I haven’t updated the blog recently (sorry!), but I have made a lot of photos. Here are a few of them with info about each in the captions. Several are from the wild bird rookery at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm – I hadn’t been there for many years.
Looking south along the St. Johns River at dawn. Along HW 50, March 26. (iPhone, ISO 60, 2.22mm wide angle, f/22, 1/45sec)Distant morning fog (B&W). Same scene / time as previous photo. (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/11, 3.2sec)Great Horned Owl on nest. Others had seen the owlet, but it wasn’t visible when we were there. Near the Black Point Wildlife Drive exit in Merritt Island NWR, February 21, (ISO 1200, 840mm, f/9, 1/1600sec).Post bath Spoonbill. Orlando Wetlands Park. It had just finished a vigorous bath and was drying its wings. February 26. (ISO 1250, 424mm, f/8, 1/2000sec)Inbound bumble bee. Orlando Wetlands Park, near the visitor center. Feb. 26. (ISO 1250, 749mm, f/9, 1/2000sec)Black Skimmer and minnow. Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island NWR, March 28, (ISO 640, 602mm, f/9, 1/1600sec)A sleepy, young Spoonbill. St. Augustine Alligator Farm bird rookery, April 22. (ISO 400, 200mm, f/4, 1/200sec)Great Egret with nesting material. St. Augustine Alligator Farm bird rookery, April 22. (ISO 400, 280mm, f/8, 1/1600sec)Two very young Great Egret chicks (B&W). St. Augustine Alligator Farm bird rookery, April 22. (ISO 400, 280mm, f/8, 1/1600sec)Wood Stork with nesting material. St. Augustine Alligator Farm bird rookery, April 22. (ISO 100, 126mm, f/4, 1/2000sec)Parent and young Barred Owls (in poor light). Mead Gardens, April 25. (ISO 10000, 535mm, f/9, 1/1600sec)
So, yes – Central Florida is still a very good place to make photos!
Blog note:
As of today (May 7, 2025), this blog has been on-line for 18 years, with 793 posts, and more than 2600 comments. That’s a good effort in blog land! It’s more than enough time to express just about everything I can think of to say about Central Florida Photo Ops. So I’ve decided to wind things down here sometime between May and September 2025 when my hosting plan expires. I’m doing some research and hope to archive a copy of the blog somewhere on line instead of completely shutting it down. I’ll let you know what I find out.
I won’t be totally off-line. Even though I’m not photographing as much as I used to, I’ll still be going out and making images as often as possible. If you want to see what I’m up to, you can stop by https://flickr.com/edrosack, where I’ll keep posting.
Until September (and after): Many thanks to everyone for stopping by and reading my blog. You’ve all always been supportive and kind. Stay that way!
Take care of yourselves and each other. And if you can, make some photos!
After my Stroll in the Dark through downtown Winter Park, I stopped at the close by Mead Botanical Gardens for a second leisurely walk. It’s a 47 acre natural habitat preserve that’s popular with local birders and a relaxing place to wander. This Marsh Rabbit helped me out with an image to post on Easter:
An Easter Bunny
And this pond always makes for a nice photo:
Pretty light on a placid pond
Mead Gardens is popular birding spot especially during migration. As I walked, I was trying in vain to let my nascent birding skills expose themselves. But then I heard an unfamiliar call…
When I took out my phone and tried sound ID on the Merlin Bird ID app, it said it was a Great Crested Flycatcher. I’d only seen one once before when Kevin M. pointed it out to me at Lake Apopka. The call was very distinctive and loud, so I used it to look for the bird. This one partially hidden and way up in a tree top seemed to be the one making the call:
Great Crested Flycatcher (?)
Certainly not my best photo ever, but an exciting find! And a great demo of how the awesome Merlin app amplifies even my birding knowledge. If you haven’t tried it yet, do so – it’s a free app.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! Your visits, comments, and likes are always welcome and a big motivator for me. Stay positive, be kind, take care of yourselves and each other. And if you can, wander a bit out in nature – and make some photos!
I met Kevin M. at Mead Gardens Saturday morning for a quick stroll through this downtown Orlando park. Since the weather was cool and clear, we didn’t think the sunrise would be very good, so we slept in a bit. It was a relatively short trip, but very pleasant.
We sighted Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, an Eastern Phoebe, an American Goldfinch, American Robins and others. The smaller ones sure can be difficult to photograph – they’re in constant motion and when they’re still for a moment, it’s always behind a branch. Here’s one image I did manage to get:
Yellow-rumped Warbler – this one was out in the open and still for a moment.
We didn’t see any hummingbirds, although other people have recently sighted both Ruby-throated and Rufous varieties by the feeder.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Now – go make some photos!
