Ah, that is good. I thought you were planning to go later in the year and was going to warn you that the season would be way over. Once the rains start, the birds scatter and of course the weather gets super hot and miserable. So you did good catching the tail end of it.
Din Darling really was the "darling" of bird photography when I lived in 1980s. Alas, some environmentalist thought they should screw around with water levels and that totally destroyed opportunities for bird photography as they no longer hand right next to the road as they used to. When I was there in 2004, we spent a bunch of time there with almost no success. This is my only memorable shot from there (resette spoonbill):
This was with my 500 mm with a 1.4X telephoto and cropped fair amount hence the lack of proper sharpness.
And I hear you about birding here. I have tried a few times and have yet to find much opportunity other than snow owls in Vancouver Canada. I didn't have good luck catching them on camera as they were very far on ocean beach with a ton of logs. And a couple who had staked their location taking their pictures, screaming at anyone who dared to get close to the subjects:
Back to florida, here are some other top areas should you have an opportunity to go back:
Merritt Island National Refuge (reserve area around the Nasa Shuttle launch site):
Gatorland in Orlando. It is a tourist trap for kids to come and see the gators but massive number birds roost there like these Ibis:
And more rare Tri-color Heron:
Venice Rookery. Man made lake and island full of these beauties (Great Blue Herons) nesting, courting, and giving birth:
If you find a local place that is worth "shooting," let me know and lets do it together.