Some people get excited about fall because pumpkin spice lattes return, but I’m more excited about birds coming back here for autumn.
A lot of returning birds have been popping up across Central Florida, from the Orlando Wetlands to Merritt Island to Lake Apopka to Osceola County. While some of these birds are migrating through, others are back to spend winter here. Still others are natives who went missing over the hot summer.
The temperatures may be cooling but birding is starting to heat up, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Here are a few of the birds I’ve spotted lately…
Female American Kestrel, Osceola County, October 2025.Female Belted Kingfisher, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.Female Belted Kingfisher, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.Roseate Spoonbill, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.Palm Warbler, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, October 2025.Semipalmated Sandpiper, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.Eastern Phoebe, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.Eastern Phoebe, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.Male Common Yellowthroat, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.Male Common Yellowthroat, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.Female Common Yellowthroat, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.Female Common Yellowthroat, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.Female Blue-winged Teal, Lake Apopka Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.Blue-gray Gnatcatcher grabbing a spider, Orlando Wetlands, October 2025.
I decided to make the most of what has been rare January sunshine and hit up both Orlando Wetlands and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Sort of a birding doubleheader. But I hit the Daily Double for these trips.
