Autumn is a great time to pick up your camera and hit the trails. While some people don’t take notice of Florida’s fall colors, I’m here to tell you they are everywhere and they are vivid. Forget about all those who go on about subtle fall colors and take a look around.
The most vivid sign of fall is the Painted Bunting. That’s right, in Florida one certain sign of fall are migratory birds, including the Painted Bunting, the Ruby-Throated Humming Bird and the White Pelican. Autumn is when those gorgeous birds start arriving in Florida. The timing couldn’t be better for photographers.
Several factors make fall the perfect opportunity to get into your Florida photo habit. The humidity here tends to drop mid-season, so there’s still plenty of warm days but they are generally drier. The sun rises later, so for those who like to sleep in, you could linger under the covers and still get good morning light from 8 to 10 a.m. The birds are most active as the sun rises between 7 and 7:30 a.m. but they are still out hunting for food until mid morning. (If you like to sleep til noon, try for the late afternoon light and some popular feeding spots).
If good light and less humidity are not enough to motivate you, consider the diversity of species this time of year. Migratory patterns bring the most amazing species through Florida. Monarch butterflies are on their way to Mexico, while ducks fill the skies and the ponds, including the redhead ducks, northern shoveler and green-winged teal. The Northern Harrier comes to hunt and orioles and buntings, indigo and painted, lend their beautiful colors to Florida in the fall and winter.
And if birds aren’t your thing, there are all sorts of other wildlife you can see on the move. Gators like to sunbathe on the shores during the cooler weather. The later sunrises offer better opportunities to get a glimpse of deer, raccoons and bobcats.
Florida’s fall plant life is as spectacular as anything you can see in the mountains if you keep your eyes open. Sea grapes are in abundance right now. wild flowers are blooming and attracting the butterflies and bees and star fruit and citrus are maturing and turning from green to bright orange and yellow.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get outside and enjoy the colors and beauty of nature without having to put on a jacket. And if you want a little help capturing the perfect photos, you can join me for one-on-one or group photo lessons by appointment. Look for my upcoming photo excursions for 2020. The first group excursion will be a morning in Robinson Preserve on Jan. 18 to learn bird photography. Gift Certificates are available for Christmas gifts.
