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Photo: Trevorrrrvalent / CC BY 4.0 · source

Gardens & wildlife

Circle B Bar Reserve

Lakeland, FL · Central Florida

About

Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland was a cattle ranch on the Lake Hancock floodplain, and restoration in 2005 and 2006 let the water back onto the old pasture. It opens at 6 a.m., or 5:30 during daylight saving time, and dogs aren't allowed. The bird checklist runs past 220 species. American white pelicans and big flocks of ducks come for the winter, and wood storks and limpkins stay all year.

Highlights

Bird checklist over 220 speciesWinter white pelicans and ducksAlligators on Lake HancockPolk's Nature Discovery CenterTrails for walking and biking

Getting there

4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803

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Best Florida Wildlife14 places

Best Florida Wildlife

Go in winter if you can. Manatees crowd the warm springs from mid-November through March, and the wading birds are thickest on the same cool, dry mornings.