Take a cloudy, rainy day and add in some black-and-dark-gray male Sail Kites, and your get an incredible landscape to photograph.
That’s the opportunity that presented itself when I visited Osceola County looking for endangered Snail Kites. I was going to call off the attempt because of the poor weather, but I am glad I didn’t.
Seeing these birds on an overcast, drizzly day added a moody feel to the photos. When the sun did pop out, I was also able to get some photos of the kites feeding.
Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.Male Snail Kite, Osceola County, September 2025.
In addition to the Anna’s Hummingbirds, I saw Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal and Redhead ducks, Say’s Phoebes, Verdins, Western Grebes and White-crowned Sparrows.
A quick Sunday morning trip to Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island was worth it with a Reddish Egret, Little Blue Heron and one very wet Osprey.
Whenever I hear “Prairie Warbler,” I think of Little House on the Prairie and the Midwest. But this little yellow and black bird is a year-round Florida resident.