Florida Nature Photography Home

The Forgotten Coast

Why is it called "Forgotten?" There is a funny anecdote. A Florida tourism group in the 1990's forgot to include information for this area on their map -

Winter Wonderland

One of the most amazing places for winter nature photography in Florida that I know of is along the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico - St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Gulf Coast Hidden Secret

The strange thing about the skies when a storm blows in off the Gulf of Mexico, you can have a completely different skyscape in two opposite directions.

We are extremely happy and proud to announce a new way of providing you with the very best professional prints for your office, home or gallery.

Now we are offering not only prints, but a whole new range of customized frames, mats, and other accessories! All prints are shipped within three business days and come with a no questions asked 30 day return policy.

Learn More

…Notes from the Field is our brand new and updated blog (complete with a new look) that will relate experiences and stories about photographing all that is wild in Florida. It has replaced our “New Photos” page, and all of our new images will be presented here - including stories of what was involved to get these shots - camera tips and tricks for other photographers who really enjoy nature and the outdoors and want to learn more. You might even get a chuckle or two out of it!

Read the Latest Post

Something wonderful happens in the trees of Florida that is unique to the continental United States.

Our warm climate supports many species of wild epiphytic orchids that bloom seasonally throughout the year, which are legendary in the orchid world. Visit our featured gallery "Epidendreae" and see why these native beauties draw attention from around the world!

View the Gallery

Birds

Ospreys will begin nesting in North Florida near the end of the month.
North Florida woodcocks begin courtship behavior. Listen at dusk for their "peenting" in open fields.
Magnificent frigatebirds begin nesting in mangroves in the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas.
Pileated Woodpeckers begin their mating season and will start announcing territories by drumming on various objects including houses and telephone poles.
Little blue and tri-colored herons, wood and mottled ducks, and snail kites are beginning their nesting season.
Purple Finches and Pine Siskins begin their migration back to northern nesting areas.
Swallow-tailed kites begin returning to Florida from South America.
Greater sandhill cranes migrate from Florida northward to Michigan and Wisconsin.
Wood storks nesting in Corkscrew Swamp.
Snowy plovers start nesting.
Sooty terns nesting in the Dry Tortugas.
Wild turkeys and quail mate in South Florida.
Florida burrowing owls begin their nesting season.
Early purple martin scouts will start to appear in Florida this month.
Screech owls begin nesting in the central region of the state.

Mammals

Striped skunks begin their breeding season.
Eastern moles are breeding this month in tunnels under our lawns.
Pocket gophers begin their spring breeding season.
First litters of gray squirrels are born.
Bear cubs born in dens this month.
Deer fawns born in South Florida.
Watch for manatees in spring runs.

Reptiles

Alligator snapping turtles will start mating this month, with nesting activity throughout the spring.
American crocodiles begin mating, followed by nesting in April.
Leatherback sea turtles begin nesting on sandy beaches along the southeast coast.

Fish

Crappie and striped bass are spawning.
Large schools of Spanish mackerel roam Florida Bay.

Plants and Wildflowers

Look for yellow jessamine in treetops.
Trilliums and dogtooth violets bloom in Panhandle Ravines
Bald cypress trees leaf out in Big Cypress Swamp.

Orchids

Speckled Ladies'-tresses appear in remote damp woodlands.
Green adder's mouth orchids begin to appear in mixed forests in Central and North Florida.
Keep an eye out for bright red Fakahatchee beaked orchids in the Corkscrew Swamp and Fakahatchee Strand.

Data provided in part by UF Florida Wildlife Extension

FloridaNaturePhotography is a part of Leighton Photography & Imaging - our local photography business based in Tallahassee, Fl. Nature photography is a large part of what we do, but we are by no means limited to just that. Click HERE to find out more about our company.

Our photographs not related to nature photography can be seen HERE in our online gallery, or through Fine Art America.

If you are or represent a gallery, publisher/publication, exhibition, event, vendor/reseller, or any other group interested in our work, please contact Rich or Galina Leighton HERE for more information.

Last month we were the feature story in "Getaways by Design - The Online Magazine for Florida Travel" and it was a great opportunity to tell a little about our nature photography. Read it here - "Interview with Rich Leighton of Florida Nature Photography" by Marcus Adkins.

ALL SUBJECTS ARE PHOTOGRAPHED IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS. NO ANIMALS ARE IN CAPTIVITY OR POSED,
AND ALL PLANTS, INCLUDING ORCHIDS, ARE NATIVE AND NON-CULTIVATED.