BIRDING EASTERN FLORIDA - 2008

February 8, 2008 – Orlando, FL

After a night of heavy rain showers, we loaded up the car in light drizzle and motored to the southern fringes of the Orlando metropolitan area. Suburbia and malls all the way. We started birding at Lakefront Park, in south Kissimmee, on the north edge of Lake Tohopekaliga. Exceptionally fine lakeshore birding, only slightly spoiled by seeing two Limpkins – a bird we had struggled to get earlier – fighting on the lawn of a ranch house. We picked up a lifer Least Bittern and a Purple Martin, and well as fine views of a lot of other birds. The very modest greenway to the convention center had some nice birds, as well.

Next to Kaliga Park, which was considerably quieter. Had a nice picnic lunch on the lake shore, and found some photo ops.  

Then to The Nature Conservancy-managed Disney Wilderness Preserve, a mitigation area for the environmental mess that is Disney’s Orlando operation. We did a high temperature two mile loop on the nature trail, but there was very little variety in habitat. We saw more species driving in and out, including Eastern Meadowlark, Wild Turkey and more than 15 Wilson’s Snipe.

We stopped at Lakefront Park on the way back to try for reputed Monk Parakeets, but couldn’t find a trace. Drove back through car dealerships, malls and “Gatorland.” Among the least attractive areas of Florida we’ve seen. Dinner was leftover mediocre Thai food.