Orlando Wetlands Park, 9/5/2011

Orlando Wetlands Park

On Labor Day morning I went to one of my favorite places, Orlando Wetlands Park [gallery].  I took a five mile walk around the wetlands, and this time I brought a wide angle lens with me so that I could photograph the scenery as well as the wildlife.  I think I need to do this more often, since the places I go to are beautiful even without the wildlife.

Little Blue Heron, Orlando Wetlands Park

I saw nothing really new.  I did see a Viceroy Butterfly for the first time here and I saw some immature Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks.  The Downy Woodpeckers and White-Eyed Vireos were very uncooperative.  I heard them and even saw them, but they wouldn't come close enough for me to photograph.  For those of you interested in finding a Purple Gallinule, I saw one there as I was leaving.

Gulf Fritillary, Orlando Wetlands Park

Viceroy, Orlando Wetlands Park

Young Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks, Orlando Wetlands Park

Here is my species list for the day.  A number refers to the species count.  An X just means I didn't count the number of species.

Purple Martins, Orlando Wetlands Park

Non-Birds
American Alligator X
Pig Frog X
Viceroy Butterfly 2
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly 2
White Peacock Butterfly 4
Clouded Sulphur Butterfly 2
Various Dragonflies X

Birds
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck X
Wood Stork X
Anhinga X
Great Blue Heron X
Great Egret X
Snowy Egret X
Little Blue Heron X
Tricolored Heron X
Cattle Egret X
Green Heron X
White Ibis X
Glossy Ibis X
Black Vulture X
Turkey Vulture X
Red-shouldered Hawk 4
Purple Gallinule 1
Common Gallinule X
Limpkin 1
Sandhill Crane 4
Killdeer 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Common Ground-Dove X
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
White-eyed Vireo X
Blue Jay X
Purple Martin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Boat-tailed Grackle X