Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • The skittish and shy green heron at the water's surface keeping an eye on minnows in the Sweetwater Strand, Monroe County, Florida.
    Green Heron
  • Yellow helmet orchid growing in Monroe County off of Loop Road in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Prepare to go into the water to see these orchids!
    Yellow Helmet Orchid (Polystachya co..eta)
  • This is one of the many common wildflowers to be seen growing in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier and Monroe Counties. This one was in the Gator Hook Strand.
    Bartram's Rosegentian
  • This common weed is usually found in disturbed areas, such as this one on the side of US41 in Collier County, Florida.
    Sow Thistle
  • Alligator swimming in the Turner River, Collier County, Florida.
    American Alligator
  • This emerging Leucocoprinus birnbaumii (more commonly known as the plantpot dapperling or flowerpot parasol) is an tropical to subtropical common mushroom that is more widely known for popping up in cultivated flowerpots in hothouses far north of its natural range. While considered to be toxic and nearly impossible to get rid of, it's best to just learn to enjoy their delicate beauty and try not to accidentally eat them. This one was found growing on some old wood in a hardwood hammock on Key Largo, Florida.
    Plantpot Dapperling (Leucocoprinus b..mii)
  • The green iguana, also known as the American iguana is a large attractive and often strikingly-colored lizard in the Iguanidae family that is native to the Caribbean Islands, Central America and most of the northern half of South America. Although they are are herbivores and are not particularly dangerous to humans or other animals, they do adapt to new environments very well and are a very special species of concern in places where they have naturalized (most likely as escapes from the pet trade, as they make very friendly and docile pets when raised by humans). Green iguanas are now found in Florida, Nexas, Puerto Rico and Hawaii where these enormously strong lizards burrow into the sides of canals and riverbanks causing unnecessary erosion and damage, destruction of rare native plants other species depend upon, as well as decimating gardens and landscaping. This 6-foot beefy male was found on the side of the road with around 200 other well-fed adults along a one-mile stretch on Key Largo, Florida.
    Male Green Iguana-1
  • The green iguana, also known as the American iguana is a large attractive and often strikingly-colored lizard in the Iguanidae family that is native to the Caribbean Islands, Central America and most of the northern half of South America. Although they are are herbivores and are not particularly dangerous to humans or other animals, they do adapt to new environments very well and are a very special species of concern in places where they have naturalized (most likely as escapes from the pet trade, as they make very friendly and docile pets when raised by humans). Green iguanas are now found in Florida, Nexas, Puerto Rico and Hawaii where these enormously strong lizards burrow into the sides of canals and riverbanks causing unnecessary erosion and damage, destruction of rare native plants other species depend upon, as well as decimating gardens and landscaping. This 6-foot beefy male was found on the side of the road with around 200 other well-fed adults along a one-mile stretch on Key Largo, Florida.
    Male Green Iguana-2.jpg
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common and very effective fish-hunter found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This male was spotted perched in a bald cypress tree in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.
    Male Anhinga
  • A juvenile black-crowned night heron practices to hunt for prey in a tree overhanging a pond in the Big Cypress National Preserve in SW Florida.
    Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron
  • While there are many subspecies of the Florida tree snail in Southern Florida, and many found in the Caribbean (particularly in Cuba) I'm going to just focus on the species as a whole. These very interesting and often colorful snails which are found in smooth-barked trees have found a niche in their habitat feeding on algae and various fungi that that they find on their host trees. Unfortunately because of these beautiful shells, they are easily spotted in the wild and collected by shell-collecting people and are therefore considered "a species of special concern" by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Department. This one was found in on Key Largo in the Florida Keys.
    Florida Tree Snail
  • Looking much like a miniature watermelon, the creeping cucumber is in fact a native cucumber that grows in the American Southeast as far north as Illinois and Pennsylvania and west to Texas and Kansas on long vines with grape-like leaves. While considered edible, it's just one of those things you wouldn't go out of your way to eat. These were found in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.
    Creeping Cucumber
  • Not commonly seen in southern Florida, the black-throated blue warbler is native to Eastern Canada down to the Carolinas, and is one of the few blue-colored birds in the Southeast. It is usually only seen while it is migrating south to the Caribbean or Central America where it spends its winters. This one was photographed in the Big Cypress National Preserve of SW Florida on a brisk fall morning.
    Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida. This female was perched at the base of an old bald cypress in the heart of the Sweetwater Strand of the Florida Everglades.
    Female Anhinga
  • American Alligator in the Sweetwater Strand area of the Florida Everglades. This was taken in the beginning of mating season, when they tend to get a little aggressive.
    American Alligator
  • A juvenile black-crowned night heron practices to hunt for prey in a tree overhanging the Sweetwater Strand in the Big Cypress National Preserve in SW Florida.
    Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron
  • Lawn orchid photographed on the edge of Loop Road, deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Lawn Orchid (Zeuxine strateumatica)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses deep in a slough in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It's tough travel through these flooded forests, but many kinds of orchids can be found here together.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses deep in a slough in the Big Cypress National Preserve. I have seen literally hundreds of these in dense areas of thes swamps. Be prepared to walk in ankle-deep flooded forest in November and December!
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • American Alligator in the Sweetwater Strand area of the Florida Everglades. This was taken in the beginning of mating season, when they tend to get a little aggressive.
    American Alligator
  • Adult caiman found in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Caimans are found in Central and South America, and this photo generated some interest with Florida Fish & Wildlife. Not a great photo, but the only one we got that day.
    Spectacled Caiman
  • An alligator swims by slowly in the Sweetwater Strand with a great blue heron in its mouth.
    American Alligator with Great Blue Heron
  • A young adult alligator with a freshly caught great blue heron. An incredible sight to see in person!
    American Alligator with Great Blue Heron
  • Lubber grasshopper nymphs doing what they do best in the Everglades ... devouring foliage.
    Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper Hatc..phs)
  • The delicate and beautiful small butterwort is often found growing out of flooded prairies and cypress domes of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Small Butterwort (Pinguicula pumila)
  • Pitted stripeseed wildflower photographed in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Pitted Stripeseed
  • This is a very common member of the St. John's-wort family, growing here in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Marsh St. John's-Wort
  • Everglades daisy photographed in the dry season of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Look for them in large numbers in the spring!
    Everglades Daisy
  • The delicate and beautiful showy milkwort is often found growing in the flooded prairies and cypress domes of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Showy Milkwort
  • A young great blue heron just beginning to get its adult coloration in the Sweetwater Strand in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Juvenile Great Blue Heron
  • Florida star orchid with fruit deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve. I have yet to see this one in flower in the wild - only in a cultivated one, but as soon as I do, I'll put it in this spot.
    Florida Star Orchid (Epidendrum flor..nse)
  • A perfect specimen of a dingy-flowered star orchid in full flower growing in the Sweetwater Strand, deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Dingy-Flowered Star Orchid (Epidendr..mum)
  • Florida adder's-mouth found growing deep in the Gator Hook Strand in SW Florida. I found one colony here with over 100 individual plants here. Just be warned - there is a huge vicious alligator out there than nearly got me! No kidding!
    Florida Adder's-Mouth (Malaxis spicata)
  • Long-lipped ladies'-tresses orchid found in the Picayune State Forest in South Florida.  An easy identification tip is if you find it and it is winter, the sepals are spread out wide, and you are in a dry pine forest, you are probably looking at the long lipped ladies'-tresses! This one was found between two palmettos at night.
    Long-Lipped Ladies'-tresses (Spirant..ris)
  • The delicate and beautiful small butterwort is often found growing out of flooded prairies and cypress domes of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Small Butterwort (Pinguicula pumila)
  • The aquatic leafy bladderwort growing in the wetlands of the Big Cypress National Preserve in Monroe County. This was photographed in the beginning of the dry season, and receding water levels left this plant high and dry.
    Leafy Bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa)
  • The terrestrial or semi-aquatic horned bladderwort growing in Monroe County in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This  small carnivorous plant can catch small animals with tiny contracting bladders that suddenly open upon contact and suck in the prey by an inrush of water or air, and trapping it within with a flap-like membrane. These bladders are located among the root-like leaves.
    Horned Bladderwort (Utricularia cornuta)