It’s been a long time since I’ve driven the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Biking it on no-traffic days has been a lot more fun. But on this particular day, BirdCast forecast a good movement of migrants and there was a chance of rain, so I decided to drive it instead.

I spent some time with a fellow birder at the Lust Road entrance, where a Yellow-breasted Chat had been hanging out for a few days. At one point I thought I had the chat, but my flash of yellow with (I thought) white eye rings turned out to be a Palm Warbler! Oops.

After an hour, I moved on to the drive. One of my first birds was a Gray-headed Swamphen on the side of the trail. He was eating at the seeds of a wild daisy.

I arrived at my target location, the cluster of trees at the Crazy U that seems to be a good little migrant trap in April. I stood staring at the trees. At first there didn’t seem to be much going on, but after a few minutes, I started to make out little birds darting around. First a Gray Catbird meowed at me and showed me his red parts…

Then I found a Prairie Warbler hanging out in the shadows. He’s just starting to molt into his breeding colors. Give him a few weeks and he’ll have brilliant black spots!

I wandered around, spotting a pair of Black-necked Stilts in flight. I got a few distant shots. Then I looked down and saw this Savannah Sparrow. I doubt he’ll be here much longer.

Back to the trees. Patience is important when you’re looking for migrant birds. I spot a flash of yellow deep in the leaves and find a Yellow Warbler. He was preening. When he finished, I hoped he’d hop out where I could see him better, but he burrowed deeper into the tree. Silly bird!

After a while, I moved on again. It was already getting pretty late in the morning. Do you remember the Great Blue Heron nest I saw on my last bike ride? Well, apparently it’s been a few weeks! The baby has not only hatched, but grown up into a juvenile who is allowed to stay home alone at the nest while Mom and Dad take a break. Time flies!

Along Welland, the light is beautiful. I come across a Purple Gallinule who is very close to the road. I ask him if he has babies yet. Apparently not!

Spring is the best time to find Red-winged Blackbirds around Lake Apopka. They are all over the place! The males like to perch tall in the bushes to sing. When a bird is very close to the trail, my 600mm is too much lens, and all I get is a head shot!

I was happy to find that the Barn Swallows are still hanging out in their favorite corner. I love watching the adults feeding their juvenile swallows.

It was very late by this point, and I didn’t stop at the sod fields. I left resolved to return shortly, but on my bike. You see, the Gray-headed Swamphen left me with a very important question that I have to explore: Why did the swamphen cross the road? :)