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Bok
Tower Sanctuary. This
is such a beautiful peaceful place to visit. It use to be called just Bok
Tower, but now its a Sanctuary as well. There are several trails
to follow on the grounds. On my last trip I spotted: Blue Jays,
Florida Scrub Jays, Crows, Cardinals, mockingbirds, a swan,
ducks, heard a wood pecker but could not find him. A list
of birds spotted there is as follows - kestrels, nighthawks,
pleated woodpeckers, loggerhead shrikes. Check the gardens for
hummingbirds in spring and summer as well as migratory songbirds
from Sept - Oct and in April. You can see over 100 species of
birds. It's a step back into the real Florida with
beautiful oak trees, palms and of course the Tower is the
centerpiece. Admission is $8.00 - Located 1151 Tower Boulevard Lake
Wales, FL 33853 Office: (863) 676-1408. Visit their
website for more detailed directions.
Eagle
Ridge Mall. There
is a retention pond on a few sides of this mall and it can have many different types of birds there.
In the past I have spotted Sandhill
Cranes, Herons, Egrets, Ospreys and other wading birds. You can
also see Dunlins, snipe, spotted sandpipers and bitterns in
fall/winter and early spring. located on E side of US Hwy
27 5 miles north of Lake Wales. You can also follow the road 540 on the north end of the mall
out to Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Babson
Park Audubon - Come visit our museum and walk the nature
trail. View migrants during the fall, winter and spring
migration. Sparrows, cardinals, brown thrashers, towhees,
hawks, osprey and bobwhite quail make their home there each day.
Our nature trail is also one of the only places in the world to
view a few rare sandhill plants such as the scrub plum, pygmy fringe tree
and sandhill wireweed. Located 200 North Crooked Lake on
the Ridge Scenic Hwy (hwy 17) in Babson Park.
Crooked
Lake Sandhill - located in Babson park this is becoming
a wonderful birding area. Its a scub/sand type habitat with
lots of room to explore. Migrants, raptors, gopher turtles, wild
flowers and so much more. Directions: located past babson
park headed to Frostproof on hwy 17, turn onto cody villa road,
then turn onto the first paved road to your right called Wes
Mann Road. Follow less than a mile, you will see the Sandhill on
your right just before you get to a hill. here
is a map
Crooked
Lake Prairie. Very nice property, wonderful landscape
photo opp's. You can view migratory warblers, scrub jays,
towhee's, turkeys, raptors, deer, plants and so much more. Take
a hike down to the lake or visit the scrub area. Lots to do and
see. Directions: located past babson park headed to
Frostproof on hwy 17, turn onto Cody villa road. Follow down the
hill and around the bend, you will see the paved drive to the
park on your left before you enter Cody villa.
Wetland in Frostproof - The Ag department area off of
630 and near the Mobile Home parks has become a really great
birding area due to flood waters. There is also a flooded street
a block over that is hosting some wonderful birds as well. Even
when the water goes down, the wetlands at the Ag Department can
produce some nice shorebirds and wintering ducks. You can view,
lesser and greater yellowlegs, coots, morhens, mallards, mottled
ducks, ring billed ducks, pied billed grebes, little blues,
white egrets, blue herons, grackles, brown headed cowbirds, wood
storks, sandhill cranes, white and glossy ibis. Directions:
From 27 take the 630 exit into Frostproof. After you pass the
welcome to Frostproof sign, start looking on your left. You will
see the Ag Dept. building and the fences area. You can turn on
the first street to your left to get a view of the sides. You
are not permitted to enter the wetland, just park on the road
and look or take photos over the fence.
Lake
Wales Ridge State Forest.
This area is around 20, 235 acres of diverse land including
sandhills, pine flatwoods, scrubland and forest. It is composed
of two tracts around two lakes. Lake Arbuckle Track and Lake
Walk in Water Tract. I usually go to the Lake Arbuckle area.
There
is a birding parking area off Rucks Dairy Road at the Reedy
Creek Trailhead. The trail is about 2 miles and it will take you
down to Lake Reedy waterside. You will see waterbirds and wading
birds such as egrets, herons, ducks, ibis, etc. I have only been
on this trail once, I mostly go to Lake Arbuckle Camp which is
not far from this area. I have spotted Hawks, Eagles, Owls,
Grackles, Limpkins, and Vultures. A list of the birds found in
this area is available there at the Entrance, just before
you go in. Admission is $2.00. Directions: The
Arbuckle Tract is located 5 miles south of the town of
Frostproof on Lake Arbuckle Road. Access to the Arbuckle Tract
is through the main entrance on Lake Arbuckle Road. Contact us
at: Lake Wales Ridge State Forest 452 School Bus Road Frostproof,
FL 33843 Phone: (863) 635-7801, FAX: (863) 635-7837
Peace
River Park.
A nice long boardwalk area, on the second entrance to the park,
takes you back into the deep rich, real Florida. At the end of
the boardwalk you reach the peace river, which is about a
mile long or more. Look for waders and migratory ducks, herons,
eagles, and egrets. Throughout the Park, you can view 22 warbler
species, 4, vireos, 3 thrushes. It is recommend you go in very
early morning. Be prepared to
walk, so wear something comfortable. The parking for the
boardwalk is way up high away from the entrance. If you go in
summer, take mosquito repellent. Free admission - located
from Bartow take SR 98 S to Homeland. Turn left (East) onto CR
640. Boardwalk entrance is the second entrance to the park.
Lake
Kissimmee State Park
- In
the open fields just
before you enter the park, keep an ear and eye out for sparrows
like the grasshopper sparrow as well as caracaras and hawks. Inside
the park, look for white tailed deer throughout the
trails, along with Turkeys. Scrub Jays can be found at the
ranger station as you pay. Just pull of on the shoulder of the
road and look for them, or ask the ranger. There are many great
trails throughout the park. Some of the best birding can be
found in a mile circle of the parking area at the end of the
drive. Check under the oaks and near the observation tower for
woodpeckers, carolina wrens, migrant warblers, towhees, robins,
hawks, brown thrashers and more. On weekends, the Cow Camp road
is open and a great area to view songbirds and hawks. In summer,
bring bug spray as it gets very buggy and in Sept - October the
cicadas are very loud. Since it is a
State Park, there is a small fee of $3.00 Located from
Intersection of US 27 and SR 60 in Lake Wales, take SR 60
E 9miles to Boy Scout Road. Turn Left (N) Boy Scout Camp Road to
Camp Mack Road. Turn right (E) and follow Camp Mack Road to park
entrance.
OTHER
GREAT AREAS within 1- 2 hours away
Lake
Morton in Lakeland is a great lake full of migratory ducks,
swans, ibis, herons, egrets, geese, loons, American white
pelicans, pigeons and gulls.. Just a vast collection that
probably changes every day, you never know what you might see.
It is located in the heart of Lakeland, FL. Bring bread as they
will come even closer to meet you as you are checking them out.
Its a great place to get up close photography of these beautiful
birds. Free - Directions: Located off South Florida Hwy that
runs through downtown Lakeland. Turn on Lemon St. then turn onto
Tennessee to the right. You will see Lake Morton which is on
Lake Morton Drive. The Lakeland Public Library is located on its
shores.
Lake Parker Park in Lakeland. This is a wonderful park
and it has become one of my favorite places to go birding. This
was where I was able to finally view the cedar waxwings after a
year or more of looking around. A great place to view migrating
warblers in the spring and fall, plus wading birds in the early
evening. Check it out when you are in the area. Address: 910 E
Granada Street Directions: You can get to the park by turning
right beside Tiger Town in north east side of town. Coming on US
92 which is also East memorial Ave, you will turn 1 block from
North Florida Ave. You will turn on 33, which is Lakeland Hills
Blvd. Follow that several blocks till you see Tiger Town on your
right, you will turn just down from that to the right onto
Granada, you will also see a sign for Lake Parker Park as well.
Follow Granada about 2 blocks and you will go into the last
entrance by the lake, turn to your left into the park. here is a
map to tiger town, you will be able to find granada street and
where lake parker park is on this map. ** Do not turn into Tiger
Town, the park is beside the stadium.
Gator Creek in Lakeland. This park is part of the
Environmental Lands Program and they did a great job of creating
a place to walk, hike, as well as bird watch. The trails are
wide and its kept up very nice. Many birds and animals call this
place home, you never know what you might be crossing paths
with. Great place for migrating birds in spring and fall. There
is a 1 mile paved trail right by the parking lot. If you are up
to it, there is also miles and miles of incredible trails for
you to explore. You can visit their website to find out more
about the trails and the facility. Directions: North Lakeland
Area . From the intersection of US Highway 98 and West Socrum
Loop Rd (35A) continue north on US Highway 98. The highway will
change from four lanes to two lanes. From this point, continue
along US 98 for approximately one mile. The entrance road for
Gator Creek Reserve will be on the right (east side of US 98).
Circle B Bar Ranch in Lakeland. Another one of the
Environmental Lands Programs, this is a beautiful place to take
a walk, enjoy nature and see lots of birds. The marsh area is
one of my favorite places to take photos. Come prepared to walk,
bring water and bug spray and wear comfortable shoes. Watch out
for gators when you are hiking near the lake trail. Directions:
Lakeland area, off of Hwy 98 turn on hwy 540 east which is also
winter lake road ( near Polk Community college Lakeland campus)
Follow 540 east for about a mile to the second entrance. You
will see brochures and the start of the trail. here is a map
from the environmental lands program website.
Lake Hollingsworth another great lake in Lakeland. Walk
the 3 mile side walk around the lake and view heron's, egret's,
moorhen's, purple gallinules, cormorants, black necked stilts in
winter/spring, avocets and sandpipers during low water. White
Pelicans can also been seen in Winter. The lake is downtown.
Directions: From I -4 take get on us 98, which is also Florida
Ave. go South into Lakeland. Go East on Beacon Ave. The road
will run right into Lake Hollingsworth. There are 2 parking lots
around the lake.
Peterson Park in Lakeland. A really nice park for
walking, as well as birding. Be sure to check out the new
elevated boardwalk in the trees. Look for warblers, songbirds as
well as the occasional raccoon sleeping in a tree. You can also
see great views of the lake. Walk the trail between two canals
and see Brown Pelicans, White Pelicans, Cormorants, Anhinga,
heron's, egrets, limpkins, wood storks, moorhen's, osprey,
occasional eagles, warblers and songbirds. This is a really nice
peaceful park, so check it out. Directions - From South Fl Ave
or US 98 . turn on Edgewood (both big intersections in
Lakeland), go to Cleveland Heights Blvd. at Cleveland from 98
turn left from south fl turn right onto Cleveland. Follow the
road till you see the YMCA then turn east at the traffic light
there at the YMCA near Carlton Palmore Elm School. Follow this
road to the park.
Wetlands Area Near Mulberry and Bradley Junction, Hwy 37.
There is a small wetlands area filled with birds and ducks along
this road, just before you come into Bradley Junction. You can
view them from either Hwy 37, but on Old Hwy 37, there is a
place to park and get out and walk around this wetlands area.
Recent visit around 11:30am I spotted American White Pelican,
White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Great Blue Heron's, Egrets, Hooded
Mesengers both male and female. There was lots of activity going
on in this area and if you went early in the morning or late
evening, you would probably see lots more.
Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland. This is a great park, but
use caution as its not as safe as it could be. Lot's of drug
interaction, but it is monitored by undercover police. So take a
birding buddy with you, especially if you go out onto the
trails. As you come into the park, you are circled with lakes on
both sides on your drive. Lots of little areas to view birds.
Just from the road, I spotted Herons, Ibis, Egrets, Limpkins,
Moorhen, Gallinules, Coots, Loons, Anhingas, Cormorants, Belted
Kingfishers, Osprey, Kits, and vulture's. There are a few
trails, on the north end you can spot 36 warbler species in fall
migration from Aug - Oct and in April, as well as collection of
songbirds, vireos, thrushes, flycatchers and other migrants.
This is a beautiful place to just go and sit and enjoy fishing
and birding. Free Admission - located - SR 17-92 just east of
Lakeland, FL.
Avon
Park Bombing Range near Frostproof and Avon Park
- This is such a great place and I plan to visit it often. Lots
of wonderful birding opportunities to see Red Cockade
woodpeckers, Grasshopper Sparrows, Caracaras, Kite's, Florida
Scrub Jay and tons of songbirds, warblers, predators,
woodpeckers and so on. The bombing range is only open certain
months of the year and then only open noon thursday - monday,
but you need to call before you go to make sure its open and
that they are not bombing. They close often since it is a
training area. 863 -452-4254 Directions: Hwy 27 to Avon Park
then go east on Hwy 64 for around 10 miles. You will need to
watch out as they are working on the small bridge and so for now
its one way, so watch the stop signal and only go on green. You
will need to stop in at main gate, tell them you are there to
bird. Then you will need to go to the Natural Resources Building
to check in, get a permit for $8.00.They are closed to public
access Oct 26 - Dec 15th.
Highlands Hammock State
Park in Sebring - a great place to spot wildlife. You
can see Eagles, Scrub Jays, Blue Jays, Turkeys, Deer, Gators, Egrets,
Herons, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red Shouldered Hawks, Barred Owls
and Swallow-tailed Kites. Be sure to go on the boardwalk. Once
again, a beautiful peaceful place to get back to nature and view
birds and wildlife. There are several trails through out the
park. Admission $$ Directions: Located at 5931 Hammock Road
Sebring, FL 33872. on S.R. 634, also known as Hammock Road, four
miles west of Sebring. |
