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| Black-crowned Night Heron |
I went to Orlando Wetlands Park this morning hoping to photograph night herons and bitterns. I was pleased to find both night herons right where they were "supposed" to be. I saw two juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons that posed for me where they had been roosting, and I saw two adults in flight. The Yellow-crowned Night Herons were less cooperative, but I saw four, and I was able photograph one in flight and one perched, both a long way off.
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| Yellow-crowned Night Heron |
As I walked around the park, though, there were many other fun sights: all the normal herons and egrets, plus three Limpkins, and six Least Bitterns. The biggest highlight, though, was completely unexpected. I was photographing a Least Bittern, and a King Rail walked out of the reeds about 6 feet away from me--he was so close I could not focus on him. He walked away from me, and I finally got off a couple shots as he was beginning to disappear again into the reeds. I've heard King Rails here several times before, but I've never actually seen one here. I suspect I'll never be that close to one again.
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| Limpkin |
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| Least Bittern |
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| Least Bittern
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| Green Heron |
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| Little Blue Heron |
Here's a list of the 46 species I saw this morning:
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 25
Anhinga 10
Least Bittern 6
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 12
Snowy Egret 4
Little Blue Heron 9
Tricolored Heron 7
Cattle Egret 8
Green Heron 15
Black-crowned Night-Heron 4
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 4
White Ibis 8
Glossy Ibis 2
Black Vulture X
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
King Rail 1
Purple Gallinule 1
Common Gallinule 25
American Coot 5
Limpkin 3
Sandhill Crane 3
Black-necked Stilt 3
Royal Tern 1
Mourning Dove 5
Common Ground-Dove 3
Chimney Swift 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow X
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Parula 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle X
Boat-tailed Grackle X
Awesome image of the Least Bittern with raised crest. It is so cool when you get surprised on an outing, e.g., the King Rail. What a great time you must have had.
ReplyDeleteWow, that piebald Little Blue came out great, considering the tricky light, well done.
ReplyDeleteLeast Bitterns make me salivate. Awaiting images of The King.