Orlando Trip in September

Good Morning Folks!

I am attending a conference at the Four Seasons Orlando from 9/28 - 10/1 and was wondering if anyone could recommend places close by for land/marsh/wetland scapes, and/or critterscapes.

I'll have time to shoot sunsets on 9/27, 9/28, and 9/29 since we'll let out at 4:00 P.M. If I can find something very interesting, I might be tempted to extend my stay into Friday 10/2, but the extra hotel night would be on me.

Before I lug gear to Orlando, I just wanna make sure the locations are close enough so I'll have enough time to catch sunsets.

Thanks for your attention, and have a great day!!

Freddy ..

From Orlando you are close to a lot of bird locations. It's a bit closer to the east coast which I'll cover it a bit. Everywhere you go in central Florida are little to big bodies of water with plenty of bird life. You'll see some right in the middle of Orlando.
You can easily reach Daytona Beach and New Smyrna beach for seashore birds. Behind the beaches, all the way to the keys are the marshes along the Intercoastal Waterway. Dedicated Bird areas are the Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve and west of Cocoa Beach and Melbourne are the Viera Wetlands, now named the Rich Grissom Memorial Wetlands and the Dan Click Ponds. See this site for more info:
http://www.brevardcoun​ty.us …alResources/Vie​raWetlands

There is a climatic dividing line between Volusia county and Brevard county. Certain birds and plants are easier to find in Brevard and others in Volusia rarely go more southward. Once in a great while you'll see a stray, of course. I remember someone got a shot of an African bird that had apparently been carried by winds across the Atlantic. It'll be too late for hatching season, but the large Alligator Farm outside St. Augustine has a rookery famous for the plumage of mating birds and nest fledglings in the spring.

Critters are also everywhere. Usually the easiest to capture are alligators and turtles, but you can see deer in the evening near any forested area and raccoon or opossum. Only luck will get you a bear or panther. Strangely bobcat sightings are up and I've see some recent good photos of those.

Email me, advaitin at earthlink dot net, if you have specific questions.

I would say I'd be happy to show you around, but I have a regimental reunion in Arlington, Va the same time frame.

Thank you sir for such detailed attention; I think I'll explore the wetlands you wrote about, and hopefully I can find at least one good sunset to make my trip.

I didn't know about the Alligator farm; I'll try to make that trip. Its so much easier to shoot critters in captivity; plus you don't need waders

I have friends who live in northern Orlando and their neighborhood is overrun with bears; it's funny to hear stories about evening walks abruptly ending, and garbage strewn about in the mornings

Thanks again for the advice.

Freddy ..

From where you are staying, you are in the midst of a few opportunities. The Butler chain of lakes is close by (Windermere/Bay Hill) and offers quite a bit in the way of water and bird life (eagles, herons, osprey, pelicans) and the occasional gator and otter; however, you need to hire a tour boat to take advantage. The lakes are developed (homes) but there are some undeveloped spots such as "bird island" which they take you to. We used Orlando Boat Tours. Was about $125 so may be an expensive option. In the same area is the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve. I have lived here a while and still haven't visited but it may be what you are looking for...at least it is close (10-15 min drive from the 4 Seasons). Good luck!