outdoor photography

Purple Gallinule On April 8, I drove out to Orlando Wetlands Park, one of my favorite destinations in Orange County (second only to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive). I was not disappointed. I decided this year I would try to diversify my photography and make a special effort to photograph scenery, wildflowers and wildlife other than birds. Orlando Wetlands Park is a great place for this. Thee were lots of Prairie Irises blooming all over the park. Prairie Iris And a Blue Dasher dragonfly was also perched photogenically. This is to me a stunning male. Blue Dasher But I simply can't tear myself away from the birds entirely. There was so much there to photograph and enjoy. The only rarity was a group of three Stilt Sandpipers mixed in with a flock of Long-billed Dowitchers. Stilt Sandpipers with Long-billed Dowitchers The Purple Swamphen has left the park (or was removed?), but the Purple Gallinules are still abundant and as beautiful as ever. Purple Gall...

Red-winged Blackbird In my last post I shared some photos of a Snail Kite at Orlando Wetlands Park. That morning I basically walked to the kite and then walked back, but I did take some photos of other birds I'd seen along the way. Along with these, I saw about 5 Least Bitterns, but none stayed in the open long enough for photos. Swallow-tailed Kite Red-shouldered Hawk Purple Gallinule

Red-shouldered Hawk We had a pretty good morning at Orlando Wetlands Park. We didn't see anything terribly unusual, but there were some fun photographic moments.  Well, not so fun for rabbits.  One of the first sights we saw was a Red-shouldered Hawk with a rabbit (perhaps a Marsh Hare).  We also saw several Purple Gallinules, and one was pretty close, allowing me to get some photos.  On the way back, we saw a Sora and a Sandhill Crane fledgling walking with his parents near by. Purple Gallinule Sora Sandhill Crane Little Blue Heron

Limpkin In a previous post I shared the warblers I'd seen at Orlando Wetlands Park.  But many other birds were there, and they were also pretty fun to photograph.  I think my favorite was a Limpkin that flew up into a tree just so that I could photograph it with a different background than usual.  And then there was this Red-winged Blackbird.  I often find these guys difficult to photograph, but this one turned out as well as most that I take. Red-winged Blackbird American Coots and Common Gallinules (aka moorhens) are also there.  There were many Purple Gallinules there as well.  There were some juveniles foraging near the shore. American Coot Purple Gallinule Herons and egrets were also there in great numbers as usual.  This Tricolored Heron was particularly photogenic. Tricolored Heron And of course, there were those wonderful Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. They are so numerous in the park.  I know of no better pl...

Fork-tailed Flycatcher This afternoon I drove out to Lake Apopka to find a Fork-tailed Flycatcher that had been seen the day before. I drove to Magnolia Park and walked north along the Lake Apopka Trail up near the pumphouse (at the end of phase 1 of the trail). About a half mile south of the pumphouse, I came across the Fork-tailed Flycatcher. It's a beautiful bird, even though this particular specimen appears to have a worn or broken tail, making it look a fair amount like an Eastern Kingbird. Fork-tailed Flycatcher (note the worn/broken tail feathers.  In fact it looks shorter here than in the first photo) I also saw no less than 6 Fulvous Whistling Ducks, which I was very surprised to see. I also found a Purple Gallinule. Fulvous Whistling Ducks Fulvous Whistling Ducks Purple Gallinule And a Great Blue Heron posed very nicely in calm pretty water. Great Blue Heron Rabbit

Snowy Egret This morning I went to Orlando Wetlands Park with about 5 other people, and we had a pretty great time.  It was cloudy and threatened rain all morning, but it never really did.  Purple Gallinules were out in force--I counted 12. Purple Gallinule A couple Sandhill Cranes also decided to sing their lovely song at close range. Sandhill Crane Cattle Egrets My companions for the morning were also very interested in the flowers and butterflies, and it occurred to me that I often do just pass them by without much thought. Queen Ornate Bella Moth Four-spotted Penant Oats Grama

Black-crowned Night Heron This morning I went to Orlando Wetlands Park, and I had a pretty good morning.  Highlights form my morning began with a Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron perched in a tree, posing quite nicely in pretty good light.  Then I found several Purple Gallinules, one of them was close enough for photographs.  A couple Northern Harrier were patrolling the area, and Red-shouldered Hawks were seen too.  There were lots of Cattle Egrets about.  Unfortunately, I didn't see either an American or Least Bittern, but did hear one King Rail. Purple Gallinule Cattle Egret Red-shouldered Hawk Great Blue Heron White Ibis checking for Danger As I was headed back to the car, I saw a storm approaching, and it looked to me like I was going to make it back before it rained, but sadly, I had to run the last quarter mile.  Thankfully I had my backpack with me so I could hide my camera under my pack and keep it dry.  Otherwise...

Purple Gallinule I'm teaching in Miami this evening so I decided to spend the night at a friends house in Palm Beach County before to shorten my drive.  I'm so jealous; my friend lives a 15 minute drive from the Loxahatchee NWR. So I decided to go visit there this morning before work.  I only spent an hour there, but I was able to find about 40 species of birds.  I was hoping to see something I wouldn't see in Central Florida, and that didn't happen, but I did get to see a Purple Gallinule, a couple Green-winged Teal and a Northern Harrier.  Perhaps it's a good thing I don't live so close to a refuge like that.  You wouldn't be able to pull me a way. Green-winged Teal Red-shouldered Hawk Palm Warbler hop Yellow Rumped Warbler Here's a list of the species I found at the Lee Rd section of Loxahatchee between 8am and 9am this morning.  A few of these species were seen on Rte 441 just outside the refuge. Mottled Duck 3 Blue-winged Te...