(Scroll down for photos) We were literally up before the birds in order to be in place roadside at Three Lakes WMA Campground to observe Red-cockaded Woodpeckers leave their roosting tree.  Those participants who arrived early saw two of the rare birds leave the roost for the day; nearly everyone in the group got at least brief views of one bird that returned to the area to forage.  An additional treat was listening to the “squeaky toy” calls of several Brown-headed Nuthatches in the same habitat.

A leisurely drive on Joe Overstreet Road provided views of dozens of species, the most photogenic being two Red-headed Woodpeckers.  Eastern Meadowlarks serenaded us for the length of the drive.  Other species of note were Loggerhead Shrike, Bald Eagle and Sandhill Crane.  At the Landing on Lake Kissimmee, we enjoyed watching the activity of several wading birds and Snail Kites.  We ended the day with a picnic by the lake and a giant chocolate chip cookie to help our leader Linda Sullivan celebrate her birthday.

Fifteen people participating in the trip observed a total of 58 species.  Several participants were delighted that they added some new birds to their life lists.

Full checklists for Three Lakes WMA Roadside and Joe Overstreet Road and Landing are available in eBird

By Doris Brookens.

Three Lakes WMA Roadside and Joe Overstreet Road and Landing

February 9, 2019 

Total of 58 Species

Pigeons and Doves: Eurasian Collared-Dove; Mourning Dove

Cranes and Rails: Common Gallinule; American Coot; Purple Gallinule; Limpkin; Sandhill Crane

Shorebirds: Killdeer

Gulls, Terns and Skimmers: Ring-billed Gull; Forster’s Tern

Pelicans, Cormorants and Allies: Wood Stork; Anhinga; Double-crested Cormorant

Wading Birds: Great Blue Heron; Great Egret; Snowy Egret; Little Blue Heron; Tricolored Heron; Cattle Egret; White Ibis; Glossy Ibis

Vultures: Black Vulture; Turkey Vulture

Hawks: Osprey; Snail Kite; Northern Harrier; Sharp-shinned Hawk; Bald Eagle; Red-shouldered Hawk

Woodpeckers: Red-headed Woodpecker; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Downy Woodpecker; Red-cockaded Woodpecker; Pileated Woodpecker

Falcons: American Kestrel

Flycatchers: Eastern Phoebe

Shrikes and Vireos: Loggerhead Shrike; White-eyed Vireo

Jays and Crows: American Crow

Swallows: Northern Rough-winged Swallow; Tree Swallow

Nuthatches: Brown-headed Nuthatch

Wrens and Gnatcatchers: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Thrushes: Eastern Bluebird; American Robin

Mimids and Starlings: Gray Catbird; Northern Mockingbird

Sparrows:  Field Sparrow; Savannah Sparrow

Blackbirds: Eastern Meadowlark; Red-winged Blackbird; Brown-headed Cowbird; Boat-tailed Grackle; Common Grackle

Warblers: Palm Warbler; Pine Warbler; Yellow-rumped Warbler

Cardinals and Buntings:  Northern Cardinal

Photos by Hart Rufe & Linda Sullivan