Last weekend I visited the Lust Road entrance of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. I had intended to do the drive, but I ended up spending the morning just walking around photographing the little birds at the gate. The Ash-throated Flycatcher is back this year, and he posed nice and close…

All morning I heard the happy calls of American Goldfinches. There was a small flock of them gathered in the grass. They haven’t turned their pretty bright yellow yet, so they blend in easily to the vegetation.

As I was stalking goldfinches, I spotted this photogenic little Palm Warbler. He seemed to know that he was beautiful in the golden morning light.

The Lust Road gate is a great place to look for sparrows. My first bird of the morning was a Swamp Sparrow…

I spotted a Grasshopper Sparrow, but he stayed deep in the bushes. Unlike this Savannah Sparrow…

I heard the Painted Buntings before I saw them. I then spotted a couple of greenies and a male. The male didn’t want to pose for the camera but the greenie’s feathers sure did glisten in the morning light. :)

The wind started to pick up and I began packing up my camera. A cute little Blue-gray Gnatcatcher popped out to say goodbye . I’ll never get tired of photographing these tiny clowns. This guys is starting to show the dark line on his face that’s part of his breeding plumage. That’s a sign that spring is on its way!!