There are many wonderful birding places around Lake Jesup, but the Lake Jesup CA easily has the most acreage. The conservation area is divided into three tracts: East Tract, North Tract, and the Marl Bed Flats Tract. All three tracts have value and are good places to visit, but finding these tracts can sometimes be […]
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.
Joe Overstreet and E. Lake Toho, 2/9/2013
It’s always fun when you get two lifers in two days. Yesterday a Lincoln’s Sparrowand this morning a Long-billed Curlew. I drove down to the Joe Overstreet Landing and had a great time there. The Curlew was very cooperative and easily found. It was hanging out with numerous Wilson’s Snipe. Then I found a Crested […]
Swamp Sparrow Weirdness
Swamp Sparrow The other day I found some odd-looking Swamp Sparrows. For comparison, I thought I’d first show a couple normal-looking Swamp Sparrows. These top two photos have either no streaking or very diffuse streaking on the breast. Swamp Sparrow This one below has streaking a little more well-defined, and I’m no good at aging […]
Orlando Wetlands Park, 2/2/2013
This morning I went to Orlando Wetlands Park. I was hoping to see the Vermilion Flycatchers that were seen there this past November, and I found both without much difficulty. They’re such a beautiful red I can’t miss them even with my red-green colorblindness. They were pretty far a way, but since they’re such pretty […]
Photography and Birding Hotspots in Seminole County, FL
When I first moved to Central Florida, the first places I visited for nature and bird photography were in Brevard and Orange Counties. I didn’t know of any good places to visit in Seminole County where I live. Every new place I found was in another county. But last year I began discovering my home. […]
Canal St, 1/29/2013
It doesn’t look like much, but this little fence on Canal St just south of Lake Jesup is quickly becoming one of my favorite places for photographing sparrows and other perching birds. This morning was one of my best sparrow photo days. I was hoping to find a White-crowned Sparrow here, which I didn’t find, […]
Le Conte’s Sparrow at Marl Bed Flats, 1/28/2013
Well, third time’s a charm. I’ve seen a Le Conte’s Sparrow twice here before this morning (both times with a group), but no photos. This morning I walked out by myself, hoping to find one and finally photograph it. Score! Le Conte’s Sparrows have now skyrocketed in my estimation to the prettiest sparrow I’ve photographed, […]
Lake Apopka, 1/26/2013
Beyond finding the Brown-crested Flycatcher and other flycatchers I was looking for, I had fun finding other birds as well. Several birds posed for photographs, most notably Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Phoebe, and Ospreys. Also a Red Admiral landed on a tree trunk for me. In my haste to find the flycatchers, I didn’t stop much […]