Matthew Herron

Thank you!

Immature purple gallinule, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

I have noticed that tyrant flycatchers often return to the same perch after flying off to chase prey, so when this one took off, I stayed focused on the cattail, and she didn't let me down.
Vermilion flycatcher, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Just how fast and maneuverable do you have to be to catch a damselfly on the wing?
Vermilion flycatcher, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

I have not seen her today, though

Another coincidence (sort of): I'm there right now!

Female vermilion flycatcher balancing on cattails on a windy day at Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida Vermilion flycatcher

I post photos more or less chronologically (we're currently in late January, 2026), but my videos are more like "when I get to it." This one coincides with the last few photos: vermilion flycatcher balancing in the wind, Orlando Wetlands Park, FL
youtu.be/a41RQ_SxudM
#birds #wildlifephotography

The wind was gusting up to 30 mph, so she was working hard just to balance on top of the constantly-moving cattails.
Vermilion flycatcher, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Thank you!

A helpful birder pointed out this female vermilion flycatcher making a circuit among the cattails at Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

A journey of a thousand miles begins with Google Maps having no idea where it is.

Limpkin, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida. The limpkin is the only species in its family, Aramidae, in the order Gruiformes with cranes and rails. They mainly feed on snails, and Florida is the only place in the US that they're regularly found.
#birds #wildlifephotography

Purple gallinule, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida. Most of their range is in South America, and Florida is the only place in the US they're regularly found year-round.
#birds #wildlifephotography

Savannah sparrow, Orlando Wetlands Park, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

The second day in Florida, I was scheduled to meet my old college roommates for a late lunch in Orlando (we all went to #UCF), so I spent the morning at Orlando Wetlands Park, another treasure I was unaware of when I lived there. I caught this green heron hunting.
#birds #wildlifephotography

Four anhinga nestlings begging for food and occasionally being fed by their parent, near the Royal Palm Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Florida. Anhinga nestlings begging for food

Anhinga nestlings begging for food, Everglades National Park, Florida
youtu.be/xq8AY6Sj4C4
#birds #wildlifephotography

Thank you!

Black skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Juvenile reddish egret hunting, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Reddish egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Black skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Sick of reddish egrets yet? There are lots more to come.
Reddish egret bathing, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

A pair of brown-headed nuthatches snuggling together for warmth on a cold, wet, and windy day in Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina Brown headed nuthatches snuggling

Brown-headed nuthatches snuggling on a cold, wet, and windy day, Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina
youtu.be/95wCYDTpOMg
#birds #wildlifephotography

Tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Supporting exciting biological sciences ideas and impacts on AI and biotechnology

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More reddish egret hunting, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

In person it's usually more on the silly end of the spectrum

A slightly agitated tricolored heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
#birds #wildlifephotography

Reddish egrets are known for their extremely active hunting behavior: running, jumping, twirling, and shading the water with their wings...the ballerinas of the heron world. It would have been worth the drive to Florida just to see this.
Merritt Island NWR, FL
#birds #wildlifephotography