Great Blue Heron - minutes after he swallowed a fish.  I have the series of pictures that I snapped while he speared the fish until he swallowed it - but this remains my favorite of the series.

A different Blue Heron on a different day.  He came in for a landing along this small creek only to land within inches of an alligator!  He squawked and jumped about 6 feet in the air before coming to land about 10 feet from me.

Blue Heron alert to my every move!  Still rather jumpy after his near-catch with the alligator!

Glossy Ibis.   Iridescent coloring on his back is beautiful!  Not to be confused with the White-Faced Ibis which is a chestnut color (but iridescent in color as well) with a larger patch of white around his eyes.  Glossy's are rarely seen in public- I only see them at select wildlife refuges in Florida.

A Little Blue Heron.   During breeding season, this heron's bicolored bill becomes a very bright blue color and the head and neck take on a purplish cast.  The Little Blue's chicks are white - and gradually turn blue into the second year of the birds life.

Also known as "flintheads, ironheads and preacher's birds"- the Wood Stork has been listed on the Endangered Species list.  It's interesting feeding practice is shown in my picture above....they submerge their bills, partially opened,  into the water and sweep it back and forth.   When it feels something touch it's beak, it snaps it closed.   Has a wingspan of approximately 65 inches and can fly up to 100 miles a day to catch fish for their young.

Wood Stork soaking in the early morning sun at the refuge.  I have been to this refuge many times and have NEVER come across a wood stork there before....this day there were hundreds of them!