Orlando Wetlands

Today we went to Orlando Wetlands Park. The call it a park, but it’s really a nature preserve where the city of Orlando reclaims runoff water. A lot of the winter residents are making their way back from their summer elsewhere. Our tour guide (and friend) Pam took us out on the tram tour of the park. It’s a rather large place so to see it, you should take the tram so that you get a good idea where everything is.

Black Crowned Night Heron

Red Shouldered Hawk

Smiling Alligator that was not interested in us passing by. It seemed happy anyway.

Sandhill Crane family preening in the middle of the trail

Synchronized preening

Sandhill Cranes playing Copycat

Common Yellowthroat

Bald Eagle high up in a tree

Bald Eagle hanging a foot off the branch

Green Heron in the weeds

Eastern Kingbird

Sandhill Crane family foraging in the tall grass

The Sandhill Crane gang clearing out the street

While sitting on a bench, the Sandhill Cranes came up to me. So close, I couldn’t fit the whole bird in the frame. Notice all of the tiny flies around it’s head.

Another super closeup as the Sandhill Cranes walked right past me.

Bald Eagle sitting atop a tree watching the Whistling Ducks in the pond below.

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks flying past while doing laps around the pond.

Bald Eagle in the sun

Bald Eagle giving a “You can’t be serious” look.

Bald Eagle calling out for us to come back and see it again soon!

Orlando Wetlands is a great place for birding and being out in nature. We didn’t go out on the boardwalk this time, but that is a fantastic place once the Egrets and Spoonbills start nesting and having little ones. We’ll be back there again soon!