Posted by Jonathan Lent on November 17, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Hello everyone. I am heading down to Kissimmee, FL for a week. This is close to Orlando. I am looking for some spots to find osprey and other wildlife shots. Didn't know if there are any cool parks or maybe areas to find large amounts of wildlife.
Cape Canaveral is east of Orlando, but we found all your dreams in and around the waterways there. We were in a boat (fly fishing), but spent the whole time wishing we were carrying cameras instead.
It's a lot further to drive, but we were even happier (because this time we had out cameras) in the Audubon's Corkscrew refuge southeast of Fort Meyers. Wow! Well worth a day trip or even an overnight so you can catch the first and last hours when people are scant.
Posted by Drew Fulton on November 17, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Jonathan,
I grew up in Orlando so know the area well. For Osprey, it is hard to beat heading to the coasts but it isn't always necessary as they are found throughout the state. As far as other wildlife and birds go, there are a ton of options. In the Kissimmee Area, try the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Joe Overstreet Road, and the boat ramps along that road. Lake Kissimmee State Park can also be good. If you can get on the lake (and there are photo guides available but i don't have details), then you can do really well too.
A bit farther afield gives you options to go to Fort Desoto in St. Petersburg which has herons, egrets, spoonbills, shorebirds, ospreys, and more. Merritt Island NWR in Titusville and Viera Wetlands in Melbourne on the east coast both produce similar wildlife too.
Let me know if you are after anything else specific.
Jon, I Did a spectacular workshop a couple years ago with Jim Neiger in Kissimmee. He takes you out on his custom boat for the kites, osprey, pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, and lots more.
If there is any way you can arrage even a DAY with him, do it - you'll get shots of a lifetime.
You'll also learn to hand-hold a long lens so you're not messing with tripods. It's nearly impossible to get flight shots with a tripod. ALL my bird shots now are hand-held, like this sandhill:
Posted by Luke Ormand on November 18, 2010 at 9:06 AM
I was in Orlando last April (downtown near the stadium that the Magic play at) and all the ponds without walking distance of my hotel were loaded with birds... Moorhens, Anighas, Wood Ducks, White Ibises, RWBB etc. I think any pond you see is worth a look...
I also visited these gardens in Orlando which certainly offer a wide variety of flowers and butterflies and there is plenty of bird life too. I captured a Pileated woodpecker, Osprey, Red Shoulder Hawk and some herons and wood ducks there as well.
Posted by Drew Fulton on November 18, 2010 at 9:55 AM
I was in Orlando last April (downtown near the stadium that the Magic play at) and all the ponds without walking distance of my hotel were loaded with birds... Moorhens, Anighas, Wood Ducks, White Ibises, RWBB etc. I think any pond you see is worth a look...
I grew up a few miles from there and while yes, those ponds can have some great birds, they are also in one of the roughest areas of town, at least where the old arena was (new one opened a couple weeks ago). I would caution walking around with expensive gear in that area. I am not trying to scare you, I just wouldn't recommend it. If you are looking for ponds downtown with wintering ducks and the resident moorhens, anhingas, ibis, herons, limpkin, etc then let me know. I can direct you to several in a different part of town.
In addition to Leu Gardens, Mead Gardens is also a great spot. Unlike Leu Gardens, most of Mead Gardens is native plantings and it also happens to be free. They also are just a few miles apart.
Drew
Posted by Luke Ormand on November 18, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Drew,
Thanks for that disclaimer... probably should have mentioned that! There are quite a few homeless people that hangout there...and it was def. a little sketchy. However, walking a little bit away I was immersed in some ponds surrounded by very nice homes. But yes, listen to Drew!
Posted by Jonathan Lent on November 18, 2010 at 6:34 PM
I can't thank everyone enough for all of the info here.
Sandy thanks for the workshop info, sounds like a great day. Great shot of the sandbill too.
Drew, will def check out some of your suggestions.
Luke, I am always prepared to start swinging my tripod like a mad man if I have to.
I live in Cocoa Beach, one hour east of Orlando. In the morning and evening you can usually see several ospreys from any causeway (bridges over Indian and Banana Rivers). Head to Jetty Park to see pelicans. Herons and egrets can be found up and down the rivers. Finally, to the West of I-95, in Viera, you can reach the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands (Viera Wetlands), a manmade habitat that attracts lots of migrating birds during the winter. I haven't been out there of late, but I'm told the winter visitors are already showing up. Here's a link to the web page.
http://www.brevardcounty.us/environmental_management/VieraWetlands-Home.cfm
Hope you have a great trip!
~Michele Williams
Discussion
8 repliesThanks in advance for any helpful info.
Cape Canaveral is east of Orlando, but we found all your dreams in and around the waterways there. We were in a boat (fly fishing), but spent the whole time wishing we were carrying cameras instead.
It's a lot further to drive, but we were even happier (because this time we had out cameras) in the Audubon's Corkscrew refuge southeast of Fort Meyers. Wow! Well worth a day trip or even an overnight so you can catch the first and last hours when people are scant.
I grew up in Orlando so know the area well. For Osprey, it is hard to beat heading to the coasts but it isn't always necessary as they are found throughout the state. As far as other wildlife and birds go, there are a ton of options. In the Kissimmee Area, try the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Joe Overstreet Road, and the boat ramps along that road. Lake Kissimmee State Park can also be good. If you can get on the lake (and there are photo guides available but i don't have details), then you can do really well too.
A bit farther afield gives you options to go to Fort Desoto in St. Petersburg which has herons, egrets, spoonbills, shorebirds, ospreys, and more. Merritt Island NWR in Titusville and Viera Wetlands in Melbourne on the east coast both produce similar wildlife too.
Let me know if you are after anything else specific.
Drew
If there is any way you can arrage even a DAY with him, do it - you'll get shots of a lifetime.
You'll also learn to hand-hold a long lens so you're not messing with tripods. It's nearly impossible to get flight shots with a tripod. ALL my bird shots now are hand-held, like this sandhill:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=159749&CGISESSID=aa4298b448c23aa8654fff8657f40d79&u=25820
Jim's website: http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/FSP%20Current%20Workshops.htm
Jim's email: jimn@cfl.rr.com
Good luck - have fun, whatever you do.
Sandy
I also visited these gardens in Orlando which certainly offer a wide variety of flowers and butterflies and there is plenty of bird life too. I captured a Pileated woodpecker, Osprey, Red Shoulder Hawk and some herons and wood ducks there as well.
I grew up a few miles from there and while yes, those ponds can have some great birds, they are also in one of the roughest areas of town, at least where the old arena was (new one opened a couple weeks ago). I would caution walking around with expensive gear in that area. I am not trying to scare you, I just wouldn't recommend it. If you are looking for ponds downtown with wintering ducks and the resident moorhens, anhingas, ibis, herons, limpkin, etc then let me know. I can direct you to several in a different part of town.
In addition to Leu Gardens, Mead Gardens is also a great spot. Unlike Leu Gardens, most of Mead Gardens is native plantings and it also happens to be free. They also are just a few miles apart.
Drew
Thanks for that disclaimer... probably should have mentioned that! There are quite a few homeless people that hangout there...and it was def. a little sketchy. However, walking a little bit away I was immersed in some ponds surrounded by very nice homes. But yes, listen to Drew!
Sandy thanks for the workshop info, sounds like a great day. Great shot of the sandbill too.
Drew, will def check out some of your suggestions.
Luke, I am always prepared to start swinging my tripod like a mad man if I have to.
http://www.brevardcounty.us/environmental_management/VieraWetlands-Home.cfm
Hope you have a great trip!
~Michele Williams