Saturday at Orlando Wetlands
Yesterday I returned to Orlando Wetlands for a chance to photograph the Roseate Spoonbills again. I left Tampa early, about 6 AM, and arrived at Orlando Wetlands in my camper van around 8 AM. The weather was cool in the mid-sixties with no wind and high clouds in the sky.
I chose to pair my Nikon Z8 with the Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens, handheld. I knew I would be seeing birds of a variety of sizes, so the zoom lens was the perfect choice for this outing.
I headed straight for the boardwalk. As expected, the boardwalk was crowded but every one was quiet and respectful. Everyone was focused on the Roseate Spoonbills. However, the first thing that drew my attention was a small Green Heron, then a Purple Gallinule close to the boardwalk. Both were in beautiful Spring plumage.
Green Heron. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 sec, ISO 640.
Purple Gallinule. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 330mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1800.
I then tried to get a shot on the spoonies but had trouble finding a clear shot of anything interesting. Plus, the birds were all nesting east of the boardwalk which meant shooting directly into the light. Rather than fight the crowds and the light, I decided to move on.
About half way down the boardwalk there is an exit onto a trail that runs between two impoundments. I had a lot of fun on this section of the walk as I could put the sun at my back and it wasn’t crowded.
A Glossy Ibis caught my attention with its dazzling iridescent feathers. It was feeding right next to the trail and allowed me to get very close without any disturbance. I sat on the ground (getting my butt nice and wet with morning dew) and I took a few hundred shots. This one is probably my favorites, with the water trailing as he knocks back a little snail or something.
Glossy Ibis. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 390mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1400.
Just a few feet further down the trail an Eastern Phoebe caught my attention. He would perch up on a small tree branch to look for insects below. When he spotted one, he would fly down, catch it, then either fly to another perch or return to this one. He was about 25 feet from me, so I was surprised at the detail I got in this heavily cropped photo.
Eastern Phoebe. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1250.
In the same area a Palm Warbler was flying around catching mosquitoes. He was perching up in a stand of tall grass which was a beautiful perch. I was probably the only photographer at the Wetlands that day who took more photos of a Palm Warbler than of spoonbills. Ha!
Palm Warbler. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 2500.
Palm Warbler. All fluffed out and looking rather cute. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1600.
Palm Warbler. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400.
Numerous Swamp Sparrows could also be found along the trail feeding on insects in the brush. They seemed a little more wary than the Palms, but were still more focused on food than me.
Swamp Sparrow. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 490mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 900.
Returning to the area near the new visitor’s center, I came across a Roseate Spoonbill working a shallow area all by himself. I was high up on the trail, so to get somewhat lower I laid down on my belly. I often find that “getting small” like this also puts birds at ease and they tolerate your presence alot more than if you stand there pointing a camera at them.
Soon a White Ibis came in and the two had a “face to face” moment. It was brief as the spoonbill chased off the ibis.
White Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill. A “face to face” encounter. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/8, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1100.
Roseate Spoonbill. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 350mm, f/6.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1250.
Roseate Spoonbill. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 350mm, f/6.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1000.
I eventually made my way back to the boardwalk to see if I might have better luck with the spoonbills. There was a lot more people on the boardwalk, but still plenty of room to maneuver. The birds were more active now, flying around to gather nesting material or to fend invaders off their nest.
Roseate Spoonbill. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 320mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1400.
Roseate Spoonbill. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 300mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1250.
The star of the boardwalk had to be a nest of Roseate Spoonbills that had four chicks in it. One of the teaspoons was bigger than the other, two were mid-sized, and one was small and rarely stuck his head up. That nest was pretty far from the boardwalk, but my 180-600mm lens held up. A better choice would have been either the 600mm f/4 or the 800mm f/6.3.
Roseate Spoonbills. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 sec, ISO 2800.
Notably, I did not see the Sandhill Crane family with little colts, nor the Vermilion Flycatcher that has been getting attention for months.
Traffic on my return trip back to Tampa on I-4 was absolutely horrific. I spent more time driving back than I did birding at the wetlands so the next time I go I’ll camp in the area and return when the traffic isn’t such a mess.
Spring birding is definitely picking up and there is lots to see throughout the Sunshine State. I’ll probably head out to De Soto next weekend, and Cape Coral the following weekend. The owlets should start leaving their burrows soon.
Happy birding!
