Summer Families at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
July 3, 2021 - A pair of Black-necked Stilts defended their two tiny chicks from a giant alligator at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
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!)
Black-necked Stilts Defending Babies
July 1, 2021 - A pair of Black-necked Stilts defended their two tiny chicks from a giant alligator at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
Black Tern and Baby Black-necked Stilts at LAWD
June 29, 2021 - Highlights from a mid-May visit to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive included Black-necked Stilt babies and a Black Tern. Plus more baby birds!
Red-winged Blackbird Nest
June 27, 2021 - I found a Red-winged Blackbird nest on the south shore of Lake Apopka. Mom fed the babies bugs, and two of the three babies left the nest!
Purple Gallinule Families
June 23, 2021 - Purple Gallinule families at Newton Park - beautiful purple adult birds, iridescent juveniles, and tiny black babies with bright orange beaks
Migrants at Fort De Soto
June 21, 2021 - Springtime migrant photography at Fort De Soto yielded Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, and Northern Parula in full breeding plumage
Snowy Plover Family Update
June 17, 2021 - I got to see my whole Snowy Plover family again before the chicks fledged. Plus a new Snowy Plover nest on Outback Key!
Red, White(ish), and Blue Birds at ONP for Memorial Day
June 15, 2021 - Images of red, white(ish), and blue birds from Memorial Day weekend at Oakland Nature Preserve. Cardinals, gnatcatchers, and bluebirds!
Wading Pools at Fort De Soto’s North Beach
June 13, 2021 - Springtime birds feeding in the wading pools at Fort De Soto's North Beach - Marbled Godwit, Reddish Egret, Common Merganser, and more!
Skimming the Surface
June 10, 2021 - Images of Black Skimmers skimming for breakfast at Fort De Soto's North Beach. I'm glad I don't catch my breakfast with my mouth!
Aliens Invade at Lake Morton
June 7, 2021 - Alien-like baby Common Gallinules invaded Lake Morton in late April, along with courting swans and a lone Lesser Scaup still at the lake
Cuteness Alert! Baby Wood Ducks at Lake Morton
June 4, 2021 - Three families of Wood Ducks with tiny ducklings at Lake Morton. Mama kept the babies close and Papa joined them for a swimming lesson
Barn Swallows in Flight at North Beach
June 1, 2021 - Photographing Barn Swallows in flight is always a real challenge, and I got some great opportunities at Fort De Soto in mid-April
Osprey with Fish!
June 1, 2021 - A summer morning at Newton Park yielded plenty of Osprey with fish! Fun flight shot opportunities with these beautiful birds
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
May 28, 2021 - Least Tern courtship doesn't go to plan. The male Least Tern presented a nice fish and the female stole it from him!
Magical Morning at Fort De Soto
May 25, 2021 - Springtime bird photography never disappoints at Fort De Soto! Piping Plovers, Big Red, mating terns, and tiny shorebirds in breeding colors
A Five-Plover Morning at Fort De Soto
May 19, 2021 - A springtime morning at Fort De Soto yielded Piping Plover, Snowy Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Wilson's Plover, and Black-bellied Plover
Here’s Looking at You! Pied-billed Grebe
May 16, 2021 - A bathing Pied-billed Grebe gave me plenty of funny expressions in mid-April at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
A Bittern-ly Foggy Morning at Lake Apopka
May 13, 2021 - A foggy morning yielded Least Bitterns in mid-April at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive! plus Anhingas and Red-winged Blackbirds in breeding plumage
Seeking Migrants at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
May 10, 2021 - A mid-April attempt to photograph migrant birds at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded common warblers and my first-of-season Orchard Oriole
Barn Owlets
May 4, 2021 - My lifer Barn Owlets at their undisclosed nesting site. Fuzzy baby feathers and heart-shaped faces made these my cutest lifers to date!
Spoonbill Heaven at Stick Marsh!
May 1, 2021 - A morning in Spoonbill Heaven yielded amazing flight shots of incoming Roseate Spoonbills as they collected sticks to build their nests
Easter Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands
April 28, 2021 - Easter Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands Park yielded God rays and beautiful birds in flight - Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, and Bald Eagle
Biking Landscapes around Lake Apopka
April 22, 2021 - Beautiful biking landscape images and bird photography on a gorgeous spring morning at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
Wood Ducks in Flight at Lake Morton
April 19, 2021 - Wood Ducks in flight gave me my best images from my springtime photography walk at Lake Morton. Drakes calling and a mating pair in flight!
The Sun Came Out at Lake Morton! Lifer Louisiana Waterthrush
April 16, 2021 - Springtime bird photography at Lake Morton - my lifer Louisiana Waterthrush, colorful flying Mallards, & an American Coot with super-powers!
American White Pelican Head Shots at Lake Morton
April 13, 2021 - A foggy morning turned out to be perfect for American White Pelican head shots as these beautiful birds preened at the edge of Lake Morton
A Foggy Walk around Lake Morton
April 10, 2021 - A foggy morning turned out to be good for photography with Mute Swans, Wood Ducks, Lesser Scaup, and a nesting Great Blue Heron pair
My First Bike Ride at LAWD
April 2, 2021 - Biking and birding and photography at Lake Apopka with beautiful breeding birds in flight! Black-necked Stilts and Anhingas
Lake Apopka without my Beast!
March 28, 2021 - A walk by Lake Apopka with my intermediate telephoto yielded nesting birds in flight and the courtship rituals of a Mottled Ducks
Birds in Flight on the South Shores of Lake Apopka
March 25, 2021 - Birds in flight around the shores of Lake Apopka...Snail Kite, Ring-billed Gull, Boat-tailed Grackles, and two Bronzed Cowbirds
Springtime Walk down Lust Road
March 22, 2021 - A springtime photography walk at Lust Road yielded Orange-crowned Warbler, mating coots, and Anhinga and woodpecker nests
Gathering Sticks: Nesting Green Heron
March 19, 2021 - Springtime kicks off with Green Heron nest-building. A Green Heron at Lake Apopka searched for sticks to build his nest
Fun Spring Morning at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
March 16, 2021 - Early springtime visit to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded a mix of wintering birds and resident nesters. Black-necked Stilts are back!
Stalking the Chat at Oakland Nature Preserve
March 12, 2021 - A morning at Oakland Nature Preserve didn't yield the chat, but I saw Gray Catbirds and White-eyed Vireos stealing sumac berries
Birds on Fenceposts at Joe Overstreet Road
March 10, 2021 - Birds on fenceposts are easy to find at Joe Overstreet Road, where Eastern Meadowlarks, American Robins, and a Fox Squirrel charmed my camera
Tree Swallows Swarm at Lake Kissimmee
March 7, 2021 - A giant flock of Tree Swallows swarming around the shore of Lake Kissimmee made for a photography adventure. Which lens to grab first?
Sparrows and Little Birds at Oakland Nature Preserve
February 19, 2021 - A walk around the Red Trail yielded Grasshopper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, American Goldfinch, and Painted Bunting
Wading Birds at Lust Road
February 16, 2021 - A walk down Lust Road yielded lots of wading birds: Coots, Common Gallinules, a hungry cormorant, and a beautiful Gray-headed Swamphen
Quick Glimpses of Birds and More at Lust Road
February 13, 2021 - Birding at Lust Road: Quick glimpses of Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, and an otter swimming down the canal!
More Fun Birds from Chinsegut Conservation Center
February 10, 2021 - Feeder photography fun from Chinsegut Conservation Center: Pine Warblers, Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and Red-Headed Woodpeckers
Lifer Purple Finch at Chinsegut Conservation Center
February 5, 2021 - I saw my lifer Purple Finch at Chinsegut. Not one, but three Purple Finches visited the feeders and hung out with their House Finch cousins
Lifer Least Flycatcher at Lust Road!
January 31, 2021 - I photographed my lifer Least Flycatcher at Lust Road, and I saw the Ash-throated Flycatcher too, along with waxwings and sparrows
Lust Road Birding: Lots of Little Birds!
January 28, 2021 - Birding at Lust Road yielded lots of little birds, including Cedar Waxwings, Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, and Painted Bunting
Western Kingbirds Offer Me Flight Shots
January 24, 2021 - Three Western Kingbirds entertained me and gave me flight shot opportunities as they darted out from the power lines to hawk insects below
He Does Exist! Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
January 21, 2021 - I finally found the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and he gave me some great flight shot opportunities. Such a tail!
First 2021 Visit to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
January 18, 2021 - I started off 2021 bird photography at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive with Fulvous Whistling-ducks, a Painted Bunting, and a Merlin in flight
Lifer Pictures aren’t Always Great….like this Ruff!
January 14, 2021 - My lifer photo of a Ruff, photographed in awful conditions, was enhanced by Topaz Sharpen AI software
The Road Less Traveled
January 7, 2021 - A drive through country backroads led me to a beautiful pair of Bald Eagles who posed briefly for my camera
A Kestrel and a Gopher Tortoise
December 19, 2020 - A morning visit to Oakland Nature Preserve yielded an elusive American Kestrel, first-of-season American Goldfinches, and a gopher tortoise!