outdoor photography

American Bittern Viera Wetlands The first Central Florida birding location I fell in love with is Viera Wetlands . You can stay in your car and drive around a loop to view the wetlands, so this may be a fun place to take your kids too. My kids are not that interested in birds, but they do like to see alligators, and you're likely to see several here.  This can be some great birding; according to eBird, 234 species have been seen here--not bad for a little park, and you can drive around it in about an hour.  It's a great, simple place to visit if you have an hour or two for some relaxing birding. You can see my field reports for more information. Blue-winged Teal Viera Wetlands As much as I love this place, though, there is one drawback for me.  I can get to Merritt Island a little more quickly than I can get to Viera Wetlands, and generally speaking I see more at Merritt Island, so over the past few years I haven't come here nearly as often as I used to--th...

Sedge Wren Every year in March I make a trip from my home in Central Florida to a conference in Dothan, Alabama. It's a perfect opportunity for me to get up early and visit Payne's Prairie, La Chua Trail just south of Gainesville. So Friday morning I left before 6am to arrive at La Chua Trail before 8:30am.  I was hoping for some fun sparrows, but it's getting a little late in the year, I think, and it was a little windy. But I did get my best photos of White-crowned Sparrows in Florida, as well as a few others. White-crowned  Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Savannah Sparrow There were also plenty of wading birds. One Snowy Egret was particularly photogenic, and an American Bittern came out in the open to at least get to see most of him, even though surrounded by grasses.  There were several Black-crowned Night Herons here too, some immature.  The immature below I found quite interesting. It kept its head raised and neck extended the whole time I watched i...

Ash-throated Flycatcher Yesterday I made it out to Viera Wetlands for a little bit during the afternoon. I much prefer to go in the morning, but even though family commitments kept me home in the morning, afternoon birding proved to be all that I'd hoped.  My biggest goal was to see an Ash-throated Flycatcher that's been seen nearby in the Moccasin Island tract of the River Lakes Conservation Area (just down the street from the wetlands). I went there first, and about 15 minutes after arriving it showed itself.  I wasn't able to get presentable photos, so after it disappeared, I went to the "click" ponds, but I returned a little later, and this time it showed itself a little better, and I had some very good looks at this wonderful flycatcher. The short drive from the click ponds to the flycatcher was also productive.  Here are some photos from along the drive. Belted Kingfisher Northern Harrier Loggerhead Shrike American Kestrel The click pon...

Least Bittern I arrived at Orlando Wetlands Park early this morning hoping to find a Gull-billed Tern that was reported here yesterday.  As I approached the spot where it has been seen recentlyI began to get disheartened.  I could see that there were no terns flying, and I was becoming convinced that I would miss the bird for a second straight time.  But the bitterns seem to have taken pity on me.  A Least Bittern came out to hunt for fish, as if to say, "I know you won't get what you're looking for, but at least you'll have some fun pictures of me." Then an American Bittern also decided to make itself known.  It was like I could see what it was thinking.  "If I stand really still and point my bill up, you won't notice me, I know it." Least Bittern American Bittern But no terns.  I had given up hope and, hanging my head in shame and misery, began walking back to my car.  On the way I happened to look to my right and suddenly there we...

White-crowned Sparrow I was traveling up to Alabama this morning, and so I left early to see what I could find at Payne's Prairie.  I walked the La Chua Trail; it was somewhat breezy out, so I suspect many sparrows were hiding, but I did get to find eight sparrow species: Field Sparrow (my first in Florida), White-crowned Sparrows (my first photos in Florida), a funny-looking Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow and several Eastern Towhee. White-crowned Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Chipping Sparrow This Song Sparrow looks odd to me Swamp Sparrow It was also fun to find several Sora and an American Bittern, an American Kestrel and a couple White-tailed Deer. I missed seeing the female Vermilion Flycatcher, the Groove-billed Ani, and the Fox Sparrow that has been seen nearby. American Bittern Sora American Kestrel White-tailed Deer