outdoor photography

Brown-headed Nuthatch Wekiwa Springs State Park I first visited the park shortly after moving  here so our family could go swimming at the springs. At the time, I had no idea at the time that this would become one of my favorite birding locations in Orange County. Now when I visit this park, I feel like I'm seeing Central Florida as it once was, and that keeps me coming back for more. Wekiwa Springs State Park Trails and Kayaking There are over 13 miles of trails, and the western portion has some great trails for birding.  The western portion of the park has some great trails in Pine flatwoods and even some scrub habitat.  For this, I like to park at the Sand Lake parking lot and walk west and south towards the campgrounds. There are some wonderful place along these trails for some nice pine flatwood species. The eastern portion gives you access to the Wekiva River, which is one of the two “National Wild & Scenic Rivers” in Florida.  During the ...

Markham Rd Trailhead There's a little-known trail on Markham Rd.  It shares a parking area with the Cross-Seminole Trail. I've never walked that trail because it's paved.  However, there are also unpaved trails here. I've been told that this property is a part of the Wekiwa Springs State Park, but I haven't been able to verify that. It's a pretty enough park.  Honestly, if I'm going to drive to the area, I'm more likely to head a little farther to the Lower Wekiva River Preserve, so for the most part I go here for my volunteer work with the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas. Carolina Chickadee Brown-headed Nuthatch Markham Tract, Wekiwa Springs State Park Trails I haven't been able to find a trail map of this location. It looks like I might need to make my own, so to speak, the next time I go. That is, I can certainly use My Tracks while walking the trails, and then show you the trails that I've walked.  I tend to walk south towards a ...

Econ River Wilderness Area Trails The Econ River Wilderness Area is another of my favorite places ot visit in Seminole County.  It's only about 10 minutes from my home, so I can visit there on a whim, which is nice.  The wilderness area covers about  240 acres that extends from Old Lockwood Rd to the Econ River just north of UCF.  There are approximately 3 miles of trails that will take you from pine flatwoods and and sandhill habitats into hard wood and river swamp environments closer to the river. The trails are pretty poorly marked, but if you know your east from the west, it's not much of a problem.  The area is very long from east to west and narrow from north to south, so as long as you know you're heading east, you're going to make it to the river, and as long as you're heading west, you're going to make it to the parking lot. There's one little pond on the property that is visible from Old Lockwood Rd.  There's a trail that will take you ...

Wild Turkey This morning I decided to try a new place.  There's a tract of the Wekiwa Springs State Park that is in Seminole County. It's a very pretty park, and shortly after arriving, I heard a Summer Tanager greeting me to the park.  I never did see it; it was pretty far off the trail.  But it's the first I've found in Seminole Co, this year.  More photogenic were Wild Turkeys, Brown-headed Nuthatches, White-tailed Deer, and a butterfly that I believe is a Juvenal's Duskywing Skipper.  This is a place for me to visit again. Brown-headed Nuthatch Juvenal's Duskywing Skipper? White-tailed Deer

Brown-headed Nuthatch This past Sunday my daughter and I went to the Econ River WA for a little bit before church.  There were several Brown-headed Nuthatches there, and they were quite vocal. Of course, they are always most fun when they crawl head first down a tree limb. I was hoping my daughter would enjoy their "squeaker-toy" call, but she paid them no attention.  But I did get this photo before I decided I should catch up with her.  She did have fun finding pretty yellow flowers along the side of the trail, so it was fun for both of us.

Bachman's Sparrow My main goal in visiting Wekiwa Springs State Park this morning was to see a Bachman's Sparrow.  So I was excited when I heard one sing (to me it sounds like it's saying "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!"). And then another popped up onto a branch right at about eye level.  The lighting was nice--I didn't even need exposure compensation. In some of these photos, it looks like this sparrow has something on it's belly, and I can't tell if it's a tick or something else.  I did get one email suggesting that it's probably a soft tick that will drop off when it's taken its fill of blood. Bachman's Sparrow Bachman's Sparrow Bachman's Sparrow Bachman's Sparrow Bachman's Sparrow Other highlights were several Chipping Sparrows, American Goldfinches, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees. lots of Pine Warblers singing, one Red-headed Woodpecker seen from a distance, and one Brown-headed Nutha...

Econ River WA This morning I drove out to the Econ River Wilderness Area.  I always enjoy this place, and one day I'll spend more time just photographing the scenery.  But this morning I concentrated on the wildlife and found three of the four birds I was looking for: Brown-headed Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a Blue-headed Vireo.  It was also fun to find several Carolina Chickadees, but again they only seem to pose for me when the lighting is less than desirable. Blue-headed Vireo Carolina Chickadee Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Brown-headed Nuthatch It was also fun to find a Red-bellied Woodpecker.  This one found a berry and decided to perch out on a branch and eat it.  In the last photo, you can see that the berry is still in its throat. Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Towhee This morning I spent a little bit of time at the Econ River Wilderness Area.  It was a pretty good time.  Highlights were about seven Brown-headed Nuthatches and a Pied-billed Grebe with a fish. Other highlights were a Downy Woodpecker, Little Blue Heron and an Eastern Towhee. Eastern Towhee Downy Woodpecker Brown-headed Nuthatch Little Blue Heron Pied-billed Grebe