This place opens at 8:30 AM to the public, the earliest I could reach was 9:00 AM, considering that it was a Sunday and how lazy I am, it was a pretty good time.
the woods… 
This fat bird perched on the branch didn’t use its wings even once to climb down from the branch.
Dancing Peacock
I was lucky enough to see a dancing peacock with its feathers spread out, but I didn’t feel like using my camera, as its feathers were all clipped at the edges. Later I realized that this was done to protect it from mischievous people.
With the kind of beak this bird has, it can easily scoop out a fish if it spots one.
The Darter Bird
The darter is also called a snakebird. When it is in the water with its entire body submerged, it raises its slender snake like neck outside the water surface. The head also sways from side to side often resembling a snake. The first time I saw it, I mistook it for a snake.
In the picture below the bird has coiled back its neck.
…..prize catch both for me and the Darter
gulp…..
In my previous visit to this place due to shortage of time, I couldn’t spend enough time in the Butterfly garden. This time I was determined to spend quality time in this place, but was disappointed to find all the butterflies lazing around in the top branches, also heard from a Guard
over there that Butterflies need sunlight to be active, I thought, what is this connection between sunlight and butterflies being active. Later found out the reason; Butterflies need sunlight. They are cold-blooded, so they use the sun to warm up their bodies in order to fly around.
Time 1:00 PM, the effect of not having Breakfast was showing up. The walk back from the butterfly garden to the main entrance, an easy 2 KM, was spent thinking of what my mother had prepared for lunch.
Anoop,What you refer to as “darter” and “snakebird” is probably better known by the name, “Anhinga”. Take a look at,http://www.floridanature.org/photos/Anhinga_anhinga_2,_Wakulla_Springs,_20010526.jpgI remember having mentioned the name to you when I saw the image for the very first time. You might have noticed that the fish has actually been speared by the avian; I’d seen a similar image in a paleo-bio journal a couple of years back.Gopal
hey Anoop … these are excellent photos ! I loved the where you captured the darter bird catching the fish.. too good. ‘the woods’ is beautiful too.
hey, I came across ur blog thru sameer’s…must say beautiful pics…I loved the pelican flyin low…beautifully shot,and yes, even the darter bird catching the fish…great timing.
thanQ sameer n Yahsita, thanQ for taking a look at my blog, just between you and me, I was just lucky to capture those pics , no great timing ot patience… 😉
hey cool snaps dude..