Surprising Day at Gatorland

Last minute changes in the weather and other factors caused me to rethink my photo plans for the day. When time is limited my go to place for bird photography is always Gatorland. It's a short trip and I can be done early and move on to other things. I always check the nests first for new arrivals. I have been waiting for a cormorant whose nest is close to the tower to hatch some chicks. They are there now and can't be very old and with faces only a mother could love. With patience she finally re-positioned herself revealing the chicks for a short time. With the vegetation growing, most of the nests are becoming harder to get a clear shot. The surprise of the day came when I spotted three red-bellied woodpeckers chasing and playing around the palm trees. From the walkway from the tower the view is pretty good. Among the numerous shots, I was able to get a few keepers. The next surprise came after I left and was headed to the office. As I approached the parking lot I spotted a Swallowtail Kite soaring around fairly low to the ground. Of course, my camera was put away in the backpack in the trunk. I took a few quick shots with my "point and shoot" Sony and then parked the car. The kite was still  there so I grabbed the camera and got a few shots off before he flew directly over my head and then moved on.