After being closed for weeks because damage caused by Hurricane Milton, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive reopened to cars this past weekend. Of course, I had to head over there to check it out – and it turned into quite a visit.
Yards in front of my car, a Peregrine Falcon swooped down and grabbed a Common Gallinule, taking the bird up to the top of a power pole for breakfast.
Gruesome? Yes, but it’s part of nature’s circle of life.
While the Peregrine Falcon was busy chowing down, I was able to get some close-up photos of this raptor. The only other times I had seen Peregrine Falcons were at the Orlando Wetlands, and even then the birds were far, far away.
I do prefer to have a more natural setting for my bird photos, so I wasn’t too happy about the power pole and power lines getting into the pictures. But it was worth it to get so much closer to a Peregrine Falcon than I have ever been before.
Sorry, Gallinule.
