Years back, I learned about Eagle Lakes Park in Naples from the Great Florida Birding Trail guide book. When I first visited, I had to walk past soccer fields and baseball diamonds. There was a water park, tennis courts, and a community centre. I wondered where the birding hotspot was to be found. Then, I arrived at the back of the park, with its three marshy ponds and tree-lined walkways. Suddenly, I was in birding heaven, as I started to see a variety of great birds.
On a recent visit, I was delighted to see that the park managers had finally cut back the reeds and palms, which had been blocking the views of the ponds for years.
Glossy Ibis
I started in the gazebo, which overlooks one of the ponds. A scope is useful in this park. While scanning the pond, I saw Glossy Ibis, feeding right by the gazebo. Farther out, there were Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Wood Stork, and Western Cattle Egrets. A Roseate Spoonbill was a flyover.
Mottled Duck
Hanging around the marsh edges were Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers. An Eastern Phoebe was hawking for insects. Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Flicker worked the slash pines for insects. As I worked my way around the marsh, I heard the calls of American Coot and Common Gallinule. A pair of Mottled Ducks engaged in a head-bobbing courtship. (These warm-weather ducks are a south Florida specialty.) A Pied-billed Grebe sat on the water, near a Little Blue Heron. There is always some bird perched high up, looking for its next meal. Today, a Belted Kingfisher and a Loggerhead Shrike shared a snag, while hunting.
Belted Kingfisher (top) and Loggerhead Shrike (left)
Of course, all these birds attract raptors, which are looking to share in the bounty. I watched a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk as it slipped through the trees. The local Osprey seemed to be absent. It could be because a pair of Bald Eagles have taken over their old nest on top of a light standard and evicted the previous tenants (see picture at top of article). This park had always been reliable for an eagle sighting, but it was the first time I noticed them attempting to nest here. That will be something to watch over the coming months.
I spent two hours in the park, in the late afternoon, and I saw 35 species. If I had stayed until sundown, I would have seen all the waders and marsh birds coming in to roost for the night. But, really any time of the day is good for eagles and the other great birds of Eagle Lakes.
Note: All photos by the Kinrys family.
That eagle nest is massive! Nice post, enjoyed reading it a lot.
Is the Large-billed Tern still around that park? The ponds are nice there, thanks for the reminder about this place (although it is 2 hrs south of me)!!