Central Florida Wetlands
I went up to central Florida to visit with my favorite birding buddy (my mom) for a couple days. I had the goal of getting good photos of a Florida scrub jay and a roseate spoonbill. Our first stop was the Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge. We went about 20 feet into the trail and saw our first scrub jay in a pine tree. We continued on deeper into the trails knowing we would find better lighting and more birds. After about half a mile we found a juvenile scrub jay who had a lot to say and I snapped away with my camera until my heart was content.
For our spoonbill search, we went out to Orlando Wetlands, Viera Wetlands, and Black Point Drive. While at Black Point, we saw plenty of wading birds but the highlight was an eastern kingbird perched on a bush right before we exited the drive. We went twice to Viera wetlands right before sunset and saw over 40 spoonbills each time as they flew in for the night to roost. While photographing some spoonbills, I accidentally upset a black-necked stilt. It decided my lingering was too close to its nest and circled me, chirping until I got the message and moved a few feet to my left. I thought we had hit the jackpot at Viera until we went to Orlando. I had never been to Orlando Wetlands before. It was filled with spoonbills in the trees along the boardwalk with a couple standing on the railing of the boardwalk. The area was echoing with juveniles calling out for food from their parents. I grew particularly fond of one young spoonbill standing on the boardwalk with a feather out of place and with that my goal for the week was accomplished.
