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A New Year at Orlando Wetlands

Posted Monday, January 22, 2024Sunday, January 21, 2024 Jess Yarnell4 CommentsPosted in Orlando Wetlands

When you start the morning with images like in my last post, you smile widely knowing that the first 20 images on your card were well worth the early morning wakeup! But there was much left to see after the magical sunrise.

I had hardly finished photographing the egrets when I heard the mocking call of a Belted Kingfisher. We started our usual game – I approached, he flew, I approached again, he flew again. Finally he let me snap a few quick shots before he spied his breakfast!

The white birds are starting to put on their breeding plumage. Their long lacy feathers are gorgeous, especially at sunrise. It won’t be long before this Snowy Egret’s lores turn a deep red and he focuses on finding a mate.

You can’t go to Orlando Wetlands without seeing at least one vulture. On this particular morning, each tree in the rookery area was being guarded by a vulture, most of them with wings spread. This one below surprised me when I found him perched on the edge of the boardwalk. He had a soft, pretty background and I couldn’t resist a photo – even if he does have a face that only a mother could love!

I heard a big song coming from the reeds, and I knew exactly which small bird was playing hide and seek with me! This is a Marsh Wren. He’s a winter visitor to Florida.

As I circled around for my second pass along the boardwalk, I came across this Eastern Phoebe. He must have taken lessons from the Belted Kingfisher – he was very good at flying just as I got close enough to take his picture! I liked this one in the cattails, with the soft sunny background of the reeds behind him.

I was about to enter the boardwalk again when I spotted this Osprey in a nearby tree. He seemed to be biting at his foot (he reminded me of a certain cat who was almost certainly zonked on my couch at that hour!) He was fun to photograph as he spread his feathers wide.

All morning the Black-bellied Whistling-ducks were taunting me. They’d whistle and fly to me, but stay low to the ground where I couldn’t get good shots. So I was happy to see a couple of ducks hanging out on the edge of the boardwalk. I love how their feathers glisten in the sunlight. I managed a quick head shot before the birds were startled by a passing group of people.

There was a small group of Tree Swallows circling overhead. They are fast fliers and such a challenge to photograph in flight! This was my best flight shot of the morning. Look at the glimmer in the blue feathers!

After that, the sun was pretty high in the sky. I hiked a lot, saying hello to the eagles in their nest. Finally it was time to leave, and I was happy knowing that was just the first of many trips to Orlando Wetlands for 2024. :)

Golden Hour at Orlando Wetlands

Posted Monday, January 15, 2024Sunday, January 14, 2024 Jess Yarnell5 CommentsPosted in Orlando Wetlands

Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Like a couple of weeks ago at Orlando Wetlands Park, when the rising sun glimmered through fog just as some Great Egrets started thinking about springtime. The scene in front of me was pure magic!

At first I saw this one Great Egret, posed in the golden light.

The water and the fog simply shimmered with sunlight. Then a second egret decided that I needed a flight shot in this beautiful setting. Such an obliging bird!

He flew to join the first bird, showing off a little on his landing. I think these birds already had courtship on their minds!

So even though it was 40 degrees out (feels like 35, but who was counting?), I considered this a sign that springtime is just around the corner. Pretty soon I’ll be returning to this same spot to observe nest-building and cute tiny chicks. I can’t wait!

Afternoon Walk at Oakland Nature Preserve

Posted Friday, January 5, 2024Monday, January 1, 2024 Jess Yarnell5 CommentsPosted in Oakland Nature Preserve

One cold, windy afternoon in late December, Rich offered that we take our afternoon walk at Oakland Nature Preserve. The birds must have found a good place to hunker down because there was not much activity. But we still enjoyed walking around the place where I discovered natured photography, and where Rich spent countless hours keeping me company at my very first bird blind. Towards the end of our walk, we did find a small flock of warblers that made my camera smile!

This little Palm Warbler was hopping around the rail at the dock. I was surprised to see hints of bright yellow and brown in his plumage. Hints of breeding plumage can only mean one thing – spring is not far away!

This Tricolored Heron looked as cold as I felt as I stood in the lake breeze on the dock. When I first discovered nature photography, a flight shot like this would have been a major victory. These days with mirrorless cameras, these shots are much easier – even in ridiculously gray weather.

Rich was quick to point out the bird laughing at me. A pair of Common Gallinules were feeding at the edge of the lake. The fact that I spent several minutes photographing this very common bird tells you just how few birds there were that afternoon!

A flock of warblers came through as we walked back on the boardwalk. It was mostly Pine Warblers, with a few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Blue-headed Vireo mixed in. I had fun photographing the little birds as they dove for bugs in the moss. Their bright yellow colors were a great contrast to the gray day!

I love the background colors on this last one. The yellow tones are perfect for a Florida winter.

We trekked back to the car, enjoying our walk through nature. Rich suggested that next time, if I wanted to see good birds, perhaps I should use reverse psychology and leave the camera at home!