Florida Nature Photography Home

Swallowtail Butterflies of the American Southeast

Today I’m going to do a short and sweet post with a lot of photos highlighting three of the most beautiful swallowtails...

Profiles in Nature #4 – Squirrel Treefrog

Endemic to the United States, the squirrel treefrog (Hyla squirella) is an attractive native tree frog is native to the Coastal Plain ...

Profiles in Nature #3 – White-topped Pitcher Plant

Easily the most beautiful of North America’s native pitcher plants, the white-topped pitcher plant, also known as the white trumpet ...

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.

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…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

Carnivorous Plants!

Summertime in Florida not only means time at the beach and fun in the sun, it also means bugs! This month's featured gallery is all about carnivorous plants. They help keep the swarms of flies and mosquitos in check!

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Birds

Shorebird migration starts in mid-July, peaking in August.
Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter.
Look out for nesting shorebirds, and keep your vehicles and dogs from disturbing them.
Look for magnificent frigate birds flying overhead in South Florida.

Mammals

Baby raccoons, foxes, armadillos, possums, and bobcats leave dens and begin following parents.
Deer mating season in the Everglades.
Buck deer in new velvet may occasionally be spotted.
Second litters of gray squirrels are being born.
Black Bear breeding season starts.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Later this month, young alligators will begin to hatch.
In South Florida, young American crocodiles are hatching.
Listen for Eastern narrowmouth toads ("waaa", like a baying sheep) after heavy rains.
Lights out! Sea turtles emerge from their nests and head for the ocean. Females may become confused by lights on the beach.
Leatherback, loggerhead, and green sea turtles continue to crawl ashore to lay eggs.

Plants and Trees

Sea oats flower along the Atlantic.
Scrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom.

Orchids

Wild coco orchids begin to bloom in Southern Florida in swamps and pine scrubs.
Tall twayblade orchids start their summer blooming period in the Fakahatchee Strand and Big Cypress National Preserve.
The world-famous ghost orchid can now be found in bloom in the darkest parts of the Fakahatchee Strand.
Most species of fringed and crested orchids are in bloom in North Florida.

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.

Updates

I have the great honor to announce that my whooping crane photograph taken in 2008 in Central Florida was selected to be in the 2011 National Audubon Society calendar! Read more about it HERE.

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.