These photographs show the importance of learning your subject and scouting a location. All thanks to Perry, our guide for the first trip to the area.

Never would I have known where to look, or when found what I was looking at. A few days later when I returned to the area I knew where to focus my attention. And it was here I got these shots.

Like many young birds they don’t resemble their parents until much later on. No way would I have picked this as a Black Crested Night Heron. But here he is.

These photos were taken across a small open water area. The bird was hiding in the low limbs on an island. Ellen was sure a near by alligator would get him. He was fine.

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NOTE: This is a Black-Crowned Night Heron. Sorry.