Sunrise at Orlando Wetlands
September 19, 2015 - Mother Nature treated me to a beautiful sunrise at Orlando Wetlands Park over my Labor Day vacation. The colors were magnificent!
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!)
A Breath of Fresh Air
September 12, 2015 - A quiet nature walk at sunrise at Orlando Wetlands Park. Barn Swallows posed for me and the Belted Kingfishers are back in Florida!
Sunrise and an Almost-Lifer
August 16, 2015 - A beautiful sunrise walk along the beach and a mystery bird :)
Wilson’s Plover Chicks
August 9, 2015 - Four Wilson's Plover chicks at the Matanzas Tern Colony challenged me to focus as they ran around the beach like little monkeys
Independence Day Sunrise
August 5, 2015 - Independence Day sunrise over Marineland Beach. Nature presented its own version of fireworks as the sun illuminated the pre-dawn clouds
Independence Day
August 1, 2015 - My last visit to the Least Tern colony, where a fledgling danced every time Mom brought in a fish for breakfast!
My Sunset Project
July 26, 2015 - For over a year, I visited the backroads to complete a "sunset project" and study light. It's amazing how each photograph is different...
More from the Black Skimmer Colony
July 19, 2015 - Late afternoon is the best time at the Black Skimmer colony. The setting sun bathes the chicks in beautiful golden light as they eat fish
Return to the Sea – Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings!!
July 12, 2015 - Two tiny Loggerhead Sea Turtle hatchlings make their way to the water this morning at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Father’s Day at the Black Skimmer Colony
July 6, 2015 - Another Father's Day at the Black Skimmer Colony, where the nesting is running early this year and the babies were already two weeks old
More Precious Moments with the Least Terns
July 2, 2015 - Another morning with the precious Least Terns and their two-day-old chick, who yawned, ate lots of fish, and jumped for the camera
Photographer’s Worst Nightmare
June 29, 2015 - After a sleepless night and a photographer's worst nightmare (sleeping through sunrise), the beach was beautiful for a "Snowy Egret sunrise"
Precious Moments with the Least Terns
June 23, 2015 - A quiet morning of lying on the sand yielded some amazing images of two Least Terns with their day-old chick. He was so cute!
Hey, Hey, We Found the Silver Springs Monkeys!
June 18, 2015 - Such a fun hour with twenty-ish Silver Springs monkeys as we photographed them from our pontoon boat. One mother had a tiny baby! So cute!
A Cruise Down Silver Springs
June 16, 2015 - When Michael invited my dad and me on a monkey cruise at Silver Springs, I had no idea what to expect...it turned out to be awesome!
Turtle Walk 2015
June 14, 2015 - Rich and I went on a turtle walk where we got to watch a Loggerhead Sea Turtle lay eggs and return to the ocean. How cool!
A Least Tern Chick and More Crabs
June 11, 2015 - This weekend's visit to the Least Tern colony yielded four chicks and many crabs. The chick was so small and cute. :)
Lots of Action at the Matanzas Tern Colony!
June 9, 2015 - Lots of action at the Matanzas Tern Colony, with Least Tern courtship, fish exchanges, and skirmishes with the predator ghost crabs!
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
June 4, 2015 - There was lots of activity along the new Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, including nesting Red-winged Blackbirds and newly fledged Barn Swallows
Other Birds at the Black Skimmer Colony
June 2, 2015 - There were more than Black Skimmers to photograph at the Black Skimmer Colony. Cormorants and terns and a surprise oystercatcher...
Black Skimmer Colony Ramping Up
May 31, 2015 - This year's first Black Skimmer colony visit yielded lots of skimming opportunities and plenty of piggy-back rides! Babies are on the way!!
Black-necked Stilts Nesting at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
May 28, 2015 - The Black-necked Stilt nursery is active at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I saw lots of egg-turning and a spectacular sunset
Roseate Spoonbills at the Alligator Farm
May 25, 2015 - An early May visit to the Alligator Farm yielded lots of Roseate Spoonbills, including a very persistent juvenile on the nest with Mom!
Least Tern Courtship
May 22, 2015 - I made my first visit to the Least Tern colony in early May, and the birds were in full courtship mode. Lots of fish exchanges!
A Magical Sunrise Moment
May 20, 2015 - A cloudy morning turned magical when the sun burst through a small opening in the clouds
Say Goodbye to the Shorebirds
May 18, 2015 - I headed to Fort De Soto in early May to say goodbye to the shorebirds as they leave for their breeding grounds. I saw two Snowy Plovers!
Springtime at Lakes Morton and Mirror
May 13, 2015 - Springtime is the best time at Lakes Morton and Mirror, where it's easy to photograph tame birds in breeding plumage, and cute babies!
Introducing Osprey Baby 2015
May 11, 2015 - I met my friend Deb to photograph the Winter Park Osprey baby, who posed for our lenses as he ate his dinner. So cute!
Breeding Colors on Display at Gatorland
May 8, 2015 - Breeding birds on display at Gatorland in late April, where the Cattle Egrets posed for head shots and the Snowies showed off their plumes
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at Fort De Soto!
May 3, 2015 - A tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Fort De Soto let me photograph him as he re-fueled on his long migration journey.
Vacation Beginnings at Fort De Soto
April 29, 2015 - My first photo outing in almost two months, on the wonderful beaches of Fort De Soto! My first Red Knot in breeding plumage... :)
Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands March Field Trip
March 28, 2015 - My dad and I enjoyed the March field trip to the Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands. The winter birds have left and nesting has begun!
This Year’s Sandhill Crane Colts
March 16, 2015 - This year's Sandhill Crane colts are just as cute as ever! A windy morning gave me several opportunities for nesting shots with Mom.
My First Male Bufflehead!
February 27, 2015 - I finally saw a male Bufflehead over Christmas break. His feathers glistened in the sunlight - what a cool bird!
Father Goose’s Cousin
February 19, 2015 - I thought Father Goose was unique on Lake Morton, but I found another goose in Orlando that has befriended a family of Muscovy ducklings :)
In Search of Swooning Swans at Lake Morton
February 17, 2015 - The swans didn't do much swooning for me at Lake Morton, but the new pair of Coscoroba Swans posed for my dad and me.
Western Kingbird and More
February 14, 2015 - I saw my lifer Western Kingbird with my dad on a bird exploration expedition. It was a fun morning!
Photographing Thousands of Gulls
February 9, 2015 - I went to Daytona Beach Shores to see the thousands of gulls that roost there. Blurs were my favorite way to convey the sheer numbers...
Birds That Are Not Purple
February 6, 2015 - Rich and I headed to Daytona for birds and dinner. The Purple Sandpiper eluded us, but we did see some birds that weren't purple!
Sandhill Crane Memories and Topaz Glow
February 4, 2015 - I processed some of my Sandhill Crane family pictures in Topaz Glow. What a fun program! I loved all the different effects.
My Lifer Whooping Crane
February 2, 2015 - A very poor shot of my far-off lifer Whooping Crane, plus a bunch of birds from Joe Overstreet Road. Fun morning!
Say Hi To Herman’s Eagles
January 31, 2015 - Two tiny heads peeked out to say hello at Herman's eagle nest. It was great to see the baby birds!
Long Walk at the Circle B Bar Reserve
January 29, 2015 - My dad and I walked a ton at the Circle B Bar Reserve on Sunday. Great shots of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers!
Lifer Clapper Rail at Merritt Island NWR
January 25, 2015 - I photographed my lifer Clapper Rail at Merritt Island NWR last weekend, along with Sora and Long-tailed Duck, and an awesome sunset!
Good Birds, Bad Light at Merritt Island NWR
January 23, 2015 - The light was bad but the birds were good this weekend at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Wigeons and loons were close!
Venice Rookery
January 21, 2015 - I drove down to the Venice Rookery in mid-January to check out the nesting Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets.
More Common Goldeneye
January 19, 2015 - The Common Goldeneye is still at the Seminole Towne Center, so I went back to get some more photos. The sun was actually out!
January Field Trip – Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands
January 12, 2015 - The January field trip to the Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands was photography paradise. 32 Fulvous Whistling Ducks! Flight shots galore...
Hooded Show-Offs
January 10, 2015 - The Hooded Mergansers hanging out with the Common Goldeneye were quite the show-offs. I enjoyed watching their courtship behaviors.