The city of Orlando is adding a boardwalk, equestrian trail, and visitor center at Orlando Wetlands Park (OWP). The new 2200 foot board walk across Lake Searcy opened recently, and the Visitor Center looks like it’s almost finished. I’ve wanted to get back out there and see the changes and when Mahesh suggested a trip, I readily agreed. I met him and Lutfi there last Friday. The boardwalk provides some lovely new perspectives and viewpoints of the wetlands. Here’s a nice one, looking east past a cypress dome.
Daybreak from the newly opened boardwalkThe eBird website lists 258 species observed at OWP and we saw a few of them.
Green Herons are fun to photograph. I like the geometric patterns in their feathers.
Green HeronWood Storks are fun to spot too, especially in good light.
A couple of StorksThat eBird bar chart shows that Spoonbills are observed there all year, and I see many photos online of juveniles from OWP. I haven’t seen any nests yet, but Jim Boland has spotted some – they seem to have established a thriving colony! We saw twenty to thirty of these charismatic, rose-colored birds on Friday morning and if you’d like to see them in the wild, this is a great place to go look.
Backlit Spoonbilll in flightI first saw (and heard) Whistling Ducks at Orlando Wetlands and they’re a reliable find there.
Seven Whistlers and a Blue-wing(?)We saw plenty of Alligators although I didn’t make any photos of them. And mammals are around too. We saw tracks (Racoons?) and I’ve seen Otters, a Bobcat, and Deer in the past.
The header image is a Caspian Tern that was searching for fish – but didn’t find any while I watched. A larger version is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edrosack/52641238677/in/dateposted-public/
OWP is a wonderful place – I really must go more often. The one complaint I have is that the gate opens “at sunrise”. I like photographing in pre-dawn light, so I wish it opened a bit earlier.
You can look through all my posts from OWP at this link: https://edrosack.com/category/photo-ops-in-florida/orlando-wetlands/. And you can review images I’ve made there in this album on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edrosack/albums/72157639616792296
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my blog. I hope all of you are doing well. Stay positive, be kind, take care of yourselves and each other. And if you can, make some photos!
©2023, Ed Rosack. All rights reserved
As ever, it’s a real treat to see these shots, and read the accompanying notes. Thanks Ed!
Thanks Rhona, as ever you are very kind!
Take care!
A Spoonbill in flight…that sure is special! Looks like a great place to spend the day. I’ll add it to my list of places to go! Love seeing all of these beautiful photos. Enjoy your week!
Thanks Diane. Since you do like Spoonbills, Orlando Wetlands would be a good place to go. I’ve seen them there the last several times I’ve gone.
Ed
What a great series of superb photographs, Ed!
I agree with your opinion of the Green Heron.
I appreciate the update on Orlando Wetlands Park. Yet another spot I need to visit. The boardwalk sounds like a nice touch.
Another cold front tonight. Hopefully, this breeze will subside soon. It’s not bad, just annoying.
Take good care.
Thanks for stopping by (and commenting) Wally. The boardwalk is a very nice addition to the park.
I just got home and it is windy – supposed to be cooler tomorrow.
You take card too.