Birding from the house first thing produced what became the regular Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves and Palm Warblers, and as the temperature started to rise birds making use of the first thermals of the day became evident with my first Black Vulture of the trip noted, along with Turkey Vultures, a Bald Eagle and Wood Storks. A flock of Cedar Waxwings flew over calling, and these were to be noted most mornings, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk whizzed through the garden at ultra high speed.
Destination for the day was to be the Joe Overstreet area which runs down to the eastern shore of Lake Kissimmee. A stop by the property at the top of the road produced the first of many Red-bellied Woodpeckers to been seen on the trip, but more surprisingly it was seen sparring with a Red-headed Woodpecker. A Fox Squirrel was also noted here feeding on the ground amongst the trees.
As we progressed slowly down the road, the song of Eastern Meadowlarks soon began to fill the air, with one located sharing a tree with a Loggerhead Shrike. A number of others were then seen in the fields and then as hoped, we were treated to excellent views of one on a roadside post.
Driving further down the road towards the lake we noted Killdeer and the first Savannah Sparrow of the trip, and then the silhouette of a raptor heading towards us immediately rang alarm bells and getting it in the bins revealed the unmistakable sight of a stunning Swallow-tailed Kite effortlessly gliding over the tree-tops along the road.
Continuing down to the lake, more Loggerhead Shrikes were encountered on the roadside wires and a quick stop produced a distant American Kestrel perched up.
Arriving at the lake revealed a host of marsh birds were present, the usual Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were along the reed edges and around the pools were Wilsons Snipes, Dowitchers and both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Great Blue Herons, White Ibis and Glossy Ibis fed around the pools as did this stunning Little Blue Heron.
A flock of 20 or so Brown-headed Cowbirds were feeding nosily around the car park, and then it was over to the raptors to entertain as a Crested Caracara flew down onto the marsh, a Turkey Vulture perched on the bonnet of a nearby car, and then a Bald Eagle flew along landing on a post where it posed for photos.
A walk further along the lake edge revealed a roosting flock of Ring-billed Gulls, Forsters Terns and superb Black Skimmers.
Killdeer, Common Gallinule, Savannah Sparrow and Palm Warbler were also noted, along with a couple of Mottled Ducks.
Heading back up Joe Overstreet Road, a confiding Bald Eagle was watched atop a roadside telegraph pole, and then a stop by the junction with Sailor Hammock Road produced a Burrowing Owl trying to hide up against a hedgerow.
Heading further back north along the road, a Wild Turkey ran alongside the car before crossing the road into cover, and the final highlight was the first Alligator of the trip in a roadside pool.
