Surprising summer birding finds in Osceola County

July and August are notoriously considered the slow time for Florida birding, so maybe I got lucky.

My trip to Osceola County on the first weekend of August was really fun, and it was filled with a lot of birds.

I was surprised to see a female American Kestrel feasting on a cicada. Even though Kestrels are listed as year-round residents of Florida, I rarely see them over the summer.

I was happy to come across a little male Northern Bobwhite, who was greeting the morning by singing out to some nearby friends.

And, of course, spotting a Snail Kite is always a thrill for me. The female I saw picked up two snails at once.

Not bad for the “slow time.”