separated from American Bittern by pale spotting on the upperwing, lack of black neck spot, different shape, stouter bills and more even upperwing coloration in flight. Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has smaller spots on greater secondary coverts, smaller spots on head and neck, thicker bill, and longer legs. Immature Black Crowns can show a variety of plumage characters so are best separated from immature Yellow-crowns by their smaller, thinner bill and shorter legs.