The last time I was at Orlando Wetlands was February 10th. It was a nice walk but I didn’t get many photos I liked, so I didn’t post about it on the blog. Here’s one from that day that did turn out:
Spoonie!I decided to go again last week to see what’s changed and I’m glad I did. There were many more photos there this time. Here are some of them.
I said hello as I walked by a couple of photographers and they were nice enough to point out this Barred Owl posing on a dead tree. It looks wet, like it’s drying off after plunging into water after prey.
“Who cooks for you?”A Great Egret in the distance looked like it would head towards me so I followed it with my lens. It was nice to have several seconds to check my settings and adjust a few (especially exposure compensation). Things happen pretty fast and there’s usually no opportunity to do that. It touched down close by and I was able to capture a lot of detail in its feathers.
Graceful arrivalI spotted a single woodpecker staying very close to this hole in a dead palm tree. It was sticking its head into the hole like it might be feeding hatchlings, but I couldn’t see anything in the dark interior. I watched for several minutes and a second one landed on the same tree. After about a minute the first bird left and the second one took over with the same behaviors. Even though I couldn’t see inside, it seems clear they’re a pair and this is a nest. The male (with his red forehead) is on the left and the female’s on the right.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker coupleI got several images with both birds in the frame, but their poses hid one or the other’s face / eyes. In the image above I combined two frames in photoshop to best show both of them.
There’s a family of Sandhill Cranes there with two colts that are about three weeks old. I found them as I was getting ready to leave. The young ones took time off from following Mom around and learning how to forage to have a little friendly challenge match. It only lasted for a few seconds and all ended well.
Sibling RivalryThe header photo is another view of one of the colts next to a parent.
I try to watch for possible landscape photos as I walk around. This scene near the entrance caught my eye and I photographed it with my iPhone. I shot in RAW mode and made two exposures (I’m still using this technique that I posted about a long time ago: https://edrosack.com/2011/01/21/two-image-pano-hdr-focus-stacking/). After processing and combining in photoshop, I’m pleased with how it turned out. iPhones are very capable cameras.
Wetland morningThank you for stopping by and reading my blog. Stay positive, be kind, take care of yourselves and each other. And if you can, take a walk around a park close to you. And make some photos!
©2024, Ed Rosack. All rights reserved
WOW Ed – what terrific shots. They’re a joy to see!
Thank you Rhona. Wonderful to hear from you.
Excellent, as always. Thanks, Ed!!
You’re welcome Rob and thanks for commenting!
Great shot of the spoonie in flight!
Thanks Jeff. It’s nice when they do a fly by for me!
What joy to see your images! Thank you for posting. I love seeing your photography!
Thank you Dorothy – you are very kind!
Not sure why I can’t see that full post here on WordPress. It just comes up as a link to “source”.
So terrific that you got to see all these friends. I’m actually planning a trip there myself this week.☺️
I’m not sure why you can’t see it either. I’ll take a look from my end.
Enjoy your visit. It’s a good time to stop by.
Nice
Thanks!
The young Sandhill Cranes are adorable and that looks like a young Spoonbill in your banner! Oh my! I love it so much! Beautiful photos. Can’t wait to travel some and see more of the birds of Florida!
Thanks so much Diane. It is a wonderful place.
That’s such a terrific location. Me = kid in a candy store.
Your photographs are truly wonderful. The detail in the Great Egret is really nice. You’re right about not usually having a chance to make an adjustment for all that white. Nice work.
Modern phone cameras are pretty amazing. Just returned from a trip where I used the phone for quite a few images and I must say I’m impressed.
Spring is here! So much to photograph, so little time!
Thanks Wally, it is a great spot. And Spring is a great time to visit!
I always look forward to seeing your images on your blog. I wonder if I’ll be able to tell which ones you made with a phone.
Ed
Wow, Ed, what an amazing outing! Orlando Wetlands never fails to impresss. The Barred Owl and Sandhill Crane Colts pictures are particularly captivating! And that landscape shot taken on iPhone? Absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing these moments!
Thank you Laura – it was a wonderful outing. Orlando Wetlands is definitely a favorite spot for me.
Love the kissing colts!
They were cute colts! At the time, it seemed more like a squabble than a kiss!