Bird at the bottom of the Garden
 

One of the reasons I was attracted to our rental house in Florida was that it is next to a Lake. I was hoping there might be opportunities for photographs without actually wandering much further than the end of the garden.
 

To describe it as the bottom of the garden is slightly misleading. As can be seen below, the property itself had a lovely pool and outside area, all surrounded, as most similar properties are, by protective mesh to keep the insects (and alligators) out! It was however, possible to walk down the side of the house and down to the water's edge! 
 

On the very first morning, when I walked down to the water's edge I found a bird to photograph. Just to the right of the edge of the second photo, sat an Anhinga drying its wings. Although the light was dull I took quite a few images as I didn't know whether or not it would return. As it happened it was there most mornings so I was able to photograph it in much better light.  
 

AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA
 

AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA
 

AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA
 

AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA
 

AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA    AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA  
 

I was also able to photograph Anhinga during one of my visits to Gatorland Bird Rookery (more of that later). This male in full breeding plumage looked quite majestic against the blue sky.
 

AnhingaGatorland, Orlando, Florida, USA AnhingaGatorland, Orlando, Florida, USA
 

But it was the bird at the end of the garden that I particularly enjoyed photographing!
 

AnhingaKissimmee, Florida, USA
 

As a footnote to this blog I must mention what we heard on the final morning of our holiday. I was always very wary walking down to the lake because of the potential for Alligators. On several mornings I did hear a grunting noise in the bushes, but it sounded more like a big frog. In any case I kept my distance!!
 

Anyway on the last day, the pool cleaner came to clean the pool. He said that there is quite often an 11 foot alligator that sits out on that bank - right where I had been taking my photos!!
 

Food for thought!!!
 

On reviewing my photos I was interested to note that I only took 3 images of Anhingas on our first visit to Florida. So I was pleased to get these shots, and others. All these photos can be found in the Anhinga gallery here.