While not all of Lakeland’s exotic birds are ABA countable, they are stunning to see. Lake Morton is a hotspot for many species of swans and geese. We saw plenty of Mute Swans, along with Black Swans and Black-necked Swans mixed in. Domestic Graylag Geese and Swan Geese were also easy to find. For native birds, we saw several Ruddy and Ring-necked Ducks spending the winter there.
Unfortunately, we saw several families feeding the birds bread, which can be harmful. I wish there were more educational signs encouraging people to feed them healthier options like grapes, corn, peas, or lettuce.
From the lake, we took a short trip to Florida Southern College, which is home to the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. Our favorite was the beautiful Danforth Chapel, built in 1954—it would be a perfect place for a wedding.
Adjacent to the campus is Lake Hollingsworth, where we found some true Florida specialties. Purple Gallinules and Limpkins were easily seen from the boardwalks. It was a great way to combine birding with some beautiful sights.
The Thrill of the Chase in Wimauma
When we heard that Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers had been reported in the orange groves south of Lakeland, we knew we had to check it out. On our way back, we took a detour through Wimauma. We struck out on both, but that’s the nature of birding, and it’s what keeps things interesting! If you always found your target bird, there wouldn’t be much of a challenge.
Despite not finding our main targets, a small group of Palm Warblers and Eastern Bluebirds followed us as we drove slowly through the farm fields. We were glad they took off just as a Red-shouldered Hawk flew by!
The very next weekend, we decided to give it another try. Our persistence paid off, and we found the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on a distant post off Colding Loop Road. We were thrilled to see our third one ever in Florida, and our first since 2012! It was a beautiful sight, and a great reminder of why the chase is so much fun.
Trip Birds: 50 Life Birds: 0
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