Skip to content
Roger Simmons Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

  • Home
  • All Posts
    • Orlando Wetlands
    • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
    • Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
    • Joe Overstreet Road
    • UCF Arboretum
    • Fort DeSoto Park
  • My Bird Catalog
    • All Birds Catalog
    • American Flamingos
    • Bald Eagles
    • Barred Owls
    • Belted Kingfishers
    • Black-and-White Warblers
    • Eastern Bluebirds
    • Florida Scrub-Jays
    • Green Herons
    • Little Blue Herons
    • Northern Parulas
    • Ospreys
    • Reddish Egrets
    • Red-Shouldered Hawks
    • Roseate Spoonbills
    • Sandhill Cranes
    • Whooping Crane
  • Orlando TV News/History
    • Orlando TV Schedules
    • Florida TV History
  • About this Site
Roger Simmons
Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

Kingfishers and Phoebes and Terns, oh my!

Roger Simmons, November 22, 2023November 22, 2023

Is it any wonder why this is one of my favorite times of the year for photographing birds?

A recent trip to Orlando Wetlands showed the variety of feathered folks who are back in the area for winter. The early arrivals, like the Savannah Sparrows and Eastern Phoebes, are being joined by some new birds, including Caspian Terns.

Add in some of the regular residents, like Belted Kingfishers, Gallinules and Palm Warblers, and it’s a winter wonderland for birding.

A female Belted Kingfisher swoops down to look for some food at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
This female Belted Kingfisher seems to be saying, “aren’t I cute?” at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A Belted Kingfisher shows that it’s a female with its brown banding while resting on a tree limb at Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
This female Belted Kingfisher seems to be laughing at me for attempting to take its phot at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A little Eastern Phoebe sings its distinctive song at Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
Eastern Phoebes, like this one at Orlando Wetlands in November 2023, migrate south to our area in September and November from their usual northern homes.
A Caspian Tern soars over a pond at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023. AllAboutBirds.org says, “During migration, Caspian Terns frequent just about any large freshwater body or river inland where they can forage and rest.”
A pair of Caspian Terns explore the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A migrating Caspian Tern hangs out at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A Common Gallinule takes flight over a pond at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
“Gilligan’s Island” was a hit on TV, but Common Gallinule Island seems popular at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
The distinctive yellow spot over its eye makes it easy to identify this Savannah Sparrow at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A Palm Warbler looks up to the sky at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A Palm Warbler seems to be saying “Whoa! Hold on there” while having its picture taken at Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
A Turkey Vulture keeps a watchful eye on the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.
Share on Social Media
x facebook reddit email
All Birds Orlando Wetlands Belted KingfisherCaspian TernCommon GallinuleEastern PhoebePalm WarblerSavannah SparrowTurkey Vulture

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Related Posts

Across Florida

Double dose of Great Horned Owl owlets

February 28, 2024February 28, 2024

I came across two sets of Great Horned Owl owlets about 100 miles apart, in Pinellas and Osceola counties.

Read More
Birds

Merritt Island trip nets two new birds and some familiar ones

July 3, 2023August 5, 2023

With the addition of two new birds that I spotted on Sunday at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, my Birds Catalog total now is 120. The two newcomers came from high and low.

Read More
All

Finding a Whooping Crane in Osceola County

December 31, 2024December 31, 2024

Whooping Cranes are among the largest birds in North America, and these endangered birds are also among the rarest on the continent.

Read More

Latest Posts

  • Screech Owls, other birds on Merritt Island
  • Shorebirds and sunset at Fort DeSoto
  • Orlando Wetlands sunset visits are rewarding
  • Great Egrets and their babies in St. Augustine
  • Roseate Spoonbills by the side of the road

Top Locations

Orlando Wetlands

Posts about visits to Orlando Wetlands


UCF Arboretum

Posts about visits to UCF Arboretum


Merritt Island

Posts about visits to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge


Lake Apopka

Posts about visits to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive


Fort DeSoto

Posts about visits to Fort DeSoto Park


Galleries

Roger's Favorites

An ever-changing collection of my favorite pictures


American Flamingos

Photos of American Flamingos in Indian River


Belted Kingfishers

Photos of Belted Kingfishers across Central Florida.


Oystercatchers

Pictures of American Oystercatchers at Fort DeSoto Park


Spoonbills

Pictures of Roseate Spoonbills in Central Florida


Whooping Crane

Pictures of one of the last Whooping Cranes in Florida


MORE GALLERIES


Topics

American Kestrel Anhinga Awards Bald Eagles Barn Swallow Barred Owl Belted Kingfisher Black-and-White Warbler Black-Crowned Night-Heron Caspian Tern Common Gallinule Common Yellowthroat Digital TV Eastern Bluebird Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Limpkin Little Blue Heron Loggerhead SHrike Northern Cardinal Northern Parula Orlando Wetlands Park Osprey Palm Warbler Prairie Warbler Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-shouldered Hawk Red-Winged Blackbird Reddish Egret Roseate Spoonbills Sandhill Crane Savannah Sparrow Snowy Egret Tricolored Heron Tufted Titmouse WESH-2 WFTV-9 White Ibis WKCF-18 WKMG-6 WMFE-24 WOFL-35 Wood Stork WRDQ-27

©2025 Roger Simmons | All Rights Reserved