We spent a few hours at Gatorland on 4/24.  It had been a couple of years since I had been there and I had forgotten what a cool, "old Florida" place it is.  Inside of the park is a bird rookery that provides excellent photographic opportunities.  There is a boardwalk along one side of a very large Alligator breeding pond surrounded by foliage chuck full of bird nests.  If you go in April, you have a great opportunity to see many nests, birds in their most colorful plumage, nests with eggs, nests with chicks and a whole variety of behaviors.  In fact, there are so many birds in a very concentrated space you find it difficult sometimes to compose your images.

Here is an image of the site from a previous visit:

20100303-MJ-_16C6859Gatorland, Florida

This year there were more Great White Egrets than I remember and fewer of the darker birds.  I didn't see a Great Blue Heron, and in past years there were many.  But the photo ops were plentiful.  Here is a short slide show from this year's favorites:

 And, here is a link to my Gatorland gallery.