Roger Simmons - Birds, Words, Pics + TV

Photographing Snail Kites in Osceola County

Roger Simmons, June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

On a recent trip to Osceola County, I spotted two male Snail Kites in two different locations.

Roger Simmons, June 12, 2026June 11, 2026

The group had two hens and at least 10 poults — baby turkeys. This seems to be common behavior for the bird families to group together.

Roger Simmons, June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

These pretty birds travel 12,500 miles each year migrating from South America to the northern U.S. and Canada.

Roger Simmons, June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

It was April 1, and it was the first attempt to launch Artemis’ SLS rocket and Orion capsule with its four-person crew.

Roger Simmons, June 9, 2026June 9, 2026

While many migratory visitors have moved on, there is still a tremendous variety of birds to photograph across the area.

Roger Simmons, June 8, 2026June 9, 2026

Over the past several weeks, I photographed some Barred Owls, a Burrowing Owl and a red-morph Eastern Screech-Owl.

Roger Simmons, April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Since I starting visiting Emeralda Marsh back in the fall, there appear to be more Snail Kites hunting in that area.

Roger Simmons, April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

I’ve previously only taken still images of these amazing pink birds, who have been hanging around Merritt Island since 2023.

Roger Simmons, April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

There were just nine American Flamingos when I last visited the refuge on March 27, but there are way more now.

Roger Simmons, April 4, 2026April 4, 2026

It’s not like they actually left, but they seem to be in less remote parts of the 140,000-acre refuge.