Seasonal Sightings

“Seasonal Sightings”
Flora and Fauna Calendar of
 Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia

This calendar is intended to be a general guide to seasonal flora
and fauna events in northeast Florida. 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.  

Adapted from Saturiwa Conservation Area Program