When I go out of town and come back home, it makes me realize how fortunate I am to live in Central Florida, a birding paradise full of incredible diversity.
From the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge along the coast, to the manmade gift that is the Orlando Wetlands, to the large lakefront area along the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, the different geography these places offer helps lure different birds (and sometimes similar) to the area.
Throw in some urban locations, like Mead Garden in Winter Park and the UCF Arboretum, and you realize just how special it is to be a birder in our area.
Here’s a collection of photos from late September and early to mid-October showing some of that Central Florida bird diversity.
Great Egret, Mead Garden in Winter Park, September 2024.Merlin, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.Merlin, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.Yellow Warbler, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Yellow Warbler, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Painted Bunting, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Painted Bunting, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.“Cooked Neck” the Great Blue Heron, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Osprey, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Grey-headed Swamp Hen, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Anhinga, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.(Ok, not a bird) American Alligator, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.Blue Grosbeak, UCF Arboretum, October 2024.
When I see a male Red-winged Blackbird, with his colorful red, yellow and black wings, it’s hard not to stop and take a few pictures. The females are equally intriguing.
I have found there are just some birds that are harder to photograph than others. I call them my nemesis birds, and the Northern Parula was one of them.
Some Black Terns recently showed up at Orlando Wetlands. It’s the first time I have seen or photographed these new-to-me birds, so I had to do some research to find out more about them.
