Located in the middle of Ft. Cooper State Park in Inverness, Florida is Lake Holathlikaha. During our recent visit there, the water level in the lake, we were told, was about 8 feet below normal due mostly to the lack of rainfall. But that didn’t seem to bother the wildlife utilizing the lake.
The two photos below capture what we estimated to be at least 200 duck-like birds. One of the park volunteers told us these were Gallinules, however I could never see any red on the beak areas of the birds. But I am led to understand that these colors may change during certain times of the season including mating season.
It was difficult to tell whether this bird was a gallinule or one of the coot family as they never got close enough to tell. With the aid of an 18X zoom lens, one photo allows us to see what appears to be a whitish beak. It may also have been the way the very bright sun was shining and reflecting.
Photo by Milt Inman
Photo by Milt Inman
Milt Inman
