BIRDING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

BIRDING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA- GREAT BIRDS WITH A GREAT GUIDE

We researched this area throughly as we knew that we had never been able to ‘bird’ this area in the way that we would have liked.

We found our man in Jim Eager (beachbirder@bellsouth.net) and we booked him for two days with the second day, next Thursday, to travel east to Merritt Island and Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera. We had a successful visit here before, but we reasoned that with a man of local knowledge guiding, we would see much more. We could also include Orlando Wetlands Park afterwards.

On Tuesday 12th May we met Jim and traveled to Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area that is connected to Lakes Kissimmee, Jackson and Marian. It is 62,000 acres, is the second largest remaining area of natural prairie and part of the Kissimmee Prairie.

Jim had already indicated what we could see previously and the only extra request was to view as many ‘warblers’ as possible. He obliged and his local knowledge found us the following.

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are located in this managed area with nest sites being monitored. They were not easy, but we had super views flying into and around the nest tree. A Northern Mockingbird joined in.

In the same area we found and viewed Bachman’s Sparrow. Later, we had even better views of these beautiful and lively little birds with a male and female flitting about.

We headed into the area and found both a male and female Eastern Bluebird. Birdsong was around us and Jim was recognizing calls. A Northern Parula was heard and we had to work hard to see it. It was in a dark leaved Oak and eventually we got on it and we could see the yellow throat and white eye arcs. It is a beautiful bird.

A Tufted Titmouse came into full view and also a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. We heard, but did not see an Eastern Towhee, but a Northern Bobwhite kept calling and eventually it was found perched in a fork between two branches.

A Brown-headed Nuthatch called and we had great views of it. We had to work at it and we were all rewarded.

We had flying views of Pileated Woodpeckers and we were lucky enough to get a clear sighting of a Red-headed one too. A White-eyed Vireo was located too.

Along Joe Overstreet Road we easily found Loggerhead Shrikes, and Eastern Meadow Larks. The latter are stunning with their striking yellow and black frontal markings, clear eye stripes and brown and black streaks. Vultures were around and we had good views of Red-shouldered Hawks. A male Northern Cardinal ‘amused’ itself on a wing-mirror of a truck. We passed distant Bald Eagles and kept looking for Crested Caracaras, but with no success.

At the landing we got lucky! A female Snail Kite was after the exotic (not indigenous) Apple Snail and was chased by a Red-winged Blackbird with red and yellow showing well. The Kite entertained us and eventually settled on a post with its catch. These snails are bigger than the native ones. Limpkins showed well and a Purple Gallinule fed just off the boardwalk. A Tri-coloured Heron flew in, Cattle Egrets fed amongst the cattle, Snowy and Great Egrets, a Little Blue and Great Blue, and Ospreys flew over. On the far bank wild Turkeys grazed amongst the cattle. Earlier two Swallow-Tailed Kites flew over. They are such elegant birds. Four Glossy Ibis flew past and White Ibis fed in the meadow. On our return journey a Wood Stork flew over.

It was a good butterfly day too and some photographs will appear later.

We could have spent more time here, but the light was poor for photography and thunder, lightening and rain was approaching . We headed for Interstate 192 West and home happy after seeing quality birds and many ‘firsts’.

Photographs will go on my Wordpress site. jebirding.wordpress.com as it is more compatible with Apple products.