Skip to content
Roger Simmons Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

  • Home
  • All Posts
    • Orlando Wetlands
    • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
    • Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
    • Joe Overstreet Road
    • UCF Arboretum
    • Fort DeSoto Park
  • My Bird Catalog
    • All Birds Catalog
    • American Flamingos
    • Bald Eagles
    • Barred Owls
    • Belted Kingfishers
    • Black-and-White Warblers
    • Eastern Bluebirds
    • Florida Scrub-Jays
    • Green Herons
    • Little Blue Herons
    • Northern Parulas
    • Ospreys
    • Reddish Egrets
    • Red-Shouldered Hawks
    • Roseate Spoonbills
    • Sandhill Cranes
    • Whooping Crane
  • Orlando TV News/History
    • Orlando TV Schedules
    • Florida TV History
  • About this Site
Roger Simmons
Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

Bald Eagle joins me for rocket launch

Roger Simmons, September 10, 2023September 10, 2023

I went to the Orlando Wetlands on Sunday morning hoping to see a Bald Eagle. I didn’t realize we’d share a patriotic moment together.

I found this particular Bald Eagle sitting in a dead tree near where an old Osprey nest used to be in the park. Though the Eagle kept its back to me, it did turn around and give me some good poses.

Then we both got to see another kind of “bird.”

Around 8:45 a.m., United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It was the third attempt at this particular launch, and it looked great in the morning light, taking off about 25 miles east of the Wetlands.

The Eagle even turned its head to check out the launch.

Here’s a look at my two favorite “birds” from my Sunday morning trip.

This Bald Eagle must be a little sleepy as it yawns from its perch early in the morning at the Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
A Bald Eagle looks over its shoulder toward me at Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
“I see you,” appears to be what this Bald Eagle as it stares me down at the Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
This Bald Eagle is doing some preening at Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
The Bald Eagle looks majestic on a Sunday morning at the Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
The Bald Eagle turns to look at the Atlas V rocket launch (perhaps) at Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
A ULA Atlas V rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and is seen from Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
The Atlas V rocket launch soars upward after taking off from about 25 miles east of Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.
This Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in September 2023 could be heard at the Orlando Wetlands, where the rumbling agitated most of the male gators.
Share on Social Media
x facebook reddit email
Birds Orlando Wetlands Bald EaglesRocket Launch

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Related Posts

All

Reddish Egret puts on a sunset show

June 29, 2025June 29, 2025

Reddish Egrets are eye-catching and entertaining with their hunting methods, in which they often appear to be dancing across the water.

Read More
All

It’s definitely warbler season in Central Florida

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023

It’s that time of year when little warblers seems to be almost everywhere in Central Florida.

Read More
All

Colorful trip to UCF: Bluebirds and red-headed Pileated Woodpeckers

September 4, 2023September 4, 2023

On a recent visit to UCF’s Arboretum just before sunset. I was rewarded with sightings of daddy and baby Eastern Bluebirds, and red-headed male and female Pileated Woodpeckers.

Read More

Latest Posts

  • This sure isn’t SeaWorld. Watching Orcas in Alaska
  • Hot pink summer: Flamingos hang on at Merritt Island
  • Marsh Rabbits, Hummingbirds: Orlando Wetlands’ odd couple
  • Spending July 4 with birds at Merritt Island
  • Spending a magical morning at Orlando Wetlands

Top Locations

Orlando Wetlands

Posts about visits to Orlando Wetlands


UCF Arboretum

Posts about visits to UCF Arboretum


Merritt Island

Posts about visits to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge


Lake Apopka

Posts about visits to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive


Fort DeSoto

Posts about visits to Fort DeSoto Park


Galleries

Roger's Favorites

An ever-changing collection of my favorite pictures


American Flamingos

Photos of American Flamingos in Indian River


Belted Kingfishers

Photos of Belted Kingfishers across Central Florida.


Oystercatchers

Pictures of American Oystercatchers at Fort DeSoto Park


Spoonbills

Pictures of Roseate Spoonbills in Central Florida


Whooping Crane

Pictures of one of the last Whooping Cranes in Florida


MORE GALLERIES


Topics

American Flamingo American Kestrel Anhinga Awards Bald Eagles Barn Swallow Barred Owl Belted Kingfisher Black-and-White Warbler Black-Crowned Night-Heron Caspian Tern Common Gallinule Common Yellowthroat Digital TV Eastern Bluebird Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Limpkin Little Blue Heron Northern Cardinal Northern Parula Orlando Wetlands Park Osprey Palm Warbler Prairie Warbler Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-shouldered Hawk Red-Winged Blackbird Reddish Egret Roseate Spoonbills Sandhill Crane Savannah Sparrow Snowy Egret Tricolored Heron Tufted Titmouse WESH-2 WFTV-9 White Ibis WKCF-18 WKMG-6 WMFE-24 WOFL-35 Wood Stork WRDQ-27

©2025 Roger Simmons | All Rights Reserved