Circle B Bar Reserve: An Eeire Walk Along Marsh Rabbit Run

Circle B Ranch was formerly a 1200+ acre cattle ranch which is now a protected nature preserve near Lakeland, Florida. There are roughly six miles of trails, including Alligator Alley, Marsh Rabbit Run, and Wading Bird Way. It encompasses Banana Creek marsh area, home to an array of birds (over 220 species), alligators, snakes, squirrels and wild hogs. It includes a freshwater marsh, hardwood swamp, oak hammocks, ponds and Lake Hancock.

I spent two early mornings there. My goal was to see nesting Roseate Spoonbills. The first day I explored the Marsh Run Rabbit Run, walking along the trail in the Banana Creek Marsh. Other photographers warned me to check the path often since alligators frquently cross it and can be sitting in the vegetation on the sides of the trail. It provided a close up view of the marsh wildlife. Spanish moss hung low over still black water and from trees, creating a sun speckled tunnel effect along the path.

As the sun warmed the water, the alligators rose to the water’s surface. No waves, no noise—just dark water and the occasional ripple revealing their eyes and nostrils.

But the wading birds were the stars of the show. Since I am from Pittsburgh, I did not know the names of many of the birds, but I found an app to assist.

Fortunately I did not encounter any snakes, at least as far as I saw…I also did not see any Roseate Spoonbills. So after a few hours I left with the intention to explore the Alligator Alley Trail the next day.