We frequently visit the “B”, as we call it, because of its close proximity to our house. This past visit, a good friend, Frank Kearney came down south from North Carolina to do a little birding with us in our “backyard.” We started early in the morning before the sun came up in hopes of seeing some great birds and we were not disappointed. Circle B Bar Reserve (1,267 acres) has many trails with different distinct ecosystems, this enables you to see different types of birds in one place – birds that love water, birds that love oak trees in a dryer area and everything between. If you like to see Alligators, there are many here, from small to large. They often create a trail obstacle while sunbathing across the path making you turn around and go back where you came from. No worries, if you leave them alone and keep your distance, they will leave you alone.
When we arrived, we headed out of the parking lot towards Heron Hideout trail and before we got 50 yards in, we spotted 3 Great Horned Owls sitting high up in an Oak tree. We may have been looking at them, but in all actuality, I think they were watching us. We took a few camera shots and headed into the center of the reserve towards the Eagle Roost trail. There we spotted several different species, including an American Kestrel that seemed to know we wanted a picture of him as he constantly moved away as we got closer. Thank goodness for our telephoto lenses. Coming around the back end of the trail we hoped to see a couple of Bald Eagles but only found an empty nest. We headed down the Wading Bird Way trail and spotted a few Royal Terns. I was able to get a great capture of a Boat-tailed Grackle and in the distance, you can see the pink glow of a Rosette Spoonbill.
Next, we wandered down Marsh Rabbit Run to the Bird Blind. This overlooks part of the lake where the Eagle nest is located high in a pine tree. The nest was empty, however, within a few minutes one of the Eagles came soaring in and landed in a tree across from our location. The flyover made for a perfect picture opportunity. We got several great shots. Also, hiding beneath the blind was a Green Heron hunting. This bird has an amazing neck. You would think it was two different birds when you see the neck extended and contracted.
Moving on we headed to Alligator Alley, a one-mile trail that leads to Lake Hancock. This trail is just as the name says, an alligator haven and there were plenty. As it may be, it’s also a birds’ haven and there were hundreds of them. We saw Northern Cardinals, Limpkins, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Ibises, Great Blue Herons, Glossy Egrets, Tri-colored Herons, another Green Heron, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers and hundreds of Yellow-rumped warblers. As we approached the lake, Anhingas and Cormorants made their presence known and a few Osprey were over the water looking for the best fish to catch.
Alligator Alley dead-ended into Shady Oak trail. This was the last leg of our hike as it headed back to the parking lot. It’s an area is full of Oak trees with Spanish moss hanging down making for a great place for little birds to hide out. First was a Downey Woodpecker followed by a couple of Carolina Wrens. Seems to be common in this area as I almost always see them on this trail. Again, lots of Blue-grey Gnatcatchers and Yellow-rumped Warblers. For my wife and I, this is one of our favorite areas in the park as we like to see the small, hard-to-find birds and we are usually not disappointed.
The list of birds that we have seen over the years here at “the B” is long. Painted Buntings and Eastern Towhees to Red Shouldered Hawks and Snail Kites to White and Brown Pelicans just to name a few. And let’s not forget the ducks, there are always several different species that show up.
Suggestions: Get an early start if you are a weekend birder – the popularity of this park makes for a busy day of visitors. Bring water and mosquito repellent and wear a good pair of hiking shoes.
Circle B Bar Reserve is a great place to visit and will never disappoint.
Trip Rating 5 birds
Trails at Circle B Bar
Shady Oak Trail — (1.3 miles, Easy, Shaded)
This trail takes you through an oak hammock, where you can watch for cabbage palms wrapped in trumpet vines, live oak branches covered with resurrection ferns, Spanish moss and the butterfly orchid. The hammock provides food and shelter to many types of animals and birds.
Lost Bridge Trail — (0.5 miles, Easy, Mostly Shaded)
This trail leads you through an oak canopy to a long boardwalk that gives you a feeling of ‘walking on water’ through the swamp. The trail ends by taking you past the old cattle pens, a reminder of the past uses of this site.
Alligator Alley — (1 mile, Easy, Mostly Shaded)
This trail leads you through an oak canopy to a long boardwalk that gives you a feeling of ‘walking on water’ through the swamp. The trail ends by taking you past the old cattle pens, a reminder of the past uses of this site.
Marsh Rabbit Run — (0.7 miles, Easy, Partially Shaded)
This trail takes you past a shallow marsh where you may see many types of wading birds including spoonbills and white ibis. Several dead trees bear the chisel marks of red-bellied woodpeckers. Watch for otters and turtles using the fallen logs to bask in the sun. The former Banana Creek Canal runs along the south side of this trail.
Heron Hideout — (0.5 miles, Easy, Little Shade)
This trail crosses the marsh and can either return you to the Discovery Center or provide the shortest way to the marsh, where you can see birds like sandhill cranes, moorhens and black-necked stilts.
Eagle Roost — (0.7 miles, Moderate, No Shade)
This trail takes you through an uphill habitat under restoration with planted longleaf pines and wiregrass. Reptiles and birds such as bobwhite quails, eastern meadowlarks and American kestrels are commonly seen. Be sure to take water on this trail on hot summer days.
Wading Bird Way — (0.7 miles, Moderate, No Shade)
This trail runs along the deepest waters of the marsh system and boasts some of the best wildlife observations. Watch for great blue herons, great egrets and large groups of migratory wading birds such as the American white pelican.
Windmill Whisper — (0.4 miles, Moderate, Some Shade)
This trail takes you through an oak hammock that connects to Wading Bird Way and Shady Oak.
Otter Trail — (0.2 miles, Easy, Shaded)
This trail connects the Otter parking lot to the main parking lot at the Discovery Center.
