Orlando area trip- thanks for the help!

Found myself in Orlando with family for a soccer tournament over the holiday. Had to visit Disney while there but just knew there must be someplace close to squeeze in a few quick shots of the amazing birds in Florida. Did a quick archive search here on POTN and found Merritt Island and Viera Wetlands about an hour away. What a great time I had in each! Will need to plan an actual photography trip down there sometime soon, what a place! Thanks for all the previous posts that gave me the direction I needed!

1)

Nice shots, everyone of them. If you go to that area in late spring, check out Gatorland. Sounds like a hokey gator park, but the rookery they have there is outstanding for its bird families. Lots of chicks then and they are very close to you and easy to photograph. The birds are very used to people.

These are very nice indeed! I love #2 and 4. Lovely.

Thanks guys! Read about Gatorland but yes was turned off by name. Sounds interesting though, saw earlier that it is not open early for photographers anymore? Amazing what a difference shooting at dawn makes vs. mid day- so much activity!

Very nice. Next time in you need to also try Circle Bar B Ranch in Lakeland which is close to Orlando. And if you have time a trip to Ft Desoto in St Petersburg. Just don't try to visit them in summer or heat and bug's will be a bit much.

Awesome series,Love the Spoonie on the perch. Florida is a bird photogs heaven in Winter ( my experience), and Spring . In my opinion.

andrewhuxman wrote in post #13721055
Awesome series,Love the Spoonie on the perch. Florida is a bird photogs heaven in Winter ( my experience), and Spring . In my opinion.

Thanks, actually a bunch of them flew into the tree along with their cousins. Just printed this one out on canvas.

Stuart Leslie wrote in post #13721383
Thanks, actually a bunch of them flew into the tree along with their cousins. Just printed this one out on canvas.

Very Cool, was this at Merrit Island?

andrewhuxman wrote in post #13721745
Very Cool, was this at Merrit Island?

No, that was Viera Wetlands, in the middle of the afternoon unfortunately! Looking forward to getting back there in the morning some time.

I'm planning on heading that way next month myself and these shots are making the wait worse. I really like the stork. Nice work.

Stuart Leslie wrote in post #13721877
No, that was Viera Wetlands, in the middle of the afternoon unfortunately! Looking forward to getting back there in the morning some time.

Thats awesome to see Spoonies at Viera..... good to know when I return to the bird paradise .

Candor wrote in post #13722384
I'm planning on heading that way next month myself and these shots are making the wait worse. I really like the stork. Nice work.

Thanks... the stork started out as a trio, then that one went on his own and I got down on my belly on the beach to get the sky in the shot:

Really good shots Stuart. It's hard to pick a favorite but I 'm leaning towards #3.