April Morning at Orlando Wetlands
April 11, 2026 - A morning walk at Orlando Wetlands yielded birds in breeding plumage, baby owlets and Sandhill Cranes, and a surprise rocket launch!
Beyond the Backyard
While the blog started as a record of my backyard garden and birds, it quickly grew as I discovered bird photography. This page contains images taken “beyond the backyard” during my travels around Central Florida (and beyond!)
Other Birds at the Orlando Wetlands
March 13, 2026 - A springtime morning at the Orlando Wetlands yields many birds in breeding plumage. Come out and enjoy - from nesting woodpeckers to screeching Limpkins to glistening gallinules, you never know what you are going to find!
Another Star at the Orlando Wetlands
March 6, 2026 - A small and rare-ish Vermilion Flycatcher has been charming visitors to Orlando Wetlands with her repetitive bug-catching antics
Cute Baby Owls at the Circle B Bar Reserve
March 1, 2026 - Winter visits to the Circle B Bar Reserve find young Great Horned Owlets nestled in the treetops. Photographers enjoy playing peek-a-boo with the babies
Spoonbills on a Cloudy Morning
February 1, 2026 - A cloudy morning yielded wonderful photographic opportunities in a colony of nesting Roseate Spoonbills at the Orlando Wetlands. Are you ready for a game of musical trees?
Sleepy Morning at the Lake
January 11, 2026 - A quiet morning at Lake Morton when the birds felt the pending cold front and hit the Snooze button on their alarms
New Year’s Spoonbills!
January 4, 2026 - Roseate Spoonbill activity is increasing at their Orlando Wetlands nesting grounds. Afternoons can be great for flight shots!
Surprise Afternoon Walk at Circle B
November 7, 2025 - An impromptu walk at the Circle B Bar Reserve inspired me to use my iPhone for landscape shots
Baby Roseate Spoonbills at Orlando Wetlands
March 23, 2025 - The new Orlando Wetlands boardwalk offers close-up views of nesting Roseate Spoonbills. I got to photograph scenes of courtship, nest-building, and tiny babies getting fed by patient Mom and Dad
Springtime Walk at Lake Morton
March 10, 2025 - An afternoon walk at Lake Morton yielded the wintering duck regulars, nesting swans, and preening pelicans
Sunset Pastels at the Circle B Bar Reserve
February 8, 2025 - An afternoon walk at the Circle B Bar Reserve yielded greedy white birds, snake-stealing drama, and pastel sunset skies
Thanksgiving Walk at Oakland Nature Preserve
November 30, 2024 - A Thanksgiving afternoon walk at the newly-reopened Oakland Nature Preserve boardwalk. Lots of trees down, just a few birds, and a turtle!
Return to CBBR
April 20, 2024 - Our first visit to Circle B Bar Reserve in several years. Woodpeckers, eagles, and osprey were all getting ready for springtime breeding season
More Birds at Orlando Wetlands
February 25, 2024 - Birds at Orlando Wetlands were already thinking about spring - Roseate Spoonbills in breeding colors and Sandhill Crane nest
Sunrise Glow at Orlando Wetlands
February 10, 2024 - Sunrise met fog and created a magical glow in the Orlando Wetlands. Then Roseate Spoonbills flew through the glow! Amazing photographic opportunities! :)
Bronzed Cowbird at Newton Park
January 31, 2024 - Cold lake winds limited photography in early January, but I did locate the Bronzed Cowbird visitor to Lake Apopka. Plus Purple Gallinule and Bald Eagle
Common Gallinules Fighting
January 27, 2024 - Fun for my camera with a pair of Common Gallinules fighting in a commotion of flapping wings, splashing waterdrops, and a fury of feet!
A New Year at Orlando Wetlands
January 22, 2024 - A cold January morning at Orlando Wetlands yielded a Belted Kingfisher, several Marsh Wrens, cooperative Black-bellied Whistling-ducks, and lots of other birds
Golden Hour at Orlando Wetlands
January 15, 2024 - A magical sunrise through the fog illuminated a pair of courting Great Egrets at Orlando Wetlands in early January.
Afternoon Walk at Oakland Nature Preserve
January 5, 2024 - Our afternoon walk at Oakland Nature Preserve yielded few birds on a cold breezy day - Warblers and Common Gallinule who laughed at me!
Lifer Eared Grebe
December 29, 2023 - My lifer Eared Grebes were diving in a pond on a dreary rainy day. They were joined by Hooded and Common Mergansers and a Ruddy Duck
Baby American Oystercatchers
July 9, 2023 - Beautiful May morning spent lying in the sand photographing baby American Oystercatchers
Five-Plover Morning at Fort De Soto
June 6, 2023 - Fort De Soto is one of the few places where you see see all five types of plover in one morning. Beautiful birds in spiffy breeding plumage!
More Fun with the Reddish Egrets at Fort De Soto
May 24, 2023 - Fun morning photographing the Reddish Egrets dancing in the surf at Fort De Soto's North Beach. Fish was on the menu that morning!
More Baby Birds at Lake Morton
May 21, 2023 - A springtime photography walk at Lake Morton yielded cute baby birds, waylaid migrants, and nesting swans. Plus beautiful Wood Ducks!
Searching for Migrants at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
May 7, 2023 - In mid-April I drove the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in search of migrants. I missed the chat but picked up Prairie and Yellow Warblers
Hungry Migrant Birds Pigging out on Figs
May 5, 2023 - Hungry migrant birds are happy to find a fruiting fig tree after their long migratory flight across the gulf to Fort De Soto
Migrant Hunting at Fort De Soto’s Mulberry Trees
May 4, 2023 - A stop at Fort De Soto's mulberry trees in mid-April yields few migrants and several local birds at the fountain
More Fun from Fort De Soto’s North Beach
May 2, 2023 - Fort De Soto's North Beach is one my favorite places to photograph! Nesting birds, bathing birds, fishing birds, breeding birds, you name it!
Royal Tern Courtship
May 1, 2023 - Royal tern courtship is one reason I love to photograph at Fort De Soto in mid-April. Lots of fish, nagging females, and "piggy-back" rides!
Piping Plovers Ready to Head North
April 30, 2023 - Piping plovers in breeding plumage forage and squabble along the ocean shore at Fort De Soto's North Beach
Dancing Reddish Egrets at the Fort De Soto Wading Ponds
April 29, 2023 - The only thing better than a Reddish Egret dancing along Fort De Soto's North Beach is...TWO birds doing a synchronized drunken sailor dance
Swans in Love
April 27, 2023 - A pair of Mute Swans feels springtime love in the air as they perform a graceful courtship synchronized dance
Ducks and Ducklings
April 25, 2023 - Lake Morton is a busy place in the spring, with nesting ducks and tiny ducklings showing up everywhere! Wood Ducks are everywhere this year!
Baby Birds Coming To Lake Morton
April 23, 2023 - Springtime is great for baby birds at Lake Morton. From breeding ducks to little ducklings, there's always something fun to photograph!
Springtime Fun at Lake Morton
April 19, 2023 - Springtime bird photography is always fun at Lake Morton, with nesting swans, baby ducks, and singing warblers
Quiet Afternoon at Orlando Wetlands
April 15, 2023 - Rookery activity at Orlando Wetlands was waning in late March. A Great Blue Heron fought with his dinner as the Wood Storks flew in sticks
Four American White Pelicans Left in Lakeland
April 13, 2023 - A last morning of American White Pelican photography, when four cooperative birds preened for the Beast and gave me great head shots!
An Unexpected Surprise – Wood Ducks
April 12, 2023 - Wood Ducks were active in Lakeland in mid-March. I saw a pair mate, then a small flock splashed around in the gorgeous morning light
From the South Shore of Lake Apopka
April 10, 2023 - A quiet morning of bird photography on the south shores of Lake Apopka. Bonaparte's Gull, Forster's Tern, Wood Duck, and Osprey with Fish!
Rich Found a Turtle at Orlando Wetlands
April 8, 2023 - Another fun afternoon of photography at Orlando Wetlands, where we found a turtle in addition to beautiful birds in flight
More Fun from Orlando Wetlands
April 6, 2023 - Another fun afternoon of springtime bird photography at Orlando Wetlands. Vultures and herons and cranes and spoonies!
Honey, I’m Home! Roseate Spoonbill Nest
April 5, 2023 - Evening life at the Roseate Spoonbill nest. Dad brings in sticks while Mom feeds the kids. Lots of head-bobbing!
And the Winner of the Biggest Stick Competition Is…
April 4, 2023 - Roseate Spoonbills were busy bringing in nesting material in mid-March. Read to find out who won the Biggest Stick Competition!
A Fish Tale from Lake Morton
April 2, 2023 - Two gulls fight over a fish on the shores of Lake Morton. It's easier to steal than to catch your own!
Return to the Golden Light: American White Pelican Head Shots
April 1, 2023 - The golden light in Lakeland is perfect for American White Pelican head shots! Breeding plumage + fun lake reflections = happy photographer
How Many Beaks Can You Count? Roseate Spoonbill Nest
March 30, 2023 - An afternoon visit to Orlando Wetlands Park primarily concentrated on a Roseate Spoonbill nest, where four small bills nagged Mom for a meal
Fun Sandhill Crane Colt Action Sequence
March 28, 2023 - A fun Sandhill Crane colt action sequence where the older baby dances and body-slams his younger brother. The bully ended up on his belly!
Sandhill Crane Colts!
March 27, 2023 - A special morning photographing Sandhill Crane colts at Orlando Wetlands. The tiny babies ate bugs under the watchful eyes of their parents