Green Heron

December 2014.  Anhinga Trail.  Everglades National Park in Homestead, Florida.

Green Heron

Lady of the Waters

December 2014.  Anhinga Trail.  Everglades National Park in Homestead, Florida.

Tricolored Heron, formerly known as Louisiana.  It has been referred to as "Lady of the Waters" by John James Audubon thanks to its beauty and grace.

Double-crested Cormorants

December 2014.  Anhinga Trail.  Everglades National Park in Homestead, Florida.

I didn't realize how beautiful these birds are ....

Anhingas

December 2014.  Anhinga Trail.  Everglades National Park.  Homestead, Florida.

The trail is aptly named so as you can spot a lot of Anhingas in the area.

Since Anhingas don't have oil glands, they have to perch and open their wings to dry them in the sun.

Female Anhinga.  One can tell her apart from the male by the tawny-brown neck (and breast).

We sat on one of the benches in the boardwalk to enjoy the peace and quiet when two males started fighting.

After a minute of thrashing and pecking, they finally broke up the fight and went their separate ways.

But this individual was apparently still pumped up.

Eco Pond

December 2014.  Eco Pond.  Everglades National Park in Homestead, Florida.

Wood Stork - the only stork species breeding in the United States.

Osprey

Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbill

Immature Little Blue Heron

Pete was looking forward to spotting a Burmese Python.  This was the closest he got :)

American White Pelicans, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills and Snowy Egret

White Pelicans

It's difficult to identify this bird since I didn't have a chance to photograph its front side but Pete thinks it's a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk.