Florida Wildlife

Tavares Ecological Preserve

reweidman50 Florida Alligators, Florida Outdoors, Florida Wildlife , , ,

Looking to get outside and effortlessly see some wildlife in Tavares? Check out Tavares Ecological Preserve, which is located just down the street from the courthouse (and adjacent to the county jail!). During my first visit, I saw an alligator, turtle, ospreys, moorhen, white ibis and great blue heron. Don’t miss it!

Venetian Gardens

reweidman50 Florida Hiking Trails, Florida Lakes, Florida Parks, Florida Wildlife , , , , , , ,

Seeking some solitude for reflection? Head out to Venetian Gardens in Leesburg! This unique city park features seven small islands connected by bridges. It’s full of wildlife and scenic landscaping. We saw the purple gallinule above just wandering across one of the bridges. The Venetian Gardens overlook Lake Harris (you can even catch a glimpse of tiny Monkey Island in the distance). Check it out!

Red-Shouldered Hawk

reweidman50 Florida Hiking Trails, Florida Preserves, Florida Wildlife , , , , ,

I saw this majestic red-shouldered hawk while I was wandering the hiking trails at Oakland Nature Preserve. The hawk was perched right above me, so I took some decent photos. However, several bikers on the West Orange Trail stopped to take a look and the hawk decided enough was enough and took off. According to the Audubon Field Guide, the red-shouldered hawk is “A hawk of the woodlands, often heard before it is seen. The clear whistled calls of this hawk are conspicuous, especially in spring; in the east, Blue Jays often give a near-perfect imitation of this call. Over much of eastern North America the Red-shoulder has become uncommon, sticking closely to the remaining forests. Populations in Florida and California are often more visible, perhaps adapting better to open habitats.”