Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a great place for birding, and that includes during the dog days of summer.
The 11-mile drive along the lake’s north shore draws a variety of birds. Sure, there are more birds and more species during fall and winter, but the former muck-farm-turned-wetlands is home to a number of species year-round.
Oh, and alligators … lots and lots and lots of alligators.
I made multiple visits there recently and was surprised by what I saw at this time of year. Take a look:
An early morning visit to Merritt Island delivered Roseate Spoonbills Wood Storks, Reddish Egrets, Great Herons, Osprey, Scrub-Jays and lots and lots of different ducks.
I photographed a family of American Oystercatchers at Fort DeSoto Park, and I ended up learning a lot about these colorful birds and their interesting backstory.
With the temperature in the 70s, I was able to hike five miles across the Wetlands and photograph lots and lots of birds, including familiar ones and some new faces too.