Lake Okeechobee is one of those places that always delivers something unexpected. With wide‑open views, marsh edges, and endless sky, it’s a classic South Florida birding day — and this trip added a few surprises, a few frustrations, and a few great birds along the way.
A Morning on the Lake Okeechobee Dike
First, we drove to Clewiston on Friday, March 13th, for the Big O Birding Festival. Unfortunately, the Port LaBelle Inn, which hosted the festival, was sold out when we registered. However, we did get a room at the Historic Clewiston Inn, which is a bit of a drive, but it’s always a pleasant place to stay. As a result, we started our weekend a little farther from the action than usual. On the way, we spotted a Great Horned Owl in an orange grove near La Belle.
Next, our Saturday morning bus tour, led by Dr. Paul Gray, took us first to the Fisheating Creek-Fort Center Trail. We were joined by Bruce Wilson, a sixth-generation Floridian, who gave us an impressive history lesson on the area and the Florida “Osceola” Wild Turkey. There we found 27 species, including herons, shorebirds, raptors, and warblers. Finally, on our way out, our escort from Florida Fish and Wildlife took us to a work shed that was a Barn Owl roost. It was an awesome sight for all of us!
Next, we drove north toward the town of Okeechobee. Dr. Gray, who is a Science Coordinator for the Okeechobee Watershed program, explained some of the important work he does. His efforts have a major effect on water quality and water flow from Lake Kissimmee all the way through the Everglades.
We birded the Okie-Tantie boat ramp area, where the Kissimmee River enters Lake Okeechobee. Afterward, we joined the group for a marvelous lunch at Lightsey’s Seafood Company. Their seafood buffet is not to be missed and is a great way to try gator, frog legs, oysters, and local catfish.
Searching for Snail Kites
On day two, we met Dr. Gray early at the Okie-Tantie boat ramp and boarded his personal airboat for a tour of the lake shoreline. How lucky are we? While we didn’t think an airboat would be the best way to see birds, it gave us up-close, amazing views of Snail Kites, waterfowl, an American Bittern, and a Gray-headed Swamphen. We were able to see an impressive 48 species of birds.
The Big O Bird Festival is one of our favorites, and this was our third time attending. It’s a very intimate festival with small-group tours, the people are great, and the birds are plentiful. Lastly, we highly recommend the STA 5/6 tours with the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society.
It was a warm, windy two‑day festival of birding around Lake Okeechobee, and the Snail Kite was the highlight we’d hoped for. With herons, egrets, marsh birds, and a few new year birds, it turned into a classic South Florida weekend.
Trip Totals: 27 species • 3 year birds • 0 life birds
2015 Totals: 122 year birds • 5 life birds
Next up: New Jersey and Long Island — a chilly coastal run for alcids, gulls, and wintering ducks
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