North central Florida is home to a wide range of ecosystems and the oak hammock wetlands are stunning in spring. A rich and diverse number of species can be found throughout the multiple layers of this environment. From the prehistoric calls of the limpkins echoing through the dense hammock to the sweet trill of the grasshopper sparrow, we will explore two different locations during this single day photography tour to make the most of what the area has to offer.

Up early, we head out in the cooler morning light to target various species of wetland birds, to include but not limited to limpkins, white ibis, great blue herons, purple gallinule, great egrets, tricolored herons, American coots, anhinga, little blue herons, and many others. Smaller birds such as swallows, sparrows, warblers, vireos, goldfinches, red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds are some of the other species seen commonly in the areas we will visit. The potential for raptors such as osprey, hawks, and kites is high along with species such as sandhill cranes.

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Midmorning we will break for lunch and image review before heading out for another session, this time, in an area that is a mix of oak hammock and prairie edge ecosystems. Here the highlight of the show is the endangered Everglades snail kite. But many other wading birds, passerines, and raptors can be found too.

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Of the two sessions we are most likely to encounter more terrestrial wildlife, such as deer and raccoons in the morning, while reptiles such as alligators, turtles, and snakes are more likely to be seen in the afternoon sessions.

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As a bonus, there will be a one hour virtual editing session hosted two weeks after the tour to answer any questions about editing the images captured or to review images participants want to share.​​​​​​​​​​​​

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