Views From Our Kayak: Orlando Wetlands Park (NKP)

Least Bittern

The combination of the Thursday workout, the kayaking Friday against a strong wind in the St. Johns River, and my wife bailing out at the last moment from our kayaking trip (again), took the winds out of my sails. That being said, after getting ready to go kayaking decided to leave the yak in ground today and visited the Orlando Wetlands Park. The park is near where I live and it is such an incredible place to see wildlife that this was an easy audible. Had a nice 4 hours walk there and came out with a few nice pics of subjects I do not see often, like the Least Bittern above. Also saw a Sora and an American Bittern.

Glossy Ibis flight

The following link will take you to a web site where you will find more information about the Orlando Wetlands Park, including location. As it is my habit for NKP, or non kayaking posts, will post the pictures without too many comments. That being said, here we go...

Juvenile Ibis

Great Egret

Purple Gallinule

Moorhen

Coot

Great Blue Heron

Glossy Ibis

???

Now, that is a professional

Purple Gallinule

Great Egret

Blue Winged Teal & Coots

Gator in the algae

Great Blue Heron

Gator

Aggressive mid sized gator. Swam from where it was to where I was standing taking pics and even came out of the water. Probably has been fed by someone. Reported it to a lady volunteer... had to. It is dangerous. Sadly the little fellow will pay for some human stupidity.

Same gator as above. I moved away. It jumped back into the water when a pick up truck drove by

???

Tri-Colored Heron

Wood Ducks. Female and male from left to right. The male is missing a leg

Tri-Colored Heron

Female Red Winged Bird

A Least Bittern flew away from reeds near me. Did not have time for a pic. Then a Sora came flying and did hide in the same reeds the Least Bittern flew from. Ahhhhh....bad timing. A Park Volunteer was driving by and told me about the bitterns..."Yes. I saw one and a Sora too. Did not have time for a pic". The volunteer left with the park guests and I decided to wait for a while for a Least Bittern Pic. Maybe the Sora will also show up. I was so lucky...no later than 5 minutes after located the Least Bittern hiding in another reeds and while was taking the pics, the Sora showed up and did not mind me taking several pics...

Least Bittern

Sora

Realized a Great Blue Heron was agitated and watched it to see what was the deal. It came out with some kind of animal and flew from the water to the middle of the trail. Here is the sequence...

The Great Blue Heron grabbed the prey

Flew to the middle of the trail away from the water

Speared it with its beak

The prey was still trying to fight

Another strike by the Great Blue Heron

The prey, whatever it was, was still fighting

Fight is over. Well, it was never a fight

One last strike from the Great Blue Heron...just to be sure. That is how nature works

Rest of the pics coming now...

Flying anhinga

Female Anhinga

Bald Eagle

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

American Bittern. Just gave me a chance for a long shot

TBD

And this is it for this one. Will post a few more pics on our Facebook Page so you are invited to check them. Thanks for coming and check us again soon...we will be sharing more Views From Our Kayak.