It was another magical early June morning at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. I hadn’t driven very far when I found a few friends – and they were watching a baby Least Bittern! I got out my long lens and my 2x teleconverter and watched the baby learning how to fish.

On the power lines behind me, a trio of baby Northern Rough-winged Swallows sat on a power line waiting for Mom and Dad to bring in breakfast. I walked over to get a closer shot of the babies.

I turned around when I heard splashing behind me. A pair of Common Gallinules was fighting in the water. I was shooting straight into the sun, but it was still a fun shot.

Then I looked up and saw an Osprey flying toward me with a fish. All of this great activity, and I had barely ventured out onto the drive!

I headed down to the Pump House area, where I wanted to check on a bird nest I had seen on my previous bike ride. The nest was empty, but the view of the lake shore was gorgeous.

I found a Least Bittern in my favorite Least Bittern hangout. I watched as an adult perched on a branch, stretched long and hard, and finally grabbed a fish. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of photographing these birds!

My last bird of the morning was a juvenile Barn Swallow on the power line down by the swallow nesting site. He looked hopefully at me, wishing I would take him a dragonfly. I told him that his mom would take care of that, and that I’d see him on my next visit!