Nature is so abundant at Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland, Fla. that you only need to stand still and wildlife comes to you. At our OLLI Outdoors recent outing, the birds we identified included a wide diversity of wading birds, waterfowl, ospreys and even bald eagles. One of the delights of sharing this preserve is experiencing this variety through the eyes of people who have never been here before. A new member of our group and a first-time visitor to the preserve commented, “the amount of wildlife and proximity to it was awesome.”
Who are we? Our group, OLLI Outdoors, is part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Florida (OLLI-USF). Better known as “the OLLI hikers,” we are a community of mostly 50+ learners who share a love of the outdoors and adventure.
Images and story by Diane White
For this outing, we divided into three groups based upon how long participants wanted to hike and what they wanted to see. It was hard to choose between the oak hammock, freshwater marsh, hardwood swamp and the lakeshore. Luckily, the preserve offers a choice of nine well-maintained trails such as the Treefrog Trail – an easy, 0.6-mile, shaded trail – and the moderate 0.7-mile, unshaded Eagle Roost trail. The preserve’s trails are descriptively named based on the ecosystem and what you are likely to observe.
For example, Alligator Alley leads through an oak hammock and opens to panoramic views of Lake Hancock. You are almost guaranteed to see the alligators who inhabit Lake Hancock – sometimes closer than you would like! Other species we saw included ospreys perched on the cypress trees, turtles sunning on logs, and water birds, like the great blue heron and juvenile anhingas with their fluffy head feathers.
The Heron Hideout trail crosses the marsh and is home to an abundance of herons. We saw little blue, green and tricolored herons and other water birds like the glossy ibis, great egrets, and snowy egrets. Following the Eagle Roost trail took us through an upland habitat which is under restoration with plantings of longleaf pines and wiregrass. Birds such as the eastern meadowlark and American kestrels are commonly seen. If you are lucky, as we were this day, you will see a bald eagle.
Wildlife has the “right-of-way” and birds often stop traffic in both directions as we wait for a great egret who took its time to get from one side of the trail to the other. Raccoons saunter down the trail seemingly unperturbed by the visitors. Small birds are also in abundance as the preserve is a favorite stop-over for migrating birds as well as a rich habitat for year-round residents, like the pileated woodpecker, red-winged blackbird and the common yellowthroat.
As we were walking, we wondered about the unusual name and how the preserve was acquired. The property was named after the Circle B Bar cattle ranch, which previously existed here. In 2000, the 1,267-acre property was jointly acquired by the Polk County Environmental Lands Program and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to protect the floodplain of Lake Hancock and to restore the valuable Banana Creek marsh system. Lake Hancock is considered the headwaters of the Peace River which flows more than 100 miles from Polk County southwest to the Gulf of Mexico.
Much of the property had previously been converted to pasture, but in 2005 and 2006, restoration projects were completed to restore much of the original hydrologic function of the lands. As a result of the marsh system restoration project, Circle B Bar is now said to be home to some of the most impressive bird activity on SWFWMD property.
Through restoration and the access provided to its natural features, you can experience a variety of ecosystems in one area. As you enter the preserve, you will notice an example of the oak hammock ecosystem – large oaks with branches full of Spanish moss and resurrection ferns. During the heat of the day, the hammock provides shade and shelter to wildlife, from insects to cavity nesters such as the great horned owl. Not to mention shade for visitors.
Continuing through the preserve, you can experience freshwater wetlands with diverse wildlife areas scattered throughout. These shallow wetlands harbor many insects and reptiles which provide food for wading birds and alligators. Banana Creek Marsh, composed of about 400 acres, has been extensively restored and planted. It now provides new nesting and foraging sites for a variety of birds like the red-shouldered hawk and common gallinule.
Visitors to Circle B Bar will find many friendly features. The preserve is free and has plenty of parking. Stop and pick up a brochure and map at the Polk County Discovery Center. Built in 2008, the center provides educational opportunities for Polk County public schools and is open to the public. Take time to look at the exhibits that display the environmental and hydrologic functions of Florida’s natural resources. You will also find restrooms that are clean and well-maintained.
Besides nature trails, the preserve has a pavilion and some picnic tables. Information signs are large and strategically placed around the property. If you do have a question on how to get around, just ask someone. The preserve is popular with local residents who, we were told, often come every day. They are happy to point the way or answer a question.
Whether you have been here many times, or visiting for the first time, you will always be delighted. The group consensus was that Circle B Bar is our favorite OLLI Outdoors excursion! Our first-time member summarized her experience, “I would definitely go back to the preserve for all the wildlife plus nice facilities, plenty of parking and well-marked trails. Next time I would do the longer trails.”
The 19 OLLI hikers who came out today are perfect examples of why we hike together. Common interests and the love of learning brings everyone together. Best of all, we get to meet new people and share outdoor places around Tampa Bay – perhaps seeing them differently through the eyes of newcomers.
Look for us on the trails on our monthly hikes or better yet, come and join us.
To learn more about Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Road (SR 540)
Lakeland, FL 33803, go to these links to plan your visit: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/circle-b-bar-preserve and https://polknature.com/explore/circle-b-bar-preserve.
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The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USF (OLLI-USF) is a member-based learning community of adults age 50+. We offer classes, workshops, lectures, events, and social networking. OLLI follows Covid-19 guidelines in accordance with USF’s policy and CDC guidelines.
Diane White, MA, earned advanced degrees in information technologies from George Washington University and education from USF. She joined OLLI-USF in 2008 and is the co-leader of the OLLI-USF Outdoors shared interest group, along with Donna McGrew. In addition to taking OLLI courses in literature, art appreciation and architecture, she teaches a variety of technology courses geared to the 50+ learner.