Birding HOT Spots in The Ridge Audubon area. 

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 wire weed. 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 opprotunities. 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 water birds 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, Anhinga's, 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.