My bike rides at Lake Apopka have been great for birds in flight. I’m not sure if it’s the flexibility of the bike, or the amazing auto-focus of the R5 camera, but I feel like I’ve re-discovered all the local birds! Come meet them with me…

You often hear the Black-bellied Whistling-duck before you see them. They have the happiest little whistling call. When they fly on a perfect sun angle, you see the glistening detail in their wing feathers. So pretty!

The Glossy Ibis is another bird who glistens when you photograph him on a good sun angle. This bird still has the hint of his breeding blue colors on his face.

Fulvous Whistling-ducks are uncommon in Florida, but easy to find at Lake Apopka. It’s strange to think that I used to long to see this bird as a lifer! It’s all about knowing where to look to find some of our feathered friends.

I’ve been seeing more and more Black-crowned Night Herons at Lake Apopka. They are most active in the early morning, when you can sometimes catch them flying over Lust Road.

Great Blue Herons are very easy to find all over the wildlife drive. This one flew overhead in the soft morning light.

Their little cousins are the Little Blue Herons. Below is an adult Little Blue in flight. If you see a strange white bird with blue patches, that’s a juvie Little Blue. They like to make identification challenging for beginning birders!

Last but not least is this Tricolored Heron. He was calling in flight, and if you look closely, you can see that he stuck his tongue out at the photographer. :)