The purple gallinule is an iconic bird of southern swamplands.   They are sometimes accommodating to photographers, but this one never really gave me a good shot.   These were photographed along the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park and Corkscrew Swamp sanctuary in south Florida.

• Canon 1D Mk. II or 1D3, 500 mm IS lens and 2X converter, fill-in flash (2006, 2008)