Search for the Groove-billed Ani
January 4, 2015 - My first lifer of 2015 was a Groove-billed Ani at the Lake Apopka Restoration Area. A foggy silly morning with friends... :)
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!)
Great Blue Heron Silhouettes at Viera Wetlands
January 2, 2015 - The beautiful sunrise made a great background for the nesting Great Blue Herons at Viera Wetlands. Silhouette courtship fun! :)
Lifer Common Goldeneye
December 28, 2014 - I saw my lifer Common Goldeneye tonight, at a pond in Sanford. She was hanging out with Hooded Mergansers and gave me a nice wing flap.
Lakeland Christmas Bird Count 2014
December 21, 2014 - I helped survey the Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands for the 2014 Lakeland Christmas Bird Count. Rarities included avocets, stilts, Snail Kites
Coot Glamour Shots at Lake Mirror
December 5, 2014 - I played with my new 7D Mark II and the available birds - the coots! Coot glamour shots turned out to be fun. :)
Ducks are Back at Lake Morton
November 21, 2014 - Ducks are back at Lake Morton! They gave me some good wing-flaps last weekend when the sun finally came out.
Fun with Friends at Viera Wetlands
November 18, 2014 - Early morning in a sewage treatment plant - fun! The Viera Wetlands Belted Kingfisher came close as Michael protested his stolen sunrise
My Mom’s Hummingbird
November 16, 2014 - My mom's hummingbird posed for me and my camera, striking a pose on a nice branch and cooperatively sitting on her favorite perch.
Last Orlando Wetlands Park Visit of the Year
November 12, 2014 - The birds were great at Orlando Wetlands Park. Eagles and whistling ducks and a Peregrine Falcon, oh my!
Rare Birds at the Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands
November 9, 2014 - I got to see American Avocets, Stilt Sandpipers, Black-necked Stilts, and Snail Kites this morning at the Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands!
Playing Peek-a-Boo and Hide-and-Seek at Bok Tower
November 5, 2014 - Bok Tower birding was great - we found Red-headed Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and a Painted Bunting
Red-Headed Woodpeckers at Bok Tower
October 29, 2014 - Fun morning photographing the Red-headed Woodpeckers at Bok Tower, along with the visiting Rufous Hummingbird! The Blue Jays showed off too
Banded Piping Plover Information
October 23, 2014 - The USGS Bird Banding Lab replied to me about the banded Piping Plovers that I saw at Fort De Soto back in September.
Annual Search for My Pole-Vaulters
October 16, 2014 - Quiet morning at the Circle B Bar Reserve, in search of my favorite "pole vaulters", the Purple Gallinules on alligator flag reeds
Cool Fall Day at Orlando Wetlands Park
October 8, 2014 - Michael and I spent the first cool fall day at Orlando Wetlands Park, where we enjoyed a sunrise, dancing Snowy Egrets, and a cute surprise!
Sandhill Cranes Grow Up Quickly
October 4, 2014 - Sandhill Cranes grow up quickly! I photographed my little family twice more, when the colts were 5 and 19 days old.
The Best Morning with My Sandhill Crane Colts (From April)
September 28, 2014 - The best morning with my Sandhill Crane colts yielded lots of bugs, lots of playtime romps, a photobomb, and a cute head shot!
Return to the Nest (Sandhill Crane Colts from April)
September 17, 2014 - More cute Sandhill Crane colts covered in grass seeds as they made their way back to the nest for a rousing romp and a sweet good night
Hatch Day +1 (Sandhill Crane Colts from April)
September 14, 2014 - Continuing the story of "my" Sandhill Crane colts...images from their first morning of life, on the nest with Mom
It’s Not Easy Being Me! (Sandhill Crane Colts from April)
September 10, 2014 - Revisiting favorite shots from the spring...wonderful video of my tiny colts playing at the nest on their first full day in the world.
Crazy Photographer Alert
September 7, 2014 - Rich captured some fun images of me from Fort De Soto. He had his first-of-fall crazy photographer sighting!
Fall Getaway to Fort De Soto
September 3, 2014 - Rich and I escaped for a fall getaway to Fort De Soto, where we photographed migrating shorebirds and pretty Roseate Spoonbills
Lifer Snowy Plover at Fort De Soto!
August 31, 2014 - I scored my lifer Snowy Plover last week at Fort De Soto, along with several Piping Plovers. It was a four-plover trip! Not bad!
Least Tern Chicks (from June)
August 28, 2014 - Back in June, I got to photograph tiny newborn Least Tern chicks with their parents. There was such excitement when Dad brought in a fish!
Least Terns in Love
August 20, 2014 - I finally got to photograph some Least Tern piggy-back rides this spring!
Least Tern Courtship (from June)
August 17, 2014 - Back in June, I photographed some fun Least Tern courtship. The male's fish was rejected by his unfeeling prospective suitor!
Food Fight! Silly Laughing Gulls
August 10, 2014 - On my last trip to the beach, a pair of ladies made friends with a flock of Laughing Gulls, who staged some great mid-air food fights!
Small Things to Make You Smile (Lake Morton)
August 6, 2014 - A summer morning at Lake Morton led me to tiny turtles, young swans, and a protective Father Goose with teenage Muscovy Ducks.
Swallow-tailed Kite Roost
August 2, 2014 - We visited a Swallow-tailed Kite roost last weekend. The sheer number of birds was amazing! A few of my photos were even in focus :)
Juvenile Black Skimmers in Flight
July 31, 2014 - The juvenile Black Skimmers grow up so quickly! Already they are flying and skimming like their parents.
Juvenile Black Skimmers Meet the Water
July 25, 2014 - I returned to Indian Rocks hoping to see the juvenile Black Skimmers head to the water and maybe fly. The surprise was the newborn chicks!
Week-Old Black Skimmers are Still Cute!
July 19, 2014 - The week-old Black Skimmers are no longer wet from the egg, but they are still pretty cute! My favorite shot was a big baby yawn...
What a Mouthful!
July 14, 2014 - Tonight’s is going to be a short post, as I am putting the final details on my photography presentation that I will give this Friday as guest speaker at the Trout Lake Nature Center. I’m really looking forward to sharing some fun images with some great people. While I’ve been approached several times through my […]
More Cute Baby Black Skimmers
July 7, 2014 - I returned to the beach for a second evening with the cute baby Black Skimmers, tiny clowns who are such a joy to photograph!
Black Skimmer Hatchlings (Cuteness Alert!)
July 4, 2014 - A visit to the beach with Black Skimmer hatchlings always yields cute photographic moments! Adorable shots from my favorite summer location
Tug of War – Black Skimmer Chicks
June 27, 2014 - Recently hatched Black Skimmer chicks are always fun to photograph, especially when they play tug-of-war over a needlefish!
Revisiting an Old Favorite – Milky Way Photography
June 25, 2014 - After reading David Kingham's Nightscape book, I revisited an old Milky Way shot and redid the post-processing. I'm loving the result!
Double-Crested Cormorant Still Looking Spiffy!
June 23, 2014 - A Double-crested Cormorant surprised me this weekend. Still in breeding plumage, his bright blue eye and mouth are awesome!
Sunrise and A Gopher Tortoise!
June 10, 2014 - The backroads of Lake County make for beautiful sunrises. You never know what you'll find out there, like this tiny gopher tortoise!
We’ll Never Know – Burrowing Owl Nest Abandoned
June 8, 2014 - We'll never know what happened to our local Burrowing Owl family. The adults have abandoned the burrow and the babies never emerged. :(
Magnificent Frigatebirds with my Dad
June 4, 2014 - My dad and I had a great time photographing some Magnificent Frigatebirds at Fort De Soto. A great way to celebrate his birthday!
Meet My Friend Bob – Bobwhite!
June 2, 2014 - A Northern Bobwhite surprised me with his sudden appearance, and he sang for my camera as he let me get nice close-up shots! Bob, Bob White!
Shorebirds Leaving Florida for the Summer
May 31, 2014 - The shorebirds are leaving Florida for their nesting grounds. I photographed some of them in breeding colors at Fort De Soto a few weeks ago
Sticks from the Sky – Winter Park Osprey Nest
May 29, 2014 - I spent a few hours at the Winter Park Osprey nest, where I photographed this year's Osprey chick with his parents. Fish for dinner, yum!
The Quest for a Black Belly Concludes?
May 26, 2014 - My ongoing quest for black belly! Black-bellied Plovers often leave Florida before completing their molt. Did I finally get one?
Least Tern Fish Exchanges and Courtship
May 23, 2014 - Two weeks ago at Fort De Soto I got to photograph Least Tern fish exchanges and courtship rituals on North Beach. It was so much fun!
Around Lake Morton
May 20, 2014 - A spring morning is a great time to walk around Lake Morton. While I didn't see babies, the lingering winter migrants kept me entertained.
Say Hello to Mrs. Cottonball Head
May 18, 2014 - Sometimes it's fun to photograph rare or strange birds. Other times the most common birds make me smile, like Mrs. Cottonball Head!
Summer Sunset and a Common Night Hawk
May 15, 2014 - Summer sunsets along the back roads of Florida are fun, especially when the Common Nighthawks fly in circles over your head!