ORLANDO WETLANDS PARK

This park closes on November 15 and reopens February 1.  This was the last time I could go this year.  There is always a wide variety of bird life and today it didn't disappoint.

 Barred Owl

Green Heron

Pair of Bald Eagles

Damselflies mating

Limpkin

Roosting and feeding wading birds

Great Blue Herons

 Belted Kingfisher

Anhinga

Purple Gallinule

 Common Moorhen

Vermillion Flycatcher - a rare bird in Florida

Boat-tailed Grackle

MAINE NORTH WOODS - BIRDS

Here are a selection of birds that we saw on the trip.

Ruffed Grouse

 Immature Bald Eagle

 Black-backed Woodpecker

 Spruce Grouse

 Common Raven

 Swainson's Thrush - my guess

Gray Jay

 Black-capped Chickadee

 Dark-eyed Junco

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Woodcock

MAINE NORTH WOODS - MAMMALS

I spent eight days chasing moose in the north woods of Maine.  Six days north of Moosehead Lake out of Boulet Sporting Camps and two days around Millinocket/Baxter State Park.  The leaves were at the peak and the weather was great, only one rainy day.  The first post will have mammals, second birds and the third the landscape.

 First bull

Second bull - first one we called in on second morning

 Second bull - second bull we called in, late afternoon.  Same bull as we called in the morning.  Within a mile of the other location.

 Third bull - end of a logging road

 Fisher - a member of the weasel family.  Size is between a otter and a mink

Fourth bull - caught the biggest moose of the trip crossing the road in front of us

 First cow

 

Fifth bull -  We went to Sandy Stream Pond in Baxter State Park and caught this deformed antlered bull eating weeds in the middle of the pond.  A couple of calls and he came grunting right by the rock we were standing on.

Sixth bull - little spike bull with a great background of fall leaves

Red Squirrel - These little guys are everywhere making a ton noise in the north woods.

Second cow -  We called this cow in, first seeing her down the road at 150 yards til we scared her off at 18 feet.  Way to close for an 1000 lb. animal.

Seventh bull - This bull came in while the last cow was walking up to us.  He hung back at about 50 yards to see what would happen with the cow.