Recommendations around Orlando

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Joe B

Joe B

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Hey y'all, I'm going to be down around Orlando Florida in February and will have some time to get away for photography. Any recommended spots I should make sure to check out?
 
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Assuming you’re primarily interested in birds and typical Florida wildlife, there are quite a few places worth checking out. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive which is open to automobile traffic Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 7:00am to 3:30pm and open to walk/bike any day is really good. Circle B Bar in Lakeland is really good. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is great. You might also consider a trip to Gatorland as the birds nest near the boardwalk providing great closeup photo opportunities. I haven’t been there in a quite a few years, but plan to get there this year again.
 
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Black Point Wildlife Drive over at Merritt Island as well…although that's a bit further from Orlando than the other two. I have Gatorland on meh to do list as well…and Orlando Wetlands Preserve is also a good spot at dawn or dusk.
 
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Thanks everyone. That's given me some good places to check out. Always nice to hear from folks that have visited places. As far as interests, I would be much more excited about an otter, fox, or bobcat (just examples) than most birds, but birds often have the advantage of being easier to find, as long as you're not looking for a specific species.
 
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Joe B said:
Thanks everyone. That's given me some good places to check out. Always nice to hear from folks that have visited places. As far as interests, I would be much more excited about an otter, fox, or bobcat (just examples) than most birds, but birds often have the advantage of being easier to find, as long as you're not looking for a specific species.
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Birds are easy to find everywhere in Florida. Foxes are likely going to be the most difficult find, but bobcats and otters are around Circle B Bar and Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.
 
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There are a few areas around me, that are awesome locations. Black Point Wildlife Drive is world-renowned for migratory birds. Huge events every year out there, but a nice, casual drive through the Indian River Marshes, and a great representation of the Canaveral National Seashore/Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Viera Wetlands is another. You want gators in the wild, Viera Wetlands is your place. Steve mentions it, in his 2.5 hour presentation on YT. If you go there, be aware. There are LOTS of gators. We also have places like Tossohatchee WMA, Kissimmee Prairie... You can take a look at a map of public areas, and/or MVUM, and these are all outlined with paths you can take. There is hardly a bad choice around here!
 
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Hey all, thanks again for the recommendations. I ended up checking out Viera Wetlands, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, and Circle B Bar Reserve, and none of them disappointed. I think Circle B ended up being my favorite, so here's a handful of my favorite shots from there plus my favorite gator shot from the trip, which came from Viera Wetlands.

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I'm pleased you had some successful photographic outings while you visited. You could spend a lot of time going to all of the good spots around Florida. Unfortunately, many are, and have been, being negatively impacted by development.
 
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