Finding some very colorful characters at Lake Apopka
Roger Simmons,
The Lake Apopka area is definitely a not-so-hidden gem for birders and nature lovers. There is so much variety to be found there, as well as nature’s rainbow of colors.
On a couple of recent weekend mornings, I came across birds sporting colors of blue, purple, green, brown, tan, gray and black. not to mention a some yellow and orange butterflies.
I was especially pleased to photograph an Eastern Bluebird parent with an offspring, and an entertaining Least Bittern darting about in a pond along the lake’s wildlife drive.
Male Eastern Bluebird, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Young Eastern Bluebird, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Purple Gallinule, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Purple Gallinule, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Green Heron, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Anhinga, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Gray-headed Swamphen, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Gray-headed Swamphen, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Young Gallinule (common or purple, but I can’t tell), Lake Apopka, June 2025.Least Bittern, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Least Bittern, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Black-crowned Night Heron, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, Lake Apopka, June 2025.Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, Lake Apopka, June 2025.
After my tour of Mead Garden with the Orange Audubon Society group, I decided to return and see if I could spot some birds I missed on the previous trip: a family of Barred Owls. I saw a youngster with the Audubon group, but he was far away and it…