Seasonal Sightings
This calendar is intended to be a general guide to seasonal flora and fauna events in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. Weather and other climatic factors may cause variations by several weeks.
January
- Waterfowl are active in the river and creeks.
- Coots congregate near the river edge during calm waters forming large “floats” sometimes exceeding several hundred birds.
- Bald eagles are incubating their eggs.
February
- Ospreys begin nesting.
- Other birds of prey including red-tailed hawk, red-shoulder hawk, and American kestrel can be seen hunting for food. Redbud, Chicksaw plum, Cherokee rose, and fragrant yellow Jessamine begin blooming.
- Seed-filled cones fall from the slash pine trees.
March
- On warm days, alligators, turtles, and snakes can be seen basking along the river and creek banks.
- Early spring “peepers” call at dusk.
- Bald eagle young begin to fledge and take their first flights from the nest.
- Wild iris bloom throughout the swamp.
- Gopher tortoise become active with warmer daytime temperatures.
- Lizard’s tail begins to bloom in the swamp.
April
- Alligator bellow territorial warnings, near the creek and the river as mating begins.
- Birds of prey, such as eagles and ospreys are feeding their young.
- Black bears begin to move about after winter inactivity.
- Swamp rose and titi begins to bloom in wet thickets along the river and creek shorelines.
- Wisteria and Confederate jasmine begin to bloom.
- Red sorrel begins to bloom along the roadsides.
May
- Gallberries begin to produce tiny white flowers.
- Bald eagles migrate north for the summer.
- Newborn fawn appear.
- Gopher tortoises lay their eggs.
- With warmer water temperatures, manatees return to their summer ranger and can be seen in the shallows along the rivers and creeks.
June
- Tarflowers and beargrass begin to bloom. Over a dozen species of frogs can be heard calling in the evenings.
- Magnolia and bay trees begin blooming.
- Nighthawk and chuck-wills-widow frequent the evening sky, scooping insects from the air.
- The nighthawk often creates a “sonic boom” while diving for insects.
- Pesky mosquito, yellow fly, tick and gnat populations peak during the summer rainy season.
July
- Resident bird species are abundant. Grackle, cardinal, fish crow pileated woodpecker, red-winged blackbird, meadow-lark, barred owl, mocking bird, belted kingfisher, Carolina wren, ground dove, and anhinga can be seen.
- Bucks are displaying their velvet-covered antlers.
- Deep red cardinal flowers and swamp hibiscus begin to bloom in the swamp.
August
- Alligator nests begin to hatch and young can be heard “clucking” to their mother.
- Goldenrod and yellow-eyed grass beings to bloom in the pine flatwoods. Water hemlock begins to bloom in the swamp.
- Tiny juvenile snakes, lizards and toads scurry for cover to escape predation. Black bear cubs wean from their mother.
September
- Bald eagles return for winter and breeding. They spruce up old nests or build new ones.
- Fall migration to Central and South America begins for many species of neotropical birds including great crested flycatcher, chuck-wills-widow and nighthawk.
- Bucks begin rubbing off summer velvet from their antlers.
October
- Black bears are active, feeding on acorns, nuts and berries.
- Bald eagles are mating. Turkey Vultures can be seen gliding on the thermal air currents.
- Manatees begin migration to warmer springs for the cold winter months.
November
- Bald eagles begin laying eggs.
- Cypress needles turn golden brown. Aster and false willow begin to bloom along the river shoreline.
- Cooler weather causes dormancy among many reptiles and amphibians. Gopher tortoises hole up for cold winter months.
December
- Otters can be seen along the river and creeks.
- Wild grape leaves turn bright yellow. Many deciduous tree leaves display winter colors before falling. With the leaf loss during the winter season, the river swamp canopy opens.
- Winter concentration of aquatic wading birds and waterfowl are peaking.
