Today we headed over to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park a 54,000 acre prairie to the south of the Three Lakes Mgt area. Arriving at the car park we were greeted with the sight of this Crested Caracara having a skunk for breakfast!
Eastern Meadowlarks were abundant here, and a few Loggerhead Shrikes, Eastern Towhees, Savannah Sparrows and a couple of pairs of Common Ground Doves were also seen. Northern Parula's, Palm Warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Cardinals and Mockingbirds were noted in the Hammock around the visitors centre, where this Wild Turkey was also seen.
The main speciality birdwise of the preserve is the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow and after much searching I eventually heard one briefly sing and then flushed what was presumably it up from the undergrowth. Further searching of the area produced brief flight views of a number of other sparrow sp's flushed up from the grass most of which vanished instantly upon landing, but two Bachman's Sparrows were seen perched up. For anyone visiting the site, these birds were found to the south of the visitors centre in the area of the Kilpatrick Prairie and Kilpatrick Homestead Trails.
White-tailed Deer and Black Racer Snakes were encountered, and the daily sightings of Swallow-tailed Kites continued with a group of three sparring in the air together. A number of Grasshopper sp's were seen during the fortnight with this massive one seen along one of the prairie trails.
Final highlight of the visit was as we were heading out of the preserve along the entrance track we came across a pair of Northern Bobwhites which showed well as they fed in the grass along a mud bank.
