The Wandering Disciple

People come from far away to eastern Sarasota County to birdwatch at the Celery Fields. The birding hotspot is a testament to the power of restoration and is now home to a diverse collection of native and migrating species that attract visitors from around the globe.  The land was once farmland and used to grow celery, hence the name. It remained an active farm until the 90's when it was purchased by the county. It has been converted to serve as a storm water collection site and as part of this process, the land was restored and trails were added to invite the public to visit and enjoy the diverse wildlife attracted to the wetlands. Over 240 species of birds have been observed here and the site is listed as a hotspot on the Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.  Taken: November 24, 2014 at Celery Fields (Sarasota, FL)

A Great Egret flies high above the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park. A large member of the egret family, the Great Egret flies with its long neck tucked in and its long legs outstretched.  The Great Egret is just one of the many species of wildlife you will encounter on a visit to Myakka River State Park. The 37,000 acre state park is home to a wide variety of animals including over 100 species of birds.  Taken: November 11, 2014 at Myakka River State Park (Sarasota, FL)

A quite pond in the middle of the woods provides a hidden oasis in the hustle and bustle of daily life. A stroll down the elevated boardwalk of Six Mile Cypress will bring you to quite spots like Pop Ash Pond where you can marvel at the beauty of Mother Nature and the animals that call this pond home.  Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a critical ecosystem in the heart of Fort Myers. As the nearby areas began to develop, the community quickly realized the importance of the slough on the regional watershed and an effort to preserve the land began. Today the park features an elevated boardwalk and interpretive center that help explain the importance of the slough and its impact on the local waterways.  Taken: October 5, 2014 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (Fort Myers, FL)

Marco Island, Florida: What better way to spend Earth Day than exploring nature. For Earth Day 2023, we headed down south to Tigertail Beach Park for a hike on the beach. This Gulf front park features an unspoiled stretch of beach that is one of the best birdwatching spots in all of Southwest Florida.  We got to the beach a little after 8am and began the trek to the beach. This early in the morning, there was just a handful of people on the beach and plenty of wildlife to be seen. It was like having the beach all to ourselves at time. We strolled about three miles of beach. On the way we collected plenty of colorful shells from the shore line and saw plenty of birds. From Osprey and Pelicans soaring above to Sanderling and Willet playing in the surf, there was plenty of nature to explore during the stroll.  We enjoyed our trip and it was certainly worth the drive. We will be back again in the future! Tigertail Beach Park is a public park operated by Collier County Pa...

An anhinga dries out its wings along a pond at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida. Anhinga lack oil glands in their wings so after swimming, they must dry their wings in the sun before they are able to fly. That is why its quite common to see them stretched out in the Florida sunshine. (Photo: April 10, 2021)

An anhinga shows off his fluffy head feathers along a hiking trail at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. While it may look like a bad case of bed head, this messy hair and green coloring around the eyes is actually a breeding plumage for the Anhinga. The anhinga is one of the many birds that you can see at the Circle B, a birding hotspot in Central Florida. (Photo: January 17, 2021)

A red shouldered hawk sits atop a snag at Myakka River State Park in eastern Sarasota. The park is home to many birds of prey like this hawk and much more. The red shouldered hawk sits high above on a perch in a tree or utlity pole scanning the ground below for small mammals. They soar in and catch they prey undetected. Red shouldered hawks are plentiful in the Southeastern US and range up the east coast and along the west coast. (Photo: December 25, 2020)

  An American Alligator patrols the banks of Gator Lake at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers.  Alligators are plentiful in bodies of freshwater throughout the sunshine state and can be found laying on the bank or swimming in the water looking for a bite to eat.  In addition to feeding, alligators use the water to help manage their body temperatures.  (Photo: February 15, 2019)

A colorful parrot hangs out by a feeder at the Celery Fields in eastern Sarasota. The Nanday Parakeet also known as the Black-hooded Parrot is one of the two parrot species found in colonies throughout Florida. These birds are not native to Florida but are able to sustain here in the sunshine state due to the warm tropical climates. Native to South America, the parrots have began self-sustaining colonies in Florida, Texas and southern California as a result of pet birds being released into the wild. (Photo: February 15, 2019)

A double crested cormorant hangs out by the lake at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.  Gator Lake, the largest  of the lakes in the preserve, is home to a wide variety of species from birds to its namesake the American alligator.  The preserve features an elevated boardwalk that takes you through the swamp and Gator Lake is the first lake you pass on your journey.  (Photo: February 10, 2019)

  A juvenile bald eagle takes flight from a tree at Lemon Bay Park.  The symbol of our nation is known by its iconic white head and tail, however they are not born with that.  Young eagles are brown and the white gradually mixes in as the eagle matures.  It isn't until about five years old that the eagle will have that iconic white head.  (Photo: January 9, 2019)

  A snowy egret tries to stay warm along the banks of the lake at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida.  Despite having snowy in their name, these small egrets are found in the warmer climates of the southern United States, Central and South America.  Once hunted to almost extinction, they have been protected by the Migratory Bird Treat Act and their populations have rebounded to abundant levels.  (Photo: January 4, 2019)

The waters of the Circle B Bar Reserve a filled with freshwater fish, attracting fishing birds like this Osprey enjoying a fresh catch.  Located on the shore of Lake Hancock the Circle B is a former cattle ranch that has been revitalized into a renowned wildlife preserve.  The  1,200 plus acre reserve is now a hot spot to watch wildlife and brings thousands of people into Lakeland to see the animals that call the reserve their home.  (Photo: January 1, 2019)

In the shadows of the downtown skyline, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve provides an wilderness oasis in the hustle and bustle of city life.  Located on the banks of Lake Maggiore, the nature preserve provides hiking trails where you can spot some of Florida native wildlife.  (Photo: December 29, 2018)

A Great Egret comes in for a landing as the sun sets on the Venice Audubon Rookery. This park features an lake with an island known as a rookery. A rookery provides a safe nesting site for birds like the egret and other wading birds. The rookery creates a castle type arrangement for the birds, the water from the lake keeps predators like raccoons from raiding the nests. So each night as the sun sets, there is always a flurry of activity as the birds return to the island for the night. (Photo: December 25, 2018)

A young alligator photobombed this photo of a green heron on Sunday afternoon at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. On any given day, you can see hundreds of gators along the trails at Circle B. But on this trip, we didn't see a single one due to the colder weather in the Sunshine State. It wasn't until editing photos that I caught this little guy lurking in the background, a good reminder that they are everywhere even if you can't see them. (Photo: January 17, 2021)

Lakeland, Florida: After over a year hiatus, we finally went back to the wildlife mecca of Circle B Bar Reserve. This nature reserve is a wildlife hotspot popular for the variety of animals seen along the trails. On today’s visit we hiked the Heron Hideout, Alligator Alley and Shady Oak trail.   Along the way we saw the following animals:   American Alligator  Anhinga   Black-bellied Whistling Duck   Black-crowned Night Heron   Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher   Brown Pelican  Cattle Egret  Common Gallinule  Common Yellowthroat  Double-crested Cormorant  Eastern Gray Squirrel  Florida Red-bellied Cooter  Glossy Ibis  Great Blue Heron  Green Heron  Little Blue Heron  Nine-banded Armadillo  Northern Cardinal  Osprey  Painted Bunting  Palm Warbler  Pine Warbler  Red-shouldered Hawk  Red-winged Blackbird  Snowy Egret  Tree Swallow...

 A brown pelican flies high over the beach at Stump Pass Beach State Park.  Operated by the Florida State Park service, Stump Pass Beach State Park is a popular place to bird watch where you can see shorebirds and birds of prey in plenty.  As a result, the park is listed on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a list of spots across the state that are prime areas to enjoy wildlife.  (Photo: November 17, 2018)

The boardwalk winds through the cypress swamp along your journey through Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. The 1.2 mile boardwalk takes you through the unique ecosystems provided by the slough, a 9-mile long wildlife corridor in the heart of the city. Protected within the park's boundary, the 3,500 wetlands are a safe haven for wildlife including birds, gators, otters and much more and the boardwalk is your front row seat to all the wildlife action. (Photo: January 22, 2017)

A group of wading birds enjoy a feeding frenzy along the banks of the Myakka River.  On any given day, wading birds like these spoonbills, ibis, and herons enjoy the bounty that the riverfront provides.  There are great places along the river at Myakka River State Park to watch these birds at work.  Because of the great wildlife watching opportunities in the park, Myakka River State Park is a designated stop along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.  (Photo: November 13, 2016)