Lake Apopka, 12/21/2012
Northern Harrier Well, yesterday went a little better than predicted--the world didn't end, and I had a great time at the Zellwood/Mt. Dora Christmas Bird Count. I was in the area around Lake Apopka--particularly to the north and east of it. It was a cold (by Florida standards) and blustery day, but it was a great day for raptors. We began the morning with a couple Barn Owls, and as morning broke, we also had Osprey, Bald Eagles, dozens of Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawks, many Red-shouldered Hawks, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, several American Kestrels, and one Merlin. As the sun was setting, we found a couple more Barn Owls and at least one Short-eared Owl. But the biggest highlight, though, was a Krider's sub-species of a Red-tailed Hawk. Red-tailed Hawk "Krider's" Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Sharp-shinned Hawk Barn Owl Ducks and water birds were also there. We had 18 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and several Gadwall, Malla...