Bird Club Schedule

GENERAL REMINDERS FOR ALL OUTINGS: Comfortable walking shoes, water, insect repellent, sun protection, binoculars, field scopes, and a packed lunch are recommended for every outing. Have ideas for local walks to save on fuel and driving time? Let the club know in advance!

NOVEMBER 2026

November 12: Lake Gwyn Park

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Parking area next to Wahneta Elementary School on 4th Street East, off Rifle Range Road. (Note: Published GPS address leads to a different entrance).

Details: Approximately 1.5-mile hike. Restrooms and picnic tables are available.

Target Birds: Least Bittern, Merlin, and Fulvous Whistling Duck.

November 19: Se7en Wetlands Park

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: 500 West Carter Road, Lakeland, FL 33813 (located at the rear of Loyce Harpe Park).

Details: Approximately 2.5-mile hike with very little shade along the trail. Restrooms and picnic tables are at the entrance.

Target Birds: Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

November 26: Thanksgiving

No trip planned. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday!

DECEMBER 2026

December 3: Mackay Gardens and Lakeside Preserve (Primary Trip)

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: 945 Mackay Boulevard, Lake Alfred, FL 33850. Drive past the historic brick home to the pavilion parking lot.

Details: Approximately 2-mile hike. Restrooms and picnic tables are available.

Target Birds: Bald Eagle, Yellow-throated Warbler, and American Crow.

Alternative Option: Fort DeSoto Park (Carpool meets at Mulberry McDonald's at 6:30 AM for a 7:00 AM departure). Park entry fee is $6 per vehicle. Note that roadway repaving and pier repairs are ongoing and may cause delays.

December 10: South Lake Howard Nature Park

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: 1570 Lake Howard Drive SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880.

Details: Approximately 1.5-mile hike. Restrooms are available.

Target Birds: Winter warblers, Wood Duck, Purple Gallinule, and Forster’s Tern.

December 18: Lake Morton, Lake Mirror, and Fletcher Park (Lake Bonny)

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Lakeland Library parking lot at 100 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801.

Details: Total walk of approximately 2.5 miles. Restrooms available along the route.

Target Birds: Waterfowl (Redhead, Ruddy, Wood, and Ring-necked ducks); warblers, woodpeckers, and raptors at Fletcher Park.

December 24: Christmas Eve (Informal Outing) – Saddle Creek Park

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Parking area near the maintenance building and gun range at 3716 Morgan Combee Road, Lakeland, FL 33801.

Details: Informal 2.5-mile holiday walk. Restrooms and picnic tables are available.

Target Birds: Warblers, woodpeckers, and Short-tailed Hawk.

December 31: New Year's Eve (Informal Outing) – Cox Road Driving Route

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Cox Road (located off Route 60, east of Bartow).

Details: Driving trip with periodic observation stops. No restrooms are available on-site.

Target Birds: Orioles, sparrows, Western Kingbirds, and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.

JANUARY 2027

January 7: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Meeting Time: 8:30 AM.

Location: Parish Park Boat Ramp on Max Brewer Memorial Highway, Titusville, FL 32796 (before the refuge entrance).

Details: Driving tour with viewing stops. Bring walkie-talkies and your Senior Park Pass. Restrooms are available at the ramp and refuge office. Optional group dinner at Dixie Crossroads afterward.

Target Birds: Painted Bunting, Florida Scrub-Jay, and American Flamingo.

January 14: Florida’s Natural Settling Ponds

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Lake Wales City Hall at 201 West Central Avenue, Lake Wales, FL 33853 to meet guide Jerry Burns.

Details: Driving caravan through wetlands; carpooling is strongly encouraged to reduce vehicles. Bring walkie-talkies. Optional lunch stop at Lake Wales Park after the tour.

Target Birds: Black-necked Stilts, American White Pelicans, Bonaparte’s Gull, and various wading birds.

January 22 (Friday): Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Meeting Time: Carpool leaves McDonald’s (I-4 and US-27) at 7:00 AM (meet at 6:30 AM). Drive destination: 2850 Lust Road, Apopka, FL 32703.

Details: Friday outing because the drive is closed to vehicles on Thursdays. Carpooling encouraged; bring walkie-talkies. Restrooms and picnic facilities are along the drive.

Target Birds: Waterfowl, raptors, Sora, and Peregrine Falcon.

January 28: Itchepackesassa Creek Wetlands

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: 1285 Walker Road, Lakeland, FL 33810.

Details: Approximately 1.5-mile walk. Restrooms are available at the recreational park just before the wetlands.

Target Birds: Northern Flicker, Brown Thrasher, and wetland raptors.

FEBRUARY 2027

February 4: T. M. Goodwin Water Management Area

Meeting Time: Carpool leaves Lake Wales McDonald’s on Highway 60 at 7:30 AM (meet at 7:00 AM).

Location: Near Fellsmere on the east side of the St. Johns River.

Details: Driving tour with observation stops. Restrooms are located on Fellsmere Road and at the preserve entrance.

Target Birds: Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, and wading birds.

February 11: Hardee Lakes Park

Meeting Time: Carpool leaves Mulberry McDonald’s at 7:30 AM (meet at 7:00 AM). Destination address: 5502 Ollie Roberts Road, Bowling Green, FL 33834.

Details: Driving tour with walks totaling approximately 1.5 miles. Park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. Restrooms and picnic facilities on-site.

Target Birds: Wading birds and raptors.

February 18: Orlando Wetlands Park

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: 25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas, FL 32709.

Details: Approximately 3.0-mile hike. Restrooms and picnic facilities are available.

Target Birds: Roseate Spoonbill and Crested Caracara.

February 25: Catfish Creek Preserve State Park and Everglades Headwaters WMA

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: 4335 Firetower Road, Haines City, FL 33844. (Everglades Headwaters WMA is ~1 mile east on Hatchineha Road).

Details: Approximately 1-mile hike along paved boundary roads (interior trails feature deep sugar sand). Early arrival before dawn is recommended for owl scouting.

Target Birds: Florida Scrub-Jay, Wild Turkey, and Great Horned, Barred, and Eastern Screech Owls.

MARCH 2027

March 4: Lake Kissimmee State Park

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM at the main gate.

Carpool: Departs Lake Wales McDonald’s on Highway 60 at 7:30 AM (meet at 7:00 AM).

Location: 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898.

Details: Birding along entrance road followed by 2–3 miles of trail hiking. Entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. Restrooms are available near the boat ramp.

Target Birds: Active Bald Eagle nest, Red-headed Woodpecker, Snail Kite, and Brown-headed Nuthatch.

March 11: Panther Point Trail (US-98 Entrance)

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Lake Hancock Boat Ramp at 220 Farm Road, Bartow, FL 33830.

Details: 2- to 4-mile walk along the grass causeway bordering southwest Lake Hancock.

Target Birds: Swallow-tailed Kite, Virginia Rail, American Bittern, and waterfowl.

March 18: Three Lakes WMA / Joe Overstreet Landing

Meeting Time: Carpool leaves Lake Wales McDonald’s on Highway 60 at 7:00 AM (meet at 6:30 AM).

Details: Driving trip stopping first at Hunter’s Campground for restrooms, followed by viewing stops. Bring walkie-talkies. Packed lunch stop at Joe Overstreet Landing.

Target Birds: Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman’s Sparrow, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, and Black Skimmer.

March 25: Circle B Bar Reserve

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM.

Location: Second parking lot at 4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803.

Details: Return visit featuring a 2.5-mile hike. Restrooms are available on-site.

Target Birds: Painted Buntings, Roseate Spoonbills, raptors, and wading birds.

APRIL 2027

April 1: Lake Kissimmee State Park (Primary Trip)

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM at the main gate.

Carpool: Departs Lake Wales McDonald’s on Highway 60 at 7:30 AM (meet at 7:00 AM).

Location: 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898.

Details: 2–3 miles of trail hiking. Entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. Restrooms are available near the concession area.

Target Birds: Nesting Bald Eagles, Red-headed Woodpecker, Snail Kite, and spring warblers.

Alternative Option: Fort DeSoto Park (Carpool meets at Mulberry McDonald's at 6:30 AM for a 7:00 AM departure). $6 vehicle entry fee. Note: Expect delays due to active park repaving and pier repairs.