It was slow at Lake Lotus this morning. I first drove by an orange grove nearby to see what I could find–the most interesting find was a small flock of House Finches. Then I went to Lake Lotus and walked the boardwalk. The most interesting bird I found there was a Swamp Sparrow, but my […]
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.
Lake Apopka, 12/14/2012
So I braved the 4 mile Lake Apopka Loop Trail again. It’s a challenge, not just because it’s an 8 mile walk round drip, but also because the trail is hard, compact gravel much of the way, so I’m always sore when I get back. This morning it was cold (by Florida standards) and windy, […]
River Otter
River Otters are very common here in Central Florida, and I love their seemingly playful natures. They usually stay pretty far away from me, but on a few occasions, especially if I stay very still, they’ve come pretty close. My favorite photo is the one above, but for some reason, I do enjoy the shots […]
White-tailed Deer
It was a slow morning for bird photography today, but three White-tailed Deer were kind enough to walk by as I was looking for sparrows at Marl Bed Flats. Two of them allowed me to take their picture. So I thought it would be fitting today to expand my wildlife galleries here to include mammals. […]
Snail Kites in Florida
Snail Kites are a fascinating raptor and a lesson in the adaptation and specialization that occurs in species. They are found in tropical marshlands and lake shores, and theyfeed almost exclusively on Apple Snails. They have been seen feeding on crayfish in areas where the population of Apple Snails has depleted, but their talons are […]
Swallow-tailed Kites
Swallow-tailed Kites have begun migrating back into Central Florida, and I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate their arrival with a tribute here. These kites are easily recognizable by the white head and body, black on their wings, and a deeply forked, black tail. These are one of my absolute favorite species of birds. […]
Reddish Egrets in Florida
Reddish Egrets are the rarest, and arguably the most beautiful, of the Florida herons. Once relatively common along the coastlines of Florida in the 19th century, plume hunters nearly eradicated the species from Florida by the early 20th century. Since the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Reddish Egret has been increasing in numbers in […]