Florida 2009 – The Pinewoods of Central Florida

Open prairies, pinelands and lakes make up a large portion of southeastern central Florida. Bald Eagles thrive in this region and seeing ten at once is not uncommon. Their nests can be seen in stately pines, whereas Ospreys, which are just as numerous, prefer dead pines to nest in. Families of Sandhill Cranes (above) roamed the short grasses and Eastern Meadowlarks sang from fence posts. Wild Turkeys strolled out of the woods and we watched four majestic Swallow-tailed Kites (below), one with a snake, another with an anole and another with a frog, glide just over the tops of hedgerows.

The pinelands at 3 Lakes WMA with an understory of saw palmetto (above) was very productive. Bachman’s Sparrows were commonly heard as we drove in search of Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and several were seen singing close to the road. Many species were in song. The single noted calls of Great Crested Flycatchers, the chattering of Eastern Bluebirds and Brown-headed Nuthatches, and the Eastern Towhee’s “drink-your-tea”, were very evident.

In the pine canopy Pine Warblers showed well and three Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (above) worked their way passed us from one pine trunk to another. A pair of Bobwhite scurried out onto the dirt road before vanishing into the understory and Common Ground Dove and Brown Thrasher posed for us at the main entrance gate.

While having our lunch at Joe Overstreet a Crested Caracara (above) flew onto the grass in front of us in search of food before being chased by Fish Crows. We noticed three young Loggerhead Shrikes in a Live Oak over our picnic table, when they began to beg as soon as their parent showed up with food. At Lake Marian American White Pelicans were on the water, Wood Storks and Bald Eagles were overhead and a Savannah Sparrow sat in the lake side bush. Butterflies here included Palamedes Swallowtail (below), White Peacock, Queen and Cloudless Sulphur.

The woods surrounding the lakes and the creeks of this part of Central Florida support breeding Short-tailed Hawks. Picking a vantage point, it becomes a stake out, in the hopes of having one fly over. The strategy normally works but today there was a steady stiff breeze out of the east. Immature Bald Eagles were enjoying hanging in the wind and both Turkey and Black Vultures patrolled the skies. Occasionally a Swallow-tailed Kite or Red-shouldered Hawk would appear but no short-tail today

Next…..South Central Florida