Birding in the Highlands

It’s winter in Highlands County and our winter birds should be here. I’m not talking about our tourists; rather I’m referring to feathered migrants that visit us to escape the cold. Whether you are looking for uncommon warblers like Black-throated blue, Prairie, Yellow-throated or want to see more common species like Solitary vireos, Black-and-white warblers and “butter butts”, Highlands Hammock State Park won’t disappoint you. Pick up a bird list when paying at the park’s ranger station and be sure to let the park staff know of any uncommon sightings.

Other good birding spots include Lake Jackson for waders such as great and snowy egrets. Watch over the water for Northern harriers and Bald eagles hunting ducks. Near the end of Schumacher road in Sebring are retention ponds for the Sun N Lakes community that often contain Sand hill cranes, Wood storks and Black-necked stilts.

In Lake Placid, head out to Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park to see Florida Scrub-jays nearly every day, or take a nice ride out CR 621 to the caladium fields and search for Caracara or Scissor-tailed flycatchers.

For a specific question about Nature-Based Tourism in Highlands County just… Ask Dorothy!