Tag Archives: Birdwatching Trips

Birdwatching Trip – Circle B Bar Ranch Reserve

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Eastern Meadowlark

Last Saturday, they opened Circle B Bar Ranch Reserve here in Polk County up for a 1/2 day for birders, etc. to visit. The reserve has been closed for most of the winter for renovations and won’t officially open back up until November this year. So it was a delight to get to visit the wetlands part of it. They have over 1,200 acres and is a tremendous place to bird.
We arrived at 7:30 am on a clear, calm, 75 degree morning. First thing I heard and then saw were Eastern Meadowlarks. Then the normal Redwing Blackbirds, Boat-tailed Grackles, Common Moorhens, and Cattle Egret made theirselves known. When a few Glossy Ibises flew over, I stopped to watch. Don’t see them too often. Anhingas were all around with their wings streached out or diving for food. Lots of cries were heard from upset Black-neck Stilt parents when the visitors were getting too close to their eggs (which were right along the pathway).
As I continued walking along the path by the water, I saw Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, Tricolored Herons, Great Blue Herons, White Ibises, Coots, Opreys, Sandhill Cranes, and heard a Bob White. Then off in a distance with a group of Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets were several Rosetta Spoonbills (a favorite of mine).
Down another path, a man had set up a scope that was aimed at a tree. Looking through it, I saw baby Great Blue Herons and other babies unknown to me. That was the highlight of the trip for me. Retracing my steps making about a 1 1/2 mile trip altogether, I spotted Wood Ducks, a Bald Eagle, Cardinal and some Mourniing Doves.
Before going, I had asked the Lord to help me see lots of his critters and I sure wasn’t disappointed. He helped me spot the 26 different birds in about a two hour span. Watching their behavior, I now have some more articles running around in my brain for some more “Eye of the Beholder” blogs.

For other birdwatching trips to the Circle B Bar Reserve

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Birdwatching Trip – Lake Hollingsworth 5/1/08

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Mama Redwing Blackbird feeding babies

Today was a beautiful day to watch birds. We went to Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, FL and spent a couple of hours checking out baby birds. It’s spring and they seemed to be every where. We saw baby Common Moorhens, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Limpkin, and my favorite some Redwing Blackbirds.

I was watching a female redwing fly up in the tree that had spanish moss hanging down, when she “disappeared” from view. I knew she hadn’t flown off, so I kept watching and found her in a nest. The nest was hidden from view even though it hung over the pathway around the lake.

When we first got there, I was feeding the local gang, when the resident geese spotted me. I watched them run about a block and them swarm me. They were right in my face. Then again, I’m not very tall (under 5 feet). I wasn’t handing out goodies fast enough so they were pulling on my slacks to get my attention. Even so, the Lord gave us a great day to enjoy his critters.

We had just gone to enjoy the day and take a few pictures, but never expected so many young birds. Here is a list of the birds seen today in the order we saw them:

Ring-billed Gulls, Geese, Boat-tailed Grackles, Mallards, Eurasean Collard Dove, Redwing Blackbirds, Common Moorhens, Purple Gallinules, Anhingas, Ibises, Ospreys, Blue Jays, Pied-billed Grebes, Tern, Cormorants, Coots, and Wood Ducks. Not bad for only walking about a third mile and back.

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Birdwatching Trip – South Lake Howard Nature Park

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Wood Ducks

We had over 5″ of rain in the last two days, so when the sun finally came back out, it was time for another trip to the park. When we got there the water way up. The center area of the pond was under water and the birds were not hanging around much. But not to despair, there is always something to behold. Drowning ants had sacrificed some to preserve the majority and had taken over a little tree standing in water. We saw a female Red-winged Blackbird with her courting male nearby.

Fishing Hole

The Bald Eagle landed on his favorite tower. We watched a Cormorant checking out the pond and saw two alligators there also. There was a male and female Wood Duck swimming around together. We also saw a Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jays, Boat-tailed Grackles, and Common Moorhens.
We crossed the road to the raised walkways and had a pleasant surprise to see a Snowy and Little Blue egret and three Tricolored Herons vying for position in the tall grasses at the edge of Lake Howard (in Winter Haven, FL). An Osprey flew over and the White Winged Doves were calling back and forth. We were heading back to cross the road and came upon a spectacular site. There were at least 5 Great Egrets, 6 Ibises, a Snowy Egret, 2 Wood Storks, and a Great Blue Heron fishing where the overflow water was coming out of a drain. Then I heard a Cardinal singing, saw 2 Common Grackles “purple morph” and the Monk Parakeets carrying-on. So, not a bad morning at all. The Lord made sure that they were being fed and so we got the blessing of watching them.

We also met a Christian there who writes poetry and he has given permission to quote some of his poetry. I hope he will write some more and post them here on the blog.

Here is a poem from his book, POETRY at its Best, Vol 1, by Kermit R. Holt.
The Snowy Egret
The egret which is known as snowy
has feathers which are very showy
Indeed, for these, it has been shot
till near extinction this bird got.
Finally before it breathed its last
for its protection laws were passed.
Its numbers gradually increased
and its existence had not ceased.
Populations haven’t grown enough
to overcome those times so tough.

Check out the Pictures taken today at:

South Lake Howard Nature Park

Birdwatching Trip to Bok Sanctuary

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On Good Friday we were at Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales, FL enjoying a beautiful cloudless day. The orange grove there was in full bloom and the aroma drifted over the whole place. We were birding, taking pictures, and appreciating God’s goodness. The birds were full of songs and they came out for us to see them. Could that have been because I asked the Lord to do just that? If He can make a donkey talk and and cause it to stop before an angel, and bring ravens to feed a prophet, surely He could answer my prayer. He did!

Here is a list of what we saw and heard: Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Mockingbirds, Brown Trashers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, a pair of American Kestrels sitting close, Fish Crows, Gray Catbird, Great Blue Heron, Black and Turkey Vultures, Osprey, and my two prize catches – a Black and White Warbler and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

We also saw a cactus in bloom.

Of course there were plenty of squirrels to put up with.

Birdwatching Trip – Santa Ana NWR

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Last week was not conducive for birdwatching trips. Between windy overcast days, stormy rainy evenings, and doctor visits we didn’t get out and about, nor was I on the computer much. So, I have decided to share our visits to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, Texas. That is way “down in the valley” and sits on the Rio Grande River. We spent two winters in our RV in that area and were able to visit the refuge.

The first time we visited (Nov 01’) with our friend Betty, who is an experienced birder. It is nice to have someone along who can help ID the birds. They have a welcome center that has some feeders right by the entry way. Within about 5-10 minutes, I was able to see my first Green Jay, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Inca Dove, Red-billed Pigeon and the Plain Chachalaca,. Some of the birds only come over the Rio Grande a few miles, so I was thrilled to see them. I am including pictures of them. These were taken with an older digital camera, so they are so so.

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Birdwatching Trip – Lake Hollingsworth 2/28

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White Pelican

For a larger view Click Here

Our latest bird watching trip was last Thursday, the 28th, to Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland. It turned out to be an interesting time. The true birder came out in us, because it was COLD. It was 45 degrees when we got there around 10:00 am and the wind was whipping off of the lake. I mean, this is Florida, you know! We were bundled-up, while there were some visitors walking around the lake in SHORTS (You know, the ones from Canada and Wisconsin, etc.); some of the “Floridarized” residents even had gloves on. Well, anyway, while we were taking pictures of a group of White Pelicans, a photographer was taking a picture of us. We ended up in Saturday’s “The Ledger,”our local newspaper. You never know what will happen when you go birding.
Article from the Lakeland, FL Ledger

Article from the Lakeland, FL Ledger

In between shivers, we watched the White Pelicans and got some good pictures. One of my favorite finds was to see a Black-crowned Night-Heron. It was the closest I have ever gotten to one. The rest of the birds seen were: Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Heron, Coots, Common Moorhens, Purple Gallinules, Mallards, Pied-billed Grebe, Tree Swallows, Redwings, Ospreys, and the normal bunch of Grackles and Vultures. Not a bad day, considering how Cold it was.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Trip to Fort DeSoto Park 2-20-08

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Today we drove to Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas county to “add birds to my life list.” Well, it turned out that as we drove over there, the clouds kept multiplying more and more. So, with overcast skies and a windy temp of 63 degrees, we found very few birds who wanted to have their picture taken or even be seen. We took a few pictures and then stopped by the Gandy causeway to feed some gulls and grackles.

Here is a list of today’s birds:

  • Going and coming home – Ospreys, Cattle Egrets, Mockingbird, Boat-tailed Grackles, Ring-billed Gulls, Turkey Vultures, Brown Pelican, Rock Doves(pigeons), Double-crested Cormorants sitting on the light posts on the bridge across Tampa Bay, Mourning Doves, Great Egret, and a Loggerhead Shrike, Ibises, and several UFO (unidentified flying objects-“birds”)
  • At Fort DeSoto – Brown Pelicans, Great Egret, Mourning Moves, 5 Black-hooded Parakeets, Loggerhead Shrike, Killdeer, Kingfisher, 2 American Kestrel, Reddish Egret, Ring-billed and Laughing gulls. We spotted an Ospreys’ nest and saw the baby stick it’s head up several times. Got one picture of it. Also have pictures, that I need to figure out what I saw. Stay tuned.
  • On Gandy Causeway – Fed ring-billed and laughing gulls, boat-tailed grackles and saw royal terns and some more that I still need to ID.

Not too bad of a day, in spite of the overcast skies.