Feature: Dinner Island Ranch WMA

Multiple trips to a Florida wildlife venue are typically made before I consider creating a feature article to it.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

After more than seven hours exploring Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area on 20 April 2013, I was left in awe and thought this is an underrated venue. DIRWMA is located immediately ESE of Ocaloacoochee Slough State Forest, or about 20 miles east of Immokalee, or about 30 miles as the crow flies SW of Lake Okeechobee and the town of Clewiston. Please see a map of Dinner Island Ranch and other wildlife venues primarily in the southwest Florida region by selecting their links from the sidebar of the blog.


The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The cow above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

Arrival at the Ranch was met with very foggy conditions shortly after sunrise. I had made study of a map of the Ranch at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website before my visit. At 21,714 acres, I thought I would be exploring the prairies, swamps, flatwoods, and hammocks of the Ranch for a few hours. If it weren't for the approaching thunderstorm I would have stayed all day. The sun began to break through low level clouds after it became clear the most abundant species of bird I would see and hear was Eastern Meadowlark. My first observation was of a small flock of warblers that I wasn't able to identify as they stayed well ahead of me hugging the roadside, while still not acquiring a good pair of binoculars didn't help.


The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Barred Owl above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

It was evident that the birds were more skittish than those I typically see closer to the Gulf of Mexico. Dinner Island Ranch and the FWC offer managed hunting periodically. I couldn't help but think that this activity has impacted many of the birds observed with even Ground Doves not allowing me to get withing a couple hundred feet of them. While I devoted much of my observation time from the car, which served well as a blind to allow some of the wildlife to be less fearful, I spent a lot of time exploring on foot. My first primary stop was at about the third way point along Hilliard Grade, not too far from Road 11 which was left unexplored. At the time of the foggy conditions the calls of unseen Sandhill Crane were haunting.


The cow above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Band-winged Dragonlet Dragonfly above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

A view of a pair of Great-crested Flycatcher required some time to conclude that a photo of them was not worthwhile as my view of them was into the bright light. By this point I thought it odd that I hadn't seen any wading birds with enough water to accommodate them. A short distance further I found Black Vultures in small numbers, at least compared to those typically seen at Harns Marsh Preserve or Lovers Key State Park on occasion. Something seemed amiss as the vultures were perched on fence posts in the company of a Red-shouldered Hawk and a pair of Crested Caracara. As I scanned the scene more closely I was stunned to see a fallen cow. It appeared to have recently met with its demise. Flies covered its head while its hide was not pierced by predators that I could tell.


The Needham's Skimmer above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Red-bellied Woodpecker above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

In afterthought, I am intrigued with how the cow met its fate which remains unknown. From this area I walked toward Hardwood Hammock dodging countless cow patties. They were even to be avoided in the woods. Although numerous Limpkin were heard, they would amazingly not be seen as they appeared to be all around me. I had my first glimpse of Barred Owl in this stand of oaks with the bird's presence given away by its flight through weathered palm fronds. Further along Hilliard Grade I had a glimpse of a Great Blue Heron. This was one of surprisingly few waders seen this day. I backed up the car to take a shot with the camera, but the bird had disappeared without a trace.


The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Barred Owl above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Barred Owl above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Barred Owl above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

Fish and American Crows were seen and heard throughout the Ranch. Among the Black Vulture it was interesting to note much fewer numbesr of Turkey Vulture which only included a pair observed. On my approach to Road 5 I caught glimpse of the only waterfowl in the refuge which I concluded was Mottled Duck from a great distance. I also had an outstanding view of more Barred Owls along Hilliard Grade. I had never seen this species of owl outside of dense woods, while most prolifically at nearby Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. My approach of one of the birds was met more readily than the other while I speculate they were a mature adult and juvenile. Road 5 was extremely rewarding with birding by ear especially beneficial for those qualified.


The Barred Owl above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Alligator above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

At the end of this road not to be missed I heard Northern Bobwhite, but was well aware that capturing an image of this species would remain for another time. There was the call of a pair of birds that were obviously of the same species. I attempted to find either of the subjects for a good 20 minutes before photographing a White-eyed Vireo. My research of the song of the WEVI from records over decades leads me to believe that it was not White-eyed Vireo making the call. Thus there were birds that remained elusive to me visually. I know that guide Vince McGrath would have been able to identify the species if I were lucky enough to be in his company. The bird list for Dinner Island Ranch needs to be updated at the time of this publication.


The White-eyed Vireo above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Queen Butterfly above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Eastern Meadowlark above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Halloween Pennant above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

I was thinking of Tom Obrock missing from my tour as well while he later notified me of his continued great observations at Six Mile Cypress Slough. At the Ranch, Farm Field Road was great for an abundance of butterflies and dragonflies with no birds observed after the first hundred yards. My first of season (FOS) sighting of Swallow-tailed Kite was a species that I expected to miss this day later in the morning while the kite made a very brief show with its flight 10 feet off the ground and then to hundreds ultimately disappearing over the horizon. All unimproved roads except Road 5, part of Road 8, and Farm Field Road were left unexplored due to time constraints.


The Swallow-tailed Kite above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The White-tailed Deer above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The White-tailed Deer above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.


The Eastern Meadowlark above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.

My Great Florida Birding Trail guide notes Dinner Island Ranch as an all day, any time of year venue with good reason although I would personally recommend visiting during cooler months of the year. This venue will certainly be visited numerous times in the future with so much left unexplored.


The scene above was photographed at Dinner Island Ranch in April 2013.