outdoor photography

Lower Wekiva River Preserve The Lower Wekiva River Preserve is located just east of the Wekiva River and north of rte 46 in Sanford FL. There are two parking areas, one on rte 46 and the other on Wekiva Park Dr at Katie's Landing. Katie's Landing is nicer, has restrooms, and gets to to my favorite parts of the park faster, but you're supposed to pay $3 in an envelope slot there. Trails There are over 18 miles of trails [ trail map ] through some wonderful pine forests. I discovered this park in May, but it's becoming one of my favorite places to visit. From Katie's Landing you cross the street, and you'll see a sign for the trail head. There are paper maps there. I always get one because the trail blazes are often absent. Intersections of the trails are lettered on the map and on posts along the trail. I usually meander northeast for about half the time I have available to me, and then I meander back a different way. I enjoy walking up to G and then down ...

Tersa Sphinx Moth It was a pretty fun morning at Central Winds.  We found only eleven warbler species (the best being 2 Magnolia Warblers), but there were lots of them there, especially American Redstarts.  We also were treated to some great views of two Summer Tanagers, a late Great-crested Flycatcher missing most of its tail, and an early Eastern Phoebe.  I'm not sure I've ever seen both of these flycatchers on the same day in the fall.  A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher showed off its breakfast, and we found two moths mating, which I believe are Tersa Sphinx Moths. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Magnolia Warbler Summer Tanager Eastern Phoebe Great-crested Flycatcher with only one tail feather

Great Crested Flycatcher This morning I drove out to the Lower Wekiva River Preserve in northeast Seminole County.  I was hoping to find a Bachman's Sparrow here.  After walking about 2 miles or so, I found two, and it looked like they were paired.  Unfortunately, they didn't stay out in the open long enough for photos, but it was good just to find them.  Hopefully the next time I visit they'll be more cooperative.  I also had a chance to see a couple Great Crested Flycatchers.  This one was calling from the tree where its nest cavity is located.  So I took a few pictures and then let him be. Great Crested Flycatcher I also took some photos of the scenery with my point and shoot camera. Trees at Lower Wekiva River Preserve Trees at Lower Wekiva River Preserve

Black-and-white Warbler Every time I visit this place I can't help but wonder why they couldn't decide if the Econ State Forest was little or big.  But what I have decided for myself is that I love this place, and I can't believe I've neglected it my first two years birding in Florida.  This morning was pretty fun.  Great Crested Flycatchers are moving back into the area, and I photographed my first of the year this morning.  Warblers were also fun.  I found seven this morning: Ovenbirds, Black and White Warblers, Northen Parula, Palm Warblers (including one "yellow" variety), Pine Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Yellow-throated Warbler.   I've seen Black and White Warblers occasionally throughout the winter, but their numbers seem to be increasing right now.  I heard several White-eyed Vireos and two Red-eyed Vireos, and the Red-eyed Vireos were the first I've seen this year. Black-and-white Warbler looking for its keys Great Crest...

Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatchers are our most common summer flycatcher in Central Florida.  In the summer time, their calls are nearly ubiquitous, much like Eastern Phoebe calls right now. I most often see them high in the tree tops, but sometimes you can find them lower near eye level.  Immatures look much like adults, but the yellow on their bellies can be much more pale. Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher

Limpkin Today I went to Cameron Wight Park in the northeast corner of Seminole County looking for Barn Swallows.  I saw about 12 there--they were very active and fun to watch, though it was drizzling and none of my photos were much to my liking.  I did find a Limpkin there, though, who posed nicely for a photograph. Limpkin Earlier in the morning I was driving through Longwood and found a few Great Crested Flycatchers, so I pulled over and took a few pictures of them as well. Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher

Northern Cardinal This morning I dropped by Mead Gardens.  We've had a mild spring, but today things got down right hot.  I was only there about an hour, and it was slow, but it was also enjoyable (in the shade).  I found a Northern Cardinal with nesting material, but it was the Great Crested Flycatchers that stole the show.  They were very active, sadly in the shady areas (but then again it was cooler there), but they were still fun to watch.  I photographed one with a Lubber Grasshopper in its mouth.  This surprised me, since my understanding is that these grasshoppers are toxic to birds.  Loggerhead Shrikes impale them and wait a while before eating them.  Sorry for the horrible picture of the flycatcher eating the grasshopper, but I thought the behavior was worth showing it. Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher with what appears to be a Lubber Grasshopper ...

Great-crested Flycatcher The other day I had an idea.  I go to many places for birding and bird photography, and some of you have emailed me letting me know that my posts have given you new places to visit.  I also know some of you visit the same places I do, so you're bound to see wildlife I haven't seen in the same parks.  I thought it might be fun to create a forum for us to share our sightings with each other.  I decided it would be good to create a "birdmap" of the parks I visit frequently.  I thought I'd begin with Mead Gardens, since it's a relatively small park, and I've been visiting it very frequently during spring migration. I put spots that have been particularly good in recent days in yellow. View Mead Gardens in a larger map It probably goes without saying that this kind of map is approximate at best.  Not only do birds move about during the day but migrant birds may come and then leave, never to be seen again until the fall or fol...

American Redstart This morning I had to go pick up my pool pump at the repair shop, but, rather than going to Lake Lilly again, I decided to drive a little farther and go to Mead Gardens.  This is dangerous business, though, since I only had about an hour to be there before the repair shop opened, and then I had to go to work.  It's awful hard to leave Mead Gardens after only an hour.  Things started kind of slow, but about 15 minutes before I had to go, things started to really pick up around the Azalea bushes.  There I saw several American Redstarts, one Prairie Warbler, one Cape May Warbler, and about 3 Northern Parula. I also saw at least one (probably 2) Swainson's Thrush there. By the shore I found one Common Yellowthroat and a couple Great Crested Flycatchers.  They were very active, and about the time I turned to leave, they were feeding on insects.  I didn't have time to photograph them with their prey in their mouths; unfortunately, I had to g...

Black and White Warbler This morning I went to Mead Gardens with the great people at the Orange Audubon Society.  It was a pretty good morning.  I went hoping to see warblers, and I was not disappointed. 1 Ovenbird, 1 Worm-eating Warbler, 3 Black-and-white Warblers, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 (maybe 2) Cape May Warbler, many Northern Parula (I think at least 7), 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 Palm Warbler, and 1 Prairie Warbler.  It was a dark, cloudy day this morning, and while I photographed every one of these species, the only presentable photograph I got was of a Black and White Warbler.  Other members of our group saw a Hooded Warbler, but it eluded me. Great Blue Heron Other highlights of the morning were many Carolina Wrens and Northern Cardinals, though we found one female that had a broken bill.  We also saw A Barred Owl and a Cooper's Hawk. Northern Cardinal Female Northern Cardinal with Broken Bill R...