Finding My First Limpkin at Kapok Park
A brown limpkin with white spots perched on a branch, preening its feathers.
Kapok Park is one of those places I never seem to get tired of visiting. On this particular morning, I started my walk across the long boardwalk that winds through the marsh toward the observation deck.
When I reached the deck, I ended up staying for almost an hour. A good-sized alligator, probably six or seven feet long, had claimed the shade underneath the deck. It seemed like the perfect place to escape the Florida sun. Around him, turtles drifted in and out of the water while common gallinules walked across the floating greenery and water hyacinths like they owned the place. A couple of egrets stopped by too. Nothing unusual for Kapok, but that's part of what I enjoy about it. You never have to see something rare to have a good morning outside.
A close-up, eye-level shot of an alligator resting in calm, dark water with sunlight reflecting on the surface.
After leaving the deck, I continued around the lake until I reached the other side of the park where the disc golf course is. I've never played, but every time I visit it seems like there are people out enjoying it.
As I followed the creek, something caught my eye up in the trees.
There, perched several feet above the ground on a branch, was my very first limpkin.
He was busy preening his feathers and didn't seem to mind me watching. I found the best spot I could for a photo and snapped a few pictures before putting the camera down. For the next half hour, I just watched him.
The more I watched, the more I liked him.
There's something a little quirky about a limpkin. Their mannerisms are almost goofy at times, and I found myself smiling more than once. I love their warm brown feathers, and the bright white spots make them stand out in such a unique way. They're not flashy birds, but they have so much character.
I have to admit, I fell in love with them that morning.
Since that first sighting, I've seen quite a few more limpkins around Florida, and they've become one of my favorite birds to photograph. Sometimes all it takes is one unexpected encounter to make you look at a species in a completely different way.
I'm glad I slowed down long enough to watch.
A wooden observation deck extending over the marsh at Kapok Park, surrounded by trees and water under a bright sky.
Before you head out...
If you ever find yourself at Kapok Park, don't worry about finding the rarest bird or getting the perfect photograph. Sometimes the best moments happen when you simply stop and watch. I went hoping to enjoy a quiet morning outdoors, and I left with a new favorite bird.
Find something beautiful in the world today.
— Sandra