Eagle Nest

This eagle nest is located deep within the preserve.

Painted Buntings

These beautiful colorful birds have been observed in the woodlands just above the boardwalk.

Northern Parula

The Northern Parula is a colorful and vocal little bird that arrives with the coming of spring. It can be seen feeding on insects in trees and shrubs but more often you just hear it.

Black and White Warbler

On the small side, these little birds can be seen feeding in trees and bushes along the boardwalk and trails.

Eagle & Osprey

Bald Eagles can often be seen chasing an Osprey that's carrying a fish.

Male Wood Duck

Colorful Wood Ducks can be seen near the lakeside pavillion at the end of the boardwalk.

Six-Lined Race Runner

The Six-Lined Race Runner can be seen on the upland trails. It prefers a dry habitat, sandy or rocky soil, short grass and thin woods.

Primrose Willow

Primrose Willow can grow up to six feet tall, and has yellow flowers that are two inches across. It blooms year round and can be seen along the boardwalk.

Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose opens it's yellow flowers late in the afternoon. They then become a copper-colored and wither by noon the next day.

Northern Cardinal

The female Cardinal's dull color helps camouflage them from predators.

Northern Cardinal

This male Cardinal has found a large insect clinging to a vine for his next meal.

White Pelican

Migrating White Pelicans stop at Lake Apopka every year, where thay may be seen flying over and floating on the lake. One morning, earlier this year, this photographer counted 65 pelicans in view from the preserve's lakeside pavillion.

Cape May Warbler

The Cape May Warbler is a migratory bird that might be seen passing through the preserve in mid to late spring.

Five Lined Skink

Skinks live in humid woodlands under logs, leaves and other debris. This skink was seen from the boardwalk sunning on a log.

Alligator

Alligators grow about one foot per year depending on the temperature and availability of food. When they reach about eleven feet, their growth rate slows dramatically. This one is approximately 10 feet in length.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoos feed on the caterpillars they find in the dense foliage along the boardwalk.

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is a large bird with a wingspan of up to 72 inches and weight around 5.3 lbs.

Great Blue with Fish

Usually the Great Blue Heron is seen feeding along the shoreline. This one was airborne and dove into the water to catch this fish.

Great Egret

This Great Egret was photographed in flight near our boardwalk pavillion on Lake Apopka.

Pileated Woodpecker

This large woodpecker is found in mature forests, where it searches for food in dead or rotten trees.

Box Turtle

Box Turtles usually inhabit moist forested areas. A good time to see them is in the morning or after rain.

Eastern Towhee

This bird is usually found in dense brush, where they can be heard scratching through leaves.

Damselfly

A variety of damselflies can be seen in the preserve. This one was photographed near the amphitheater.

Pine Warbler

A Pine Warbler hunting for insects among the treetops.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglets are common winter residents of many southern states.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebes feed mostly by swooping from a perch to catch flying insects. Bees and wasps are a large part of their diet.

Gray Catbird

Dense underbrush along the boardwalk is excellent habitat for Gray Catbirds.

Gray Catbird

The Grey Catbird is known for its ability to mimic calls of other birds and the cat-like meowing for which it is named.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher is a small bird sporting a long tail for its size, an average of 4" to 4.5". Its tail makes up almost half its total length.

Palm Warbler

Palm Warblers usually feed on or near the ground looking for insects, seeds and fruit.

Palm Warbler

Palm Warblers most distinctive trait is its nearly constant tail wagging, whether it's on the ground or perched.

Winter Sunrise

Silhouetted Pop Ash trees on a clear and cool Florida winter morning at the Oakland Nature Preserve.

Maple Leaf

A small sample of color that can be viewed from the board walk and trails.

Cormorant

A Cormorant takes flight near the boardwalk pavilion.

Fall Colors

Fall foliage of Red Maples as you enter the first section of boardwalk.

Sunset

Palm trees in the distance just after sunset, taken from the boardwalk pavilion.

Egrets

Before and during sun rise many birds can be seen heading to their favorite feeding spots.

Hovering Osprey

An Osprey hovering near the pavilion searching for fish, Ospreys dive into the water to make their catch.

Osprey Feeding

An Osprey takes a lunch break after a morning of fishing. Osprey feed twice a day, in the mid-morning hours and again in the late afternoon.

Gnatcatcher

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher searching for insects along the boardwalk.

Sunrise at ONP

Some of most beautiful and peaceful times are in the early hours. Taken from the boardwalk, the bright objects are the Moon and Venus.

Sunrise on Lake Apopka

A peaceful morning in the Oakland Nature Preserve, this sunrise was viewed from the pavilion at Lake Apopka.

Fallen tree and fern

Decaying trees and vegetation are part of the natural life cycle, providing nutrients for various plants and wildlife.

Eagle and Moon

An immature Bald Eagle enjoys the moon, taken from the ONP boardwalk floating dock.

Boardwalk

A view from the first section of the ONP boardwalk, donated by the Ella B. Sadler Trust.

Bay Tree

Red Bay tree, taken from the ONP boardwalk near Lake Apopka.

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret in flight, taken from the floating dock on Lake Apopka at the end of the boardwalk.

Rainy day

Rainy day at the preserve, taken on the boardwalk near the Lake Apopka pavillion.

Snail

Unknown snail, taken on the trail between the Amphitheater and Boardwalk entrance.

Sunset

Sun setting at the Oakland Nature Preserve.

Butterfly

Zebra Longwing, taken near entrance to board walk.

Lakefront

Aquatic restoration viewed from the boardwalk pavilion at Lake Apopka.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar (unknown), picture taken on the upland trails.

Golden-Silk Spider

Golden-Silk Spider, taken from the north end of board walk.

Lake Apopka

Lake Apopka and a portion of Oakland Nature Preserve, looking West from the pavillion at the end of the boardwalk.

Storm Over Lake Apopka

Storm near Winter Garden and Oakland, taken from Magnolia Park on the East shore of Lake Apopka.

Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis mating, taken on the wooded peninsula between the two sections of the board walk.

Butterfly

This butterfly was spotted by Kaaren Kuhns on a tree in the wooded peninsular area, just after it emerged from it's cocoon. (photo by Nancy Deam)

Fence Swift

This little lizard makes his home in the dry sandy uplands around the trail shelter and along the trail fence. (photo by Nancy Deam)