One day, two trips and lots of birds at Orlando Wetlands
Roger Simmons,
It’s rare for me not to spend a weekend morning out and about trying to photography birds. It’s even more rare that I go to the same place twice in one day. But, that’s what happened to me on Sunday.
I planned to sleep in and skip birding, but I woke up fairly early and decided to head to the Orlando Wetlands anyway. It was a cool, cloudy morning – but apparently I was in a fog. I really messed up my camera settings and took few usable photos.
Upset with myself, I went through the many settings on my relatively new Canon R6-Mark II, and I found the problem. To confirm that the issue was indeed the camera and not the photographer, I headed back out to the Wetlands on Sunday evening to try to take some more photos. I was much, much happier – and I got to see a lot of birds I didn’t see during the earlier visit.
So, here are pictures from two very different trips on Sunday.
A Crested Caracara takes flight over the Orlando Wetlands in the early morning light in October 2023.A Tricolored Heron preens in a pond next to the Orlando Wetlands boardwalk in October 2023.A pair of Bald Eagles continue to check out a former Osprey nest at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.This is what it looks like when a Turkey Vulture decides to fly right at you. From Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.A Savannah Sparrow, named for the Georgia town in the 19th Century, visits to the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.A little Savannah Sparrow stops for a second along a marsh at Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.A Palm Warbler takes a break next to a pond at Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.This is the first adult Black-Crowned Nigh-Heron I haven’t seen at the Orlando Wetlands in months. I love the red eyes. Taken October 2023.A Wood Stork and a White Ibis appear to be playing Simon says at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023. (Simon says stand on one foot!)A young Roseate Spoonbill, with a bit of a broken spoon, wades in pond at Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.A pair of White Ibis enjoy the evening sun at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.
The small part that I did see was impressive – a great pond with lots of wading birds and a rookery for egrets and other birds. An adult and juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron flew overhead, and a pair of Roseate Spoonbills were hanging around.
The other day I realized I was approaching 100 different birds photographed. After a recount, it turned out I was very, very close – just one bird away from the century mark.
On every trip out to photograph birds, I hope for at least one special moment. On a recent trip, I had not one, but two special moments — and they both involved the same bird.
