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!
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!)
Silly Birds on the Shore of Lake Apopka
December 6, 2020 - Beautiful birds on a cloudy November day on the south shore of Lake Apopka - Bald Eagles, Ospreys being chased, and a Bronzed Cowbird
Late August Trip to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
November 22, 2020 - A late August visit to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded my first baby Gray-headed Swamphen and my first-of-fall migrating warblers
Flight Shots around Lake Apopka
September 6, 2020 - A late August morning yielded flight shot bird photography opportunities on the south shores of Lake Apopka
Purple Pole Vaulters!
September 2, 2020 - I spent a happy morning on the south shore of Lake Apopka watching the Purple Gallinules pretend to pole vault off the alligator flags
Lake Apopka Sunset from March
August 9, 2020 - A beautiful sunset over Lake Apopka. Photos taken in early March and processed with HDR
Saharan Dust Cloud over Lake Apopka
August 4, 2020 - Sunset photography during the Saharan Dust Cloud in late June. The air was hazy as the sun's rays shone a dull orange over Lake Apopka
Nesting Green Sea Turtle before Isaias
July 31, 2020 - A morning walk on the beach with a nesting Green Sea Turtle as Hurricane Isaias lurks on the horizon
Chatting with Buffleheads at Sweetwater Wetlands
February 27, 2020 - My first photography expedition to Sweetwater Wetlands Park, where I found the Yellow-breasted Chat and saw Buffleheads up close
Close Encounter with the Whooping Cranes
February 18, 2020 - Special bird photography moment up close and personal with two Whooping Cranes
Uncommon Cinnamon Teal at Merritt Island
February 12, 2020 - I photographed my lifer Cinnamon Teal at Merritt Island. He gave me three wing-flaps as his feathers glistened in the afternoon sun
Rare Mountain Bluebird in Florida!
February 9, 2020 - A rare Mountain Bluebird visited FL in January 2020, posing for my camera as a nearby Eastern Bluebird wondered what the fuss was all about
A Walk Down Lust Road
February 6, 2020 - Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive bird photography - a walk down Lust Road yielded more birds than I usually see from the car
A LAWD Celebrity: The Ash-throated Flycatcher
February 3, 2020 - Photographing the LAWD Ash-throated Flycatcher requires patience and quick focusing as the bird darts in mid-air, hawking insects for lunch
Chasing Rarities: Common Goldeneye and Surprise Buffleheads
January 31, 2020 - Chasing a rare Common Goldeneye in Apopka yielded a great sunset, the target Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, and surprise Buffleheads
“Field” Trip to Oakland Nature Preserve
January 28, 2020 - A "field trip" to photograph Field Sparrows wintering at Oakland Nature Preserve. Plus Red-shouldered Hawk and Painted Buntings
2020 Beginnings at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
January 25, 2020 - The first sunrise of 2020 and bird photography at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Peregrine Falcon flight shots and wintering ducks
Bluebird Housing Shortage
January 15, 2020 - Four Eastern Bluebirds and one bluebird house - that's a housing shortage at the start of nesting season!
Colorful Feathers at Oakland Nature Preserve
January 12, 2020 - Colorful feathers on a winter morning - Baltimore Orioles, Pine Warbler, Eastern Bluebirds, and small birds in American Beautyberry
Sparrows at Oakland Nature Preserve
January 9, 2020 - I found the Field Sparrows at Oakland Nature Preserve, where a foggy morning also turned up Grasshopper Sparrows and other little birds
Last Sunset of 2019
January 4, 2020 - HDR images of the last sunset of 2019, captured over Lake Apopka in Central Florida
Rare Hooded Oriole in Florida!
December 29, 2019 - I photographed my lifer Hooded Oriole in Florida at Weekiwachee Preserve after the bird was located during a Christmas Bird Count
Peregrines and Flycatchers at LAWD
December 20, 2019 - Bird photography at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded a Peregrine Falcon, Indigo Bunting, and Vermilion Flycatcher
Birds and Berries at ONP
December 17, 2019 - A morning of bird photography at ONP yielded a rainbow of red, blue, yellow, and gray birds on the American Beautyberry bushes
Sunset at Newton Park
December 13, 2019 - Our first sunset at Newton Park was beautiful. My camera caught the last rays of the sun as it disappeared behind the trees
Afternoon Walk at Oakland Nature Preserve
December 10, 2019 - Rich joined me for a walk at Oakland Nature Preserve, where we found sapsuckers and sparrows and warblers and gnatcatchers
Yellow Friday
December 7, 2019 - The day after Thanksgiving was Yellow Friday at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. The landscape is covered in burr marigolds and yellow birds
Black Birds on a Gray Morning
December 3, 2019 - A gray cloudy morning yielded many Boat-tailed Grackles and my lifer Bronzed Cowbird
Colorful Birds on the South Shore of Lake Apopka
November 30, 2019 - Birds photographed on my first trip to Newton Park included Purple Gallinules, Snail Kites, Redheads, and 11 Canvasbacks!
Lake Jesup Sunflowers 2019
October 13, 2019 - A photography walk through the fields of yellow sunflowers along the shores of Lake Jesup. Plus a Sandhill Crane flock fly-over!
I Smell Fall – At Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
September 29, 2019 - A sunny fall morning yielded several species of warblers, Belted Kingfishers, and migrant Bobolinks at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
Last Turtle Walk of 2019
September 20, 2019 - Our last turtle walk of 2019 yielded lots of hatchling tracks, including those of a Loggerhead hatchling who made his way home to the sea
Tagged Green Sea Turtle
September 4, 2019 - Morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge yields a tagged nesting Green Sea turtle
Nesting Green Sea Turtle at Sunrise
August 23, 2019 - Early morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge yielded a nesting Green Sea Turtle. Her sunrise crawl to the ocean was spectacular
Summer Birds at Lake Apopka
August 19, 2019 - Summer birds and photography at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive - I found baby Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, a Bank Swallow, and other summer regulars
2000 Posts on catandturtle.net!
August 15, 2019 - Wow. This is my 2000th post on catandturtle.net! I started blogging regularly in 2008(ish) to document my cats, our Garden Craze, and the birds in my backyard. Little did I know how much I would come to love nature photography. To celebrate my 2000th post, I picked 12 of my favorite posts from over the […]
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting Mother and Hatchlings
August 11, 2019 - Morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, where we found and photographed a nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtle and several hatchlings
Beach Sunrise with the Green Sea Turtles
August 8, 2019 - Morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge photographing turtle tracks against the sunrise. Plus a nesting Green Sea Turtle!
Loggerhead Turtle Hatchling Emergence!
August 5, 2019 - Photos and video of dozens of Loggerhead Turtle hatchlings during their emergence from their nest in the sand. They all made it to the water!
Independence Day Turtle Walk
August 2, 2019 - Early morning Independence Day beach walk yielded Loggerhead hatchlings and a nesting Green Sea turtle mother. Plus a great sunrise!
Least Bitterns and Growing Babies at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
July 30, 2019 - Bird photography at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, where Least Bitterns are easy to find and baby Purple Gallinules showed off their big feet
Black Skimmer Chick Learns to Swallow a Fish
July 27, 2019 - Amusing images of a cute Black Skimmer chick swallowing a fish. It took dancing and several collapses on the sand before the fish went down
Lightning Never Strikes Twice at the Same Turtle Nesting Spot!
July 24, 2019 - A morning walk at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge during turtle nesting season - we found a Green Sea turtle returning to the ocean
Black Skimmer Babies!
July 21, 2019 - Special evening photographing Black Skimmer babies at a nesting colony. Cute blond fuzzballs begging for food and running around the beach!
Summer Morning Walk on the Beach
July 18, 2019 - Summer beach birds and photography...incoming Brown Pelicans, calling American Oystercatchers, and a gull flaunting his prize crab shell!
Some Summer Surprises at Lake Apopka
July 15, 2019 - Summer surprises at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: Bank Swallow, Eastern Kingbird, and a Boat-tailed Grackle who thinks he's a Limpkin!
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Least Tern Family
July 12, 2019 - Beautiful Least Tern family with tiny chicks and one remaining egg. The smallest chick was still wet from the egg. Dad was on feeding duty!
Turtle Tracks but No Turtles
July 9, 2019 - We photographed lots of sea turtle tracks but no actual turtles during our walks at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Eureka Again: Another Evening at the Least Tern Colony
July 6, 2019 - Evening of photography at a Least Tern colony, where tiny chicks were fed, older chicks learned to fly, and parents warded off ghost crabs
Least Terns Nesting at Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area
July 3, 2019 - Images of Least Terns nesting at Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area. So many cute chicks trying to swallow fish as big as they were!