I’ve said it before and I will say it again: The Orlando Wetlands is a magical place.
As the photos below from a couple of trips in February illustrate, the number and diversity of birds at the facility is impressive.
The Roseate Spoonbills grab the attention of most visitors, and that’s only been increasing now that little “teaspoons” are hatching. But there are so many other birds around worth photographing.
Roseate Spoonbill, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Roseate Spoonbill, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Roseate Spoonbill on a nest, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Roseate Spoonbill with 2-day-old Teaspoon, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Roseate Spoonbill looking for nest repair material, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Roseate Spoonbill, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Roseate Spoonbill, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Sandhill Cranes flying overhead, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Red-winged Blackbird, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Sandhill Crane stands guard at nest with one egg (right), Orlando Wetlands, February 2026/Female Vermilion Flycatcher, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026/American Bittern, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Male Common Yellowthroat, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Purple Gallinule, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Backlit Anhinga, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Tree Swallow, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.Female Belted Kingfisher, Orlando Wetlands, February 2026.
The variety of birds and other wildlife that you can see at Lake Apopka is pretty amazing, especially considering its sorry state just a few years ago.