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Though the Australian White Ibis does have a bald, black head it does not have black along the back of the underside of the wings. Also this bird was spotted in Louisiana, that would be out of the range of the Austalian White Ibis
If you look at the 2 suggestions to compare, it looks like Wood Stork is what you have...Ibis has black on the tips of the wings only, where wood stork has black all along the back of the wings. Also check out the head shape
@ Ann...I have taken another look and am second guessing myself. The Eastern Carpenter Bee has a glossy black abdoman with few hairs (your 3rd photo looks to be glossy) and a Common Bumblebee has a hairy black abdoman (4th photo looks to hairy). Also the Bumblee nests within tunnel in the ground.where Carpenter Bees nest in wood..I believe you have Cmmon Bumblebee herehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee...
maura.p.powers is correct. Red-bellied Woodpecker (male)...the male has red on the top of the head and nape of the neck, where the female only has the red on the nape of the neck ...http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id
Nice series...I know the feeling, sometimes you never get a second chance. I have missed countless bird photos by the slightest hesitation...Glad you stuck with it and were able to share the capture.
I do alot of birding and I walk slowly and quietly, so I run into a good number of snakes. I am not afraid of them but do not have enough knowledge and experience with them to handle them. For now I would rather keep my distance as with this one. I was on the bridge watching it swim. Close enough for me.
Thank you Jopy for the ID...do you have a comment on the note I added concerning the genus classification?
