Florida Gulf Coast Creations

Tag: Purple Gallinule

  • The Celery Fields

    The Celery Fields

    An area in eastern Sarasota County that was once farmland, was purchased by Sarasota County in 1995 and eventually transformed into a park. The area was known for growing celery and is comprised of ditches and wetlands. Today it is a popular destination for birders, walkers, and runners. There is a manmade hill in the center of the park that provides a nice challenge for fitness enthusiasts. The Sarasota Audubon Society has a small nature center on site, and they offer tours and educational services through a network of volunteers.

    Black Necked Stilt Chick Walking Through Water
    Black-necked Stilt Chick Walking through the Water

    But for us, the main attraction is the habitat. The park has a series of flooded marshes, lakes, creeks, and grasslands. The great habitat means a lot of birds. It’s also a hotspot during the spring and fall migrations and attracts not only the birds, but bird enthusiast from all around the world. There have been almost 250 bird species reported at the Celery Fields.

    Great Egret Flies By To Left In Morning Sun
    Great Egret Flies by to the Left in the Morning Sun

    For more information about the Celery Fields, please visit the links below.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Back in the Field Again

    Back in the Field Again

    This past Friday my good friend Art Nadelman and I got back out with our cameras again after a 3 month hiatus. Art’s arm has healed enough that he can carefully carry his equipment. We decided to visit the Celery Fields which is a favorite among local birders.

    Over the course of a little more than 3 hours, we managed to see over 50 species of birds. We also had some good photo opportunities. One bird that is beginning to expand quickly across the region is the grey-headed swamphen. They’re related to coots and gallinules and have a lot of the beautiful blue colors of the male purple gallinule.

    Grey Headed Swamphen Walking Through Marsh
    Grey-headed Swamphen Walking through the Marsh

    An uncommon bird that has returned for the winter is the bronzed cowbird. You would normally think of a cowbird as a rather ugly, nuisance bird but the adult male is striking. Its jet-black body is highlighted with areas of light blue above the shoulder. But the real distinguishing feature is its red eyes.

    Bronzed Cowbird Perched In Shrub
    Bronzed Cowbird Perched in a Shrub

    It was great to get back out again. Expect to see the posts pick up as the northern birds return for the winter.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Circle B Bar Reserve

    Circle B Bar Reserve

    One of the most popular destinations in Florida for photographers, birders, hikers, and families is Circle B Bar Reserve just outside of Lakeland. It’s a fantastic place to see amazing wildlife while walking some lengthy trails. The park is located along the western side of Lake Hancock. The terrain varies widely from swampy water areas with small lakes to hardwood hammocks with huge oaks.

    Great Blue Heron Standing Sunlight
    Great Blue Heron Standing in the Sunlight

    The park is a relatively short drive from the Orlando area, so it gets many tourists in the winter, especially during spring breaks. They realize there is no reason to pay a lot of money to go to an alligator farm because when the weather is warm you can count on seeing plenty of gigantic gators at Circle B for free.

    For more information about the park, check out the link below.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Polk County Florida Gem

    Polk County Florida Gem

    Circle B Bar Reserve is a Polk County park located just a few miles southeast of Lakeland, FL on Lake Hancock. There are numerous trails that traverse the park through a variety of habitats from hardwood forests to swamp. Be prepared for tired feet because many of the journeys are long. The park is also home to Polk Nature Discovery Center which is a very nice museum with lots of helpful local information.

    House Wren Pops Out Of Cover
    House Wren Pops Out of Cover

    Depending on the time of year, you can see many very large alligators along a trail aptly named Alligator Alley. While alligators are the main attraction, the number of species of wildlife in the park is amazing. It is a destination for many photography tours.

    Purple Gallinule Stepping Across Log In Water
    Purple Gallinule Stepping Across a Log in the Water
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