In Search of Burrowing Owls
May 20, 2017 - Backroads birding in search of my Burrowing Owl family (that I didn't find).
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!)
April Showers Bring…May Migrants!
May 7, 2017 - A cold front blew in migrant birds to Fort De Soto yesterday - lots of Bay-breasted Warblers, Indigo Buntings, tanagers, grosbeaks, and more!
Nanday Parakeets and Yellow Flowers
April 26, 2017 - Why would two photographers hop out on the side of the road? To photograph Nanday Parakeets in yellow flowers, of course!
Migrant-Hunting at Fort De Soto with my Dad
April 18, 2017 - A search for Fort De Soto migrants yielded Summer Tanager, Hermit Thrush, Orchard Oriole, and my one of my favorite birds: Roseate Spoonbill!
Fort de Soto Photography in Early April
April 5, 2017 - April is a great time to visit Fort De Soto for shorebird photography and the possibility of migrants
Chasing a Wilson’s Snake at Viera Wetlands
March 30, 2017 - Lots of birds at Viera Wetlands, including Wilson's Snipes, American Bitterns, an Osprey with Fish, courting egrets. Plus an elusive mystery snake!
Precious Moments with Sandhill Crane Colts
March 26, 2017 - Two tiny Sandhill Crane colts were just precious as they peeked out from under Mom's wing
Snakes Make Bad Necklaces for Birds!
March 24, 2017 - I came across this snake wrapped around a Pied-billed Grebe's neck. Snakes make bad necklaces for birds!
Another Great Magnolia Park Sunset
March 16, 2017 - The sky was on fire at Magnolia Park as the setting sun bathed the clouds in color
Little Birds and Blooms at Oakland Nature Preserve
March 14, 2017 - A quick stop at Oakland Nature Preserve turned up a pretty tree in bloom, full of little birds!
A Quick Stop at Lake Parker Park
March 10, 2017 - Quick springtime walk at Lake Parker Park, with an Anhinga in breeding plumage and several beautiful Purple Gallinules
Swallow Murmuration
March 5, 2017 - Photographs of a swallow murmuration, an amazing vortex of 5 million birds that swirls across the sky as the birds prepare to roost
Springtime Stroll at Circle B Bar Reserve
March 2, 2017 - A foggy spring morning at Circle B Bar Reserve yielded nesting Great Blue Herons, a wading bird feeding frenzy, and a flock of mixed passerines
A Walk Around the Marshall Hampton Reserve
February 28, 2017 - Exploring the Marshall Hampton Reserve: hiking and coots and a singing Vireo
Sunset at Magnolia Park
February 26, 2017 - Last Friday after work, I looked at the sunset forecast and saw that Florida was all red – the best sunset forecast this year! So I asked Rich if we could take a picnic dinner up to Magnolia Park. I’ve seen sunset photographs over Lake Apopka many times, and Magnolia Park is only 15 minutes from […]
Little Birds at Oakland Nature Preserve
February 22, 2017 - A search for the Golden-crowned Kinglet at Oakland Nature Preserve yielded a quick glimpse of the target bird and lots of other little birds!
Why Do the Best Birds Like Ugly Fences? at Lust Road
February 20, 2017 - A cloudy morning on Lust Road yielded most of the specialty birds, most of whom posed on fences! Silly birds...
A Scouting Trip to PEAR Park
February 18, 2017 - I stopped at PEAR Park last weekend for a birding scouting trip. Sparrows and kestrels and a fog bow, oh my!
Will Fly For Food: Snail Kites in Apple Snail Paradise!
February 15, 2017 - My dad and I discovered Apple Snail Paradise and photographed Snail Kites
I Found My Nemesis Bird: Merlin!
February 10, 2017 - A nice morning at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded my lifer Merlin and a Vesper Sparrow
Hooded Mergansers in Melbourne
January 29, 2017 - My dad and I came across a small pond full of happy Hooded Mergansers while we were out scouting for a Common Goldeneye.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher For My Dad’s Life List
January 24, 2017 - My dad and I added Scissor-tailed Flycatcher to his life list. This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is wintering at the Space Coast Regional Airport.
Lifer Grasshopper Sparrow at Lust Road
January 22, 2017 - Lust Road turned out to be great for uncommon birds, including Grasshopper Sparrow, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Blue Grosbeak
Incredible Photography Morning at Viera Wetlands
January 20, 2017 - My best morning of photography in a long time - at Viera Wetlands! Caracara, spoonies, hoodies, pelicans, oh my!
Foggy Morning Walk at Circle B Bar Reserve
January 18, 2017 - Foggy mornings can still be good for photography at Circle B, especially when the birds cooperate with you!
Rare Smooth-billed Ani at Viera Wetlands
January 16, 2017 - A rare Smooth-billed Ani at Viera Wetlands provided incredible looks and photo ops for all birders who flocked to see him.
Odd Couple at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
January 14, 2017 - A Hooded Merganser and Bufflehead were the Odd Couple at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
Holiday Fun at Viera Wetlands
January 10, 2017 - A post-Christmas visit to Viera Wetlands yielded nesting Great Blue Herons, hungry warblers, lazy Hoodies, and Limpkin family with small chicks
Seahorse Surprise at Fort De Soto
January 4, 2017 - Fort de Soto's North Beach never disappoints. This time, it turned up a Ring-billed Gull with a seahorse surprise!
Winter Birds Returning to Orlando Wetlands Park
November 4, 2016 - The winter birds are coming back to Orlando Wetlands Park. We had a Painted Bunting, American Bittern, and a camera-shy Merlin
A Quick Stop at Circle B
October 25, 2016 - Winter birds are coming back to the Circle B Bar Reserve. Our quick trip yielded Eastern Phoebes, Common Yellowthroats, and Palm Warblers.
Tiny Dancers and Other Birds at Orlando Wetlands
September 18, 2016 - An early September walk at Orlando Wetlands Park yielded photos of Snowy Egrets, Belted Kingfisher, and other wading birds
Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands Park
September 11, 2016 - Finally! A day off when it wasn’t raining! So I dusted off my cameras and headed to photograph sunrise at Orlando Wetlands Park. I got there just as the gate was being opened – perfect timing! The sky was already lightening as I headed to one of my favorite sunrise spots. It never fails. We […]
My Turn with the Terns!
June 11, 2016 - My first 2016 trip to the Least Tern colony. I hoped for baby terns and got piggy-back rides instead.
Summer Sunrise
June 5, 2016 - Images from my first sunrise outing of 2016. It was so good to be out on the beach!
Early May at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
May 14, 2016 - An early May photography expedition to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive yielded Osprey, Red-winged Blackbirds, a surprise Sora, Common Gallinule chicks, and a cooperative Barn Swallow
Early April at Lake Morton
May 7, 2016 - A quiet morning of bird photography at Lake Morton - Ruddy Ducks, Muscovy ducklings, American White Pelicans, and wise Wood Storks
Gatorland in Early April
April 23, 2016 - An early April visit to the Gatorland Rookery yielded awesome shots of beautiful breeding birds and a few cute babies
Learning to Climb – Barred Owlet
April 11, 2016 - A Barred Owlet learns how to climb as his parents share precious moments in the trees above him.
A Nice Walk at the Circle B Bar Reserve
March 26, 2016 - Springtime at the Circle B Bar Reserve yields great birds, including a Tufted Titmouse mid-air interception and a nesting pair of Great Blue Herons
Sandhill Crane Colt “Uno” At One Week Old
March 16, 2016 - More photos of the Sandhill Crane colt "Uno" taken on a day spent with my good friends Michael and Debbie :)
Baby Sandhill Crane “Uno” at Day 6
March 11, 2016 - I returned to check on the baby Sandhill Crane Uno last Saturday, on his sixth day of life. He had already almost doubled in size since I last saw him! The little guy spent most of the morning in the weeds by the lake, but he did come out a few times to pose for […]
Carpe Camera! Day-Old Sandhill Crane Colt!
March 6, 2016 - I spent a special morning with a tiny Sandhill Crane colt on the morning after he hatched. Cute pictures of Little Baby Uno!
Springtime Birds at Circle B Bar Reserve
February 28, 2016 - Springtime birds at Circle B...American Robins, the Barred Owl, Swamp Sparrows, and a huge flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers!
Hide and Seek
January 31, 2016 - This is a “digital art” version of a photo from last March. The two Sandhill Crane colts were just a few days old. The day was windy and cold, and Mom would occasionally sit down and create an “insta-nest” for her two tired colts. The babies would scurry behind her back and crawl into her warm […]
Christmas Coot!
December 24, 2015 - The weather forecast this morning was a little frightful (mostly cloudy), but the prospect of birding was delightful, so I headed to Viera Wetlands to celebrate a wonderful day off from work! It was great seeing Michael, Donna, and Mike as the Belted Kingfisher “Miss Viera Sushi” mocked us and evaded her favorite perch. We’ve having record […]
Black Friday at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
November 27, 2015 - The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive was more peaceful than the malls on this Black Friday! Little birds all over posed for my camera
New Bird Blind at Circle B
October 23, 2015 - The new bird blind at Circle B will be great for viewing ducks, but on this morning, my best shot from the blind was a yawning Anhinga!
Sunrise at the Shell Beach
October 14, 2015 - The "shell beach" brings back fond childhood memories as I see it through adult photographer eyes. What a beautiful sunrise!