outdoor photography

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 ...

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 ...

Red-headed Woodpecker I was well over a mile away from my car when it started to rain. It was a drizzle at first, but eventually, it became a downpour. I wasn't expecting rain, so I didn't have my camera bag or binocular bag with me.  I was forced to tuck everything under my shirt and hat and hope for the best. And interestingly, it was really slow for me until it began to drizzle, and then the birds came out to play.  Yellow-rumped, Pine and Palm Warblers were numerous all around me. There were also  about 15 Eastern Bluebirds and about 3 Red-headed Nuthatches.  Then I heard a Red-headed Woodpecker calling--the first I've ever found in this park. After finding, it I continued to walk the path back to the car, and I found 5 more!  I've never seen so many in one place. All were in the same general area.  After I saw my sixth, there was a little break in the rain, so I decided to walk the area again and recount. On my second pass I saw 4 and heard 1 more....

Lower Wekiva River Preserve I went to the Lower Wekiva River Preserve this morning, hoping to confirm breeding of Bachman's Sparrows.  I found a probable nest site there a little over a month ago, but I've never been able to confirm that they're breeding there.  This morning, all that changed.  I arrived at the site and almost immediately the sparrow below popped up on a branch.  Adult Bachman's Sparrows have no streaks on the chest or sides, so this one is juvenile. Bachman's Sparrow Bachman's Sparrow (Juvenile) It was also fun to see a couple White-tailed Deer.  They were right at the entrance to the trail, and they didn't seem to mind me much as I approached. White-tailed Deer I also came across this fly.  It was flying near me, and it seemed really loud.  When it landed I decided to see if I could get some photos.  Some turned out pretty well.  After getting home, I searched the internet to see if I could find out w...

Red-headed Woodpecker We had a pretty fun morning at Wekiwa Springs State Park.  My dad wanted to find Bachman's Sparrows, I wanted Red-headed Woodpeckers, and we both wanted to find Short-tailed Hawks.  We went home photographing two out of three.  We found two Red-headed Woodpeckers, and one landed  not too far from us and put on quite a display. Red-headed Woodpecker A couple Bachman's Sparrows showed up right nearby, which was very convenient.  One landed on a branch close to my father but far away from me, so my photos are pretty heavily cropped. Bachman's Sparrow But we also had saw some other fun birds.  In particular, a Yellow-throated Vireo and a Prairie Warbler. Yellow-throated Vireo Prairie Warbler And we didn't just find birds. Other animals were also there just waiting to be photographed.  A Zebra Swallowtail and a White-tailed Deer both made an appearance. White-tailed Deer Zebra Swallowtail

Marl Bed Flats is easily the most productive tract the Lake Jesup Conservation Area.  It's located just north of Lake Jesup and east or Rte 417 in Sanford, FL [ map ]. A trail map for all three tracts of the Lake Jesup Conservation Area can be found here .  And here's a link to a map  that may be helpful with driving directions. This area is made up of floodplain wetlands and wooded hammocks.  During late September and early October, this area becomes filled with blooming Swamp Sunflowers.  It's apparently a beautiful sight to see, though for some reason I haven't visited while the sunflowers are blooming.  I visit mostly for the great birding, and especially for shorebirds.  As of my July 2015 update of this post, I've seen 147 species here, including 17 species of shorebird at the flats. Bald Eagles Trails The trail map claims there are two trail loops.  One with red blazes (0.8 miles) and one with yellow blazes (0.5).  I'll take t...