Wrens do not top the list of birds that are difficult to identify, but for newer birders they can present a challenge. With practice they can be identified by their sounds alone–they’re vocal enough that they can frequently be detected and identified without being seen. But at first glance, they tend to look similar – […]
Author: Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
Marl Bed Flats, 11/30/2013
This morning I went to Marl Bed Flats with my father and a friend of mine. We had a pretty great time. We saw all the usual suspects: Sedge Wrens, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harrier, Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and Sora. The biggest highlight for me was seeing a Merlin in the distance–the first I’ve seen […]
Marsh Wren at the North Tract of Lake Jesup CA
Right near the entrance of the North Tract of the Lake Jesup Conservation Area, there’s a little pond with a couple very vocal Marsh Wrens. One of them was very photogenic and allowed me to get a few photos. I found this bird a couple weeks ago, and I’m just getting around to posting them. […]
Loggerhead Shrike Feasts on a Mole Cricket
I found several Loggerhead Shrikes on Brumley Road not far from my house. This one had impaled a Mole Cricket on the barbed wire fence. As I drove by it flew up and perched on the fence by the cricket. After a few seconds, it pulled it off the barbed wire, held it for a […]
Mead Gardens, 10/26/2013
Mead Gardens has been exceptionally slow all fall with very few warblers stopping by. But I still like to visit from time to time, especially during the Orange Adubon Society Birdwalks. So yesterday morning I joined the group that was there and had a great time. The biggest highlight was seeing a couple Red-headed Woodpeckers. […]
Grasshopper Sparrows Have Returned
I love fall migration, don’t get me wrong, but I get really excited when sparrows start coming in. This past Saturday I found my first Savannah Sparrow at Merritt Island, and today I went to my favorite local spot for sparrows on a little street south of Lake Jesup. It’s just a fence line with […]
Bald Eagle Attacking an Osprey
It was perhaps the most thrilling second of birding of my life. Several times over the last couple years I’ve seen Bald Eagles harass Ospreys when they have a fish. The Osprey is just minding it’s own business eating its fish when an eagle attacks in an attempt to bully the fish away from the […]
American Redstart at Central Winds Park
Yesterday at Central Winds I had the opportunity to photograph a female American Redstart. She was in under a dense canopy of trees before it was fully light, so these photographs were taken at 3200 ISO. This just creates a lot of work for me in my computer, but a couple of these I thought […]