Ken came to Australia last July and we then headed off to Papua New Guinea together for a birding excursion. He lives 2 hours away, in Jacksonville, and he drove half way on the 11th and camped at Salt Springs. It was my impression that we would see some birds and then head to tMerrit Island and camp. The day started out on plan, Ken arrived to pick me up, we visited with Leslie a bit and then we went to tour the Orlando Wetlands. This is a large area specially set aside and re-created as a wetland. The need was to filter some of Orlando's reclaimed water and what better way than to create a great habitat for birds. We spent a few hours here, perhaps time that we did not have in abundance, more on that in another post.
A swallow tailed kite seen on the ride
A sflt shell turtle on the road to the wetlands
Jungle road sounds right
Gopher tortoise
We have arrived and have a map!
Blue winged teal today's lifebird #1
Savannah Sparrow lifebird #2
Eastern Phoebe
One rugged looking wood Stork
White Ibis
Limpkin
Iris
Two glossy ibis having a spat!
We have a winner
The trails are well marked
This little blue heron is not yet blue!
Western Harrier lifebird #3
He is looking for lunch
This sandhill crane is too big
A pied billed grebe might be just the meal
Off on an island is a roost for rosette spoonbills
Redwing Blackbird
Gator
Tri-colored heron
Green Heron
A whole mess of coots!
Swamp Sparrow
Wood Stork in flight
Rosette spoonbill
The wetlands have been created to filter the Orlando wastewater
Spoonbill
Nap time
Herons on the nest
It is hot out here
Hidden
Extra swampy
Bald cypresses
All these trees had birds in them
Arrrrgh, it is a gar
An entire spoonbill family
A plumed egret
Hungry chicks
Lunch time
Everyone is loving this spot
Fish and their nests
Red shouldered hawk
A Purple Gallienne lifebird #4
One huge load that passed us on the highway!
A big wheel on our way to the Mosquito Lagoon
We had to stock up so BOGO bacon sounded fantastic
