American Coot - Walking on Water

I have always found it both amazing and amusing when American Coots take off and run across the top of a pond.  Apparently it takes awhile for their little wings to provide enough lift to get themselves airborne, so off they go skipping over the surface of the water in a fashion that reminds me a lot of a pontoon plane.

American Coot (Fulica americana)

  

Red-winged Blackbirds at Wakodahatchee

The Red-winged Blackbirds at Wakodahatchee Wetlands seemed to be very curious about all of the humans milling around.  They flitted around the boardwalks, constantly scolding us with their "o-ka-reeee" calls. I was able to get within a few yards of some of them, which allowed me to get some detailed shots of their facial features.  I found their expressions to be priceless.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

It looks like he is smiling at me.  (I bet he isn't smiling on the inside.)

Ready to fly

Mr. Blue Eyes - Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorants have beautiful blue-green eyes.  They also pose nicely for photographs, allowing even the most novice of photographers to get some good images of them.  I saw this one at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida earlier this year.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

If you look closely you can see the afternoon sky and the wetlands' horizon reflecting in that eye.