From the Icebox to the Oven

After returning from Canada, weather reports were not encouraging for planned road trips to shoot eagles along the Mississippi River or a trip to northern Minnesota.  Wind chills close to 50 below at Duluth made the decision to head south easy.  Two days later I was in central Florida traveling down Joe Overstreet Road to Lake Kissimmee.  Highs in the mid eighties were predicted.

Joe Overstreet Road was made famous by a local photographer who guides here and wrote an e-book
on bird photography along the road.  It is not too difficult to see 50 species on the four mile ride to the boat launch and small fish camp on Lake Kissimmee.  Bald Eagles and Sandhill Cranes are a given and Whooping Cranes (from an attempt to establish a flock here) are often seen.  Locals (mostly cattle ranchers and sod farmers) are familiar with slow driving cars armed with camera lenses.  Keep in mind that blocking the semi trucks hauling sod will cause ill-will for later photographers enjoying the road.

On the drive to Lake Kissimmee it seemed every half mile contained an American Kestrel.  Loggerhead Shrikes were almost as common along with Savannah Sparrows.  Two Bald Eagles sat in a dead tree with a Crested Caracara 100 feet away.  Sandhill Cranes walked alongside the road rather unconcerned about my presence.  When I reached the boat launch I followed my usual custom of turning left through the camp and heading south to a mowed grassy area where airboats launch. 

As I set up I could hear a Red-shouldered Hawk calling to my right, an Eastern Meadowlark behind me, and Boat-tailed Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds to my left.  In front of me White and Glossy Ibis were working the weedy shoreline along with a Tri-colored Heron and Little Blue Heron.  A Wilson's Snipe flushed as I moved forward but Forster's Terns stayed on the fence posts that extended out into the water. American Coots and Common Gallinules were everywhere. A Long-billed Curlew foraged closer to the air boat launch. 

As I was watching the Curlew a female Snail Kite flew slowly over the boat launch and approached the area in front of me.  As I began to focus on the Kite, a Boat-tailed Grackle launched itself from the rushes and attacked the Snail Kite from beneath.  The Grackle would appear to be overmatched but the element of surprise along with the heft of this relatively large and heavy grackle seemed to have an effect on the Kite.  After the attack it immediately perched directly in front of  me and seemed unharmed but a little dazed.  Probably not a good experience for the Kite but a great one for the photographer.  Be prepared for great experiences when working Joe Overstreet Road.

Boat-tailed Grackles are large, noisy, and sometimes annoying but who would have
thought they were the gangsters of the marsh.

Pursuit of the unsuspecting female Snail Kite who is simply foraging
for snails



Sneak attack from below

I don't know much about Kite facial expressions but this female seemed
to have a "what just happened" look on her face.

A beautiful male Snail Kite arrived on the scene a little later.

Always expect Common Gallinules to be sounding and acting goofy.

Bald Eagles continue to fly by on their way to and from the lake.

Little Blue Heron

Eastern Meadowlark

Tri-color Heron



Long-billed Curlew

The sheer numbers of Turkey and Black Vultures in Florida in winter
makes me wonder how many dead critters this state produces.

The people and airboat activity at the launch produce very unconcerned
birds which make the photographers job easier.

A common sight along Joe Overstreet Road