Day 54: February 23 – Circle Bar-B Preserve, Lakeland, FL

Mostly sunny, breezy and warm (Low 80’s)

       Our birding travels take us to the Circle Bar-B Preserve in Lakeland, Florida today.  We are making the trip with members of the Halifax Audubon Society with whom we have made quite a few other ventures.  In the middle of the state, the preserve is represented by oak hammock, freshwater marsh, hardwood swamp and the lakeshore habitats.  The preserve covers 1267 acres and has one of the finest assemblages of bird species in the state.

Hardwood swamplands in Circle Bar-B Preserve

     This morning, we found some of those birds that are more uncommon and difficult to find in other parts of the country.  The Purple gallinule, limpkin, Sandhill crane and Black-bellied whistling duck were all here in relative abundance.  This being the beginning of the breeding season for many of these species, we found many of the birds were courting, in breeding plumage, mating or actually already  tending to eggs on the nest. 

Snowy egret

      We had two Red-shouldered hawks calling loudly across the wetlands, and I commented that we saw the same behavior with two red-shoulders last week at Lake Woodruff.  I no sooner noted that than the male flew to the female and coupled as they had at Woodruff.  Again, I was reminded in no uncertain terms that right now is "that time of the year".

Red-shouldered hawks about to mate

       We continued around the main impoundment and had a number of songbirds darting from tree to tree….Yellow-throated warbler, my first Northern parula of the year, a Blue-gray gnatcatcher and a Blue-headed vireo.  Others in the group also spotted a Prairie warbler and Common yellowthroat.  It’s great to see that the warblers and others are making an appearance as the spring migration north begins.

       We watched as a Great blue heron hunted among the tall grasses of the marsh.  Suddenly, the bird came up with a large rodent-like mammal.  It was later determined by one of our biologist birding experts that the prey was in fact a muskrat..  I’m never too surprised to see what these birds will take as prey having watched them take other rodents, snakes, fish, frogs, and small birds.  Basically, if it moves, it’s fair game.

Great blue heron with "lunch"

      One more sign of spring was the wonderful view of a parent Sandhill crane caring for two eggs on its nest.  At first, she simply sat, brooding the eggs.  But fortunately for those of us with cameras, she rose and tended to the eggs, moving and rolling them into a new position before returning to her original posture.

  We’ll be out again tomorrow on this special preserve and will of course report back to our readers regarding our new finds.