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Sunrise Glow at Orlando Wetlands

Posted Saturday, February 10, 2024Friday, February 9, 2024 Jess Yarnell3 CommentsPosted in Orlando Wetlands

Want to know how quickly light changes at sunrise?

This image was made at 7:17am, a couple of minutes before sunrise. The sky was orange with the light that was about to explode in the wetlands. A gentle fog rose from the waters of the lake.

This image was taken at 7:22. The sun had made its appearance over the edge of the horizon. Although you can’t see it in the image, its bright light is reflected in the still waters. Look at the orange light it cast on the fog! It was gorgeous.

This was at 7:23. The giant orb was fully visible above the distant trees. This kind of light only lasts for a couple of minutes, and it’s pure magic. These images are all bracketed (5 exposures) and processed with HDR. But the colors are exactly what I saw that morning.

When it’s too bright to continue photographing the sunrise, it’s time to switch gears to the birds! The Roseate spoonbills were very active that morning. I made my way along the boardwalk, and I found a small group of spoonies hanging out at the edge of the water. Incoming!

The birds are always lively first thing in the morning. I saw them flying between trees in the foggy mist, and I hung out for a while, hoping I’d get some opportunities for flight shots with the fiery mist. I wasn’t disappointed. :)

This bird is looking his finest in breeding plumage! Last year we had some magical moments with the spoonbills along the boardwalk. The nests closest to the boardwalk were also heavily predated. The birds seem to be giving the wetlands another try for their breeding grounds, so I look forward to seeing what Spring 2024 brings us!

Cloudy Afternoon in the Backyard

Posted Monday, February 5, 2024Sunday, February 4, 2024 Jess Yarnell2 CommentsPosted in Birds

January was full of cold, rainy days. Sometimes when it’s not feasible to venture out in the mornings, I make up for it by taking the Beast to the backyard in the afternoon. The yard is full of interesting visitors at this time of year!

A Northern Mockingbird saw me setting up my tripod. He moved to the top of my tallest bush to supervise the crazy photographer. At least he didn’t chase me off like does with the birds who eat “his” berries!

My little Orange-crowned Warbler is back this winter. I find him most often on my salvias and porterweeds, where I think he drinks the nectar from the flowers. But on this particular afternoon, he was hanging out in the hummingbird bush.

So was this male Painted Bunting. We have more males than usual this winter, which makes for colorful flurries of feathers around the bird feeder. I’ve looked out to see 6 males at the feeder at a time!

This little Palm Warbler was hunting for bugs on the grass. He seemed to like that I had just mowed the lawn. One of these days I’m going to get him in mid-leap as he pulls his snack from mid-air.

We still have hummingbirds! I see this male most often, but I am seeing a female pretty consistently too. I wonder if this could be “Zippy” all grown up from last year. It’s certainly fun to think that he came back!

A perched hummer is fun, but a hummer photographed in flight is even better…look at that red gorget! A great end to my backyard photo session!

Bronzed Cowbird at Newton Park

Posted Wednesday, January 31, 2024Sunday, January 28, 2024 Jess Yarnell1 CommentPosted in Lake Apopka

It was a chilly morning in early January. I’d read that one of the Bronzed Cowbirds was back at Newton Park. I located the bird in a flock of grackles that was hanging on the dock. It was a fun game of “which one is not like the others?” His bright red eye and unique shape distinguished him from all the other black birds. They spooked a few times as people passed, but each time, I re-spotted this rare-to-Florida bird. I have to assume he’s one of the same birds who has wintered at Lake Apopka in years past (I first photographed them in 2019). I wonder what happened to his friend.

It was so cold that morning!! The temperature itself wasn’t bad, but the lake breezes kicked up, and I think my teeth even chattered. With the cowbird giving me only the “pose on dock” image, I started walking around to try to warm up. A pair of juvenile Purple Gallinules started to laugh at me from the reeds. “It’s even colder down here in the shade!” They are quickly getting their adult colors in preparation for this year’s breeding season.

Just when I decided that I couldn’t take the cold wind any longer, a Bald Eagle flew by. He was out fishing for his breakfast on the lake. His strong wings pumped in the cold wind as he called down a reminder: “Most of my eagle friends live in much colder places than Florida! It will warm up soon!”

I hope he’s right! :)