Cardinal Flower

Today’s post is about one of my favorite wildflowers found in the swampy hardwood forests along the Gulf Coast...

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Black-necked Stilts

A trio of black-necked stilts wading through the salt marshes of North Florida’s St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge...

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Ghost Orchid Photographed from an Unusual Angle

Ten years ago I spotted my first wild ghost orchid in the Fakahatchee Strand of Southwest Florida after literally years of...

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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!

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Birds

• It's breeding season for black-necked stilts, least terns and oystercatchers. They nest on spoil islands, undisturbed beaches, and even rooftops when their preferred habitat is unavailable.
• Mockingbirds may attack pedestrians who wander too close to nesting sites.
• Black skimmers hatch young on beaches.
• Laughing gulls hatch young on beaches and mangrove islands in Florida Bay.
• Red-cockaded woodpeckers are nesting.

Mammals

• Eighteen-month-old black bears separate from their mothers.
• The Southern Flying Squirrel is starting its breeding season.
• Red and Seminole bats give birth.

Reptiles

• It's the height of the Gopher Tortoise breeding season.
• Leatherback, loggerhead and green sea turtles continue to crawl ashore to lay eggs.
• Juvenile green sea turtles forage on hard bottom close to the southeast coast.
• Female alligators are building nests.
• Indigo snakes lay their eggs, sometimes in gopher tortoise burrows.

Fish

• Snook begin moving into inlets and passes.
• Migrating tarpon can be found almost anywhere in the Keys.

Invertebrates

• Cicadas emerge from their underground growth period to begin making their classic summer sound.
• Whelks spawn, laying long necklaces of eggs.
• Black sea urchins spawn throughout the summer at each full moon along the Keys.
• Sea squirts spawn on the grass flats.

Plants and Trees

• Tarflowers bloom in flatwoods.

Orchids

• The world famous ghost orchid is getting ready to bloom in South Florida sloughs and virgin cypress swamps.
• Worm-vine vanilla orchids begin to bloom in the mangroves and coastal areas of the Florida Everglades.
• Oblong-leaved vanilla orchids bloom early in the morning in the Fakahatchee Strand, wilting by late morning.
• The butterfly orchid goes into bloom in the entire southern half of the state.

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.