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!
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!)
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
Breeding Birds at Lake Apopka
March 25, 2023 - On my afternoon bike ride I checked on the Great Blue Heron nest (no babies) and found Anhingas building their nest
Spring Vacation 2023
March 20, 2023 - Spring break 2023 was a great week for bird photography in Central FL! Sandhill Crane colts, nesting Roseate Spoonbills, & Great Egret chicks
Sunset at Orlando Wetlands
March 18, 2023 - Bird photography fun at the rookery followed by a gorgeous sunset - it's just another afternoon at Orlando Wetlands Park!
Roseate Spoonbills Play Musical Trees at Orlando Wetlands
March 17, 2023 - Roseate Spoonbills play musical trees in their nesting habitat in beautiful afternoon light. A photographer's dream!
Adventures with an Eagle
March 16, 2023 - A Bald Eagle hunts for breakfast at Orlando Wetlands, finally grabbing a siren from the water and flying off with it
More Boardwalk Fun at Orlando Wetlands
March 14, 2023 - The new boardwalk at Orlando Wetlands is great for bird photography! Spoonbills, Limpkins, Kingfishers, and Coots that walk on water!
Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands
March 13, 2023 - Sunrises at Orlando Wetlands can yield dramatic orange skies, accentuated by nesting birds flying in with sticks!
Afternoon Bike Ride at Lake Apopka
March 6, 2023 - Afternoon bike ride and photography at Lake Apopka yielded Northern Flicker, Gray-headed Swamphens, and a gorgeous Northern Shoveler
More from Lake Morton
March 1, 2023 - Springtime walk at Lake Morton yields great light and great birds! Redhead, Wood Ducks, and American White Pelicans
Golden Hour with the American White Pelicans
February 26, 2023 - Sometimes the lighting conditions, weather, and subjects come together in a magical way, like when the sun's glow illuminated these American White Pelicans
Pretty in Pink – Roseate Spoonbills at Orlando Wetlands
February 23, 2023 - Roseate Spoonbills are nesting at Orlando Wetlands and the photographic opportunities are amazing
New Boardwalk at Orlando Wetlands
February 20, 2023 - The new Orlando Wetlands boardwalk gives photographers access to the cypress swamps, yielding dramatic sunrise landscapes and fun flight shots!
Afternoon Walk at Lake Apopka
January 13, 2023 - An afternoon walk at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded warblers, Blue-winged Teal, and a ton of White Ibis!
American Avocets on North Beach!
May 22, 2022 - A small flock of 10 American Avocets surprised me at Fort De Soto in early May. Flight shots in breeding plumage = happy photographer!
Spring 2022 Shorebirds on Outback Key
May 8, 2022 - Spring morning photographing shorebirds on Outback Key - Piping Plover, Snowy Plover, Reddish Egret, and surprise American Avocets
Winter Birds at Oakland Nature Preserve
December 4, 2021 - A late November walk at Oakland Nature Preserve yielded Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and several species of woodpeckers
Stalking a Kitty at Circle B
November 30, 2021 - Recent bobcat sightings drew me to the Circle B Bar Reserve, where a Pileated Woodpecker and a Common Yellowthroat entertained my camera
Brave Spoonbill Guards the Entrance to LAWD
November 27, 2021 - A Roseate Spoonbill greeted me on my walk at Lake Apopka, where I also saw a Gray-headed Swamphen and soaring Northern Harriers
Eagles and a Walk around Circle B Bar Reserve
November 21, 2021 - A November walk around Circle B Bar Reserve yielded my first-of-fall Robin, Bald Eagles, a Black-crowned Night Heron, and Purple Gallinules
Ducks Unlimited! at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
November 17, 2021 - The skies were full of winter ducks in this mid-November visit to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Plus a Redhead and a Roseate Spoonbill!
Sparrows are Back at Lake Apopka
November 15, 2021 - The sparrows are back at Lake Apopka. I dipped on the Lincoln's but found plenty of Savannahs and Swamps. Plus a juvie Gray-headed Swamphen!
Magnificent Birds in Flight over Lake Apopka
October 27, 2021 - A juvenile Bald Eagle defends his nest from a Peregrine Falcon, a Northern Flicker shows off his yellow undersides, and Osprey dives for fish
More Winter Arrivals at Lake Apopka
October 21, 2021 - Winter birds continue arriving at the Lake Apopka Wildife Drive, including Blue-winged Teal and a very cooperative Peregrine Falcon