Just one of many rocky, mangrove covered islets set in clear Gulf water. The red mangroves on these islands must be at the extreme northern edge of their survival zone. The reds are not very cold tolerant and are almost absent from Cedar Key a few miles north of here.











The cormorant was just resting, but the Ibis were busy slurping small crabs from among the razor sharp oysters they are standing on.











In bird photography, you continue to shoot as you get closer and closer...hoping to get as many shots as possible before you finally spook them. Then you cull without mercy. In this case, we stove paddles and drifted with the tide towards the island. I kept the ibis covered with the camera and kept shooting as their casual attitude became more nervous with our increasing proximity...until finally one gave me a gift.