Blue Cypress Lake in central Florida is well known for its large population of nesting Ospreys. Each spring, more than 60 active nests can be found scattered among the cypress and pine trees along the shoreline. The best way to see these birds up close is by boat, since most nests are only accessible from the water. In May, the Ospreys have finished building their nests and many are tending to chicks. This post shares what it’s like to visit the lake during this season, what you can expect to see, and some observations about Osprey behavior and the landscape that makes this place unique

Arrival: Birdlife on the Way In

The road leading to Blue Cypress Lake sets the tone for the adventure. Swallow-tailed Kites, with their forked tails and effortless grace, dip and circle over the fields. A few pairs of Sandhill Cranes move slowly through the pastures. A Red-shouldered Hawk perches on the power lines leading to camp, keeping watch over the landscape. I am staying at the Middleton’s Fish Camp lakeside cabins, the only developed spot on Blue Cypress Lake. The rest of the shoreline is wild, ringed with ancient cypress trees whose roots and knees rise from the water. The camp is tucked away, a few miles down Blue Cypress Lake Road—past old cattle farms where Florida longhorns (scrub cattle) graze, often accompanied by Cattle Egrets who are still showing off their bright pink and orange breeding colors.

Sandhill Cranes preening along Blue Cypress Road.

Why Here: The Osprey Gathering

Blue Cypress Lake is famous for its dense concentration of nesting Ospreys—over 60 active nests scattered among the cypress and pine trees, and the only way to truly experience this spectacle is by boat. By May, the Ospreys have finished building their massive stick nests and chicks are poking their heads above the nest..

Waking before sunrise, I step out onto the long porch and into the hush of early morning. The dock stretches out over the still water, and the world is painted with the first light—hazy shades of pink glowing on the eastern shore. High-topped clouds catch the color, their edges backlit in rays of pink. Boarding the boat, we slip quietly away from the cove where Middleton’s Fish Camp sits, one of the lake’s many small inlets. Immediately, we are in cypress tree heaven: ancient trunks rise from the water, draped in Spanish moss, their knees and roots forming a wild, primeval barrier between land and lake.

The shoreline is still dark, and in the shadows, a Limpkin picks methodically for snails. A couple of large alligators glide silently through the glassy water. The lake is so calm that every ripple, every reflection of light, feels magnified. Above it all, the call of the ospreys reverberates—clear, wild, and unmistakable.

We cruise along the southeastern shore, the silence broken only by the sounds of birds and the gentle hum of the boat. Looking east, the cypress trees stand silhouetted against the dawn sky, Spanish moss trailing from their branches. Moments like this are fleeting—photographers know all too well that soon the sun will climb, the air will thicken with humidity, and light will turn harsh..

I work quickly to capture the scene: a few nests, shadowed, perched high in the cypress. It’s still very dark and photographing in such low light is challenging, so I push my ISO and adjust shutter speed and exposure, doing my best from a small, moving boat. My 400mm f/4 lens with a 1.4x teleconverter works for environmental shots and silhouettes, though close-ups are not possible in these conditions. But that’s part of the beauty—these images capture the wildness and atmosphere of the lake at dawn.

Osprey Facts: Mating, Nesting, and Central Florida Uniqueness

Year-Round Residents: Central Florida is home to both migratory and year-round resident ospreys. The local population begins nesting as early as late November, much earlier than their northern cousins, thanks to Florida’s mild climate.
Lifelong Pairs: Ospreys usually mate for life, returning to the same nest year after year. If one partner disappears, the remaining bird will quickly seek a new mate.
Sky-Dance Courtship: Males perform spectacular aerial “sky dances,” climbing high with a fish or nesting material and then diving in undulating flight while calling loudly—both to impress females and defend territory.
Courtship Feeding: Throughout courtship and nesting, the male brings fish to the female. This not only strengthens their bond but also helps ensure the female’s health for egg-laying and signals the male’s ability to provide for the family.
Nest Building: Ospreys build massive stick nests high in cypress trees, often adding Spanish moss and grasses for comfort. These nests are reused and added to year after year, sometimes growing to several feet across.
Nesting Season: In central Florida, ospreys can start laying eggs as early as late November, with most nests active by January to March. The nesting season here is longer than in northern states, thanks to the extended warm weather.
Parental Care: Both parents tend the eggs and chicks, but the female does most of the brooding while the male provides food. Chicks fledge around 55 days after hatching but may remain near the nest, learning to fish, until late summer.

Cypress Trees: Nature’s Living Canvas

The cypress trees themselves are a marvel—each one a living sculpture shaped by water, wind, and time. I notice the nobs and knees jutting from the water, and the rings of color—shades of white, pink, and red—encircling the base of many trunks. These subtle hues are a record of the lake’s fluctuating water levels, each band marking a different season or storm, a natural history painted on bark.

Osprey Nests: Variety and Ingenuity

Ospreys are true architects of the wild. Their nests are everywhere:

Some perch atop lone cypress trees, isolated and surrounded by open water—a fortress in the lake.
Others are tucked into coves along the shore, each nest uniquely situated.
Some nests are high in the cypress or pine trees, others surprisingly low, but all are alive with the cycle of life
All are massive, built with big sticks and layered with softer materials, often topped with Spanish moss—nature’s cushion, perhaps, for the comfort of the chicks.

No two nests are quite alike, but all are impressive in their scale and construction.

Family Life: Intimate Observations

We’re guided by Eric Horan, a seasoned birder and photographer whose deep respect for the birds shapes every moment on the water. Eric knows exactly how close to approach, when to cut the engine, and how to use the wind and light to our advantage. There’s no artificial calling or disturbance here; just quiet observation and patience.

From our vantage, we watch osprey families at work and at rest:

The father, after a successful hunt, perches nearby to eat the head of the fish—an efficient move to reduce weight and risk—before delivering the rest to the nest.
The mother, ever gentle, tears pieces of fish and feeds them to the nestlings, whose eyes are already as bright and piercing as their parents.
As the sun intensifies, I see females spreading their wings wide, creating shade for their chicks—a living umbrella against the heat.
When our boat draws near, we hear alarm calls echo across the water, and watch as mothers direct their chicks to hunker down, flattening themselves in the nest for protection.

A Place of Respect and Stillness

What strikes me most is the sense of peace and respect that governs this place. Under Eric’s guidance, we are observers, not intruders. The lake is alive with the drama of daily survival, but also with moments of tenderness and calm. Here, the wild rhythms of nature play out undisturbed, and we are privileged to witness them.

Early Evening on Blue Cypress Lake: Sentinels, and Wild Encounters

After a day spent marveling at the Ospreys at first light of day, we set out again in the early evening, from about 4 to 7pm, to experience Blue Cypress Lake in a different light. The wind had picked up, making our side of the lake choppy, so Eric expertly guided the boat across to the eastern shore, seeking calmer waters.

Ospreys remained the stars of the show. We watched a male, talons clutching a large fish, perch on an outcrop branch parallel to our boat. He methodically bit off the fish’s head and feasted, then took off, fish in tow, presumably to deliver dinner to his nest. Even at this late hour, we saw female ospreys “shadowing” their chicks, spreading their wings to provide shade from the lingering sun. Ospreys are ever-watchful; their alert calls rang out like sentinels, and their intense stares reminded us that we were always being observed.

Eric navigated us into a large cove with a winding tributary—a hidden layer behind the main lake, where cypress nobs and even a few citrus trees lined the banks. Fish jumped around us, and large alligators rested in the middle of the channel. As we approached, they silently slipped beneath the surface. Passing over them sent a chill up my spine—a reminder of the wildness and unpredictability of this place.

This secluded spot was teeming with birdlife. Waders dominated the scene: Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, and a Black-Crowned Night Heron tucked into a palm hammock. Common grackles called from the trees, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers drummed, and Anhingas perched with wings outstretched to dry. Even a Cattle Egret dotted the shoreline, and five Roseate Spoonbills flew overhead likely heading back to the roosting spot for the night..

The highlight came when we spotted a Red-Shouldered Hawk camouflaged in the brush at eye level, staring intently at the blackwater. Eric maneuvered the boat as close as possible—I could almost reach out and touch the hawk. It seemed utterly focused on the water below, oblivious to our presence. Using the back button focus on my camera, I locked onto its piercing eye peering through the branches. It was one of my favorite encounters and images of the day—a moment of pure connection with the wild.

As we continued up the little rivulet, the water grew shallow and the world fell silent except for bird calls, the flap of wings, and the splash of fish. Eventually, we turned the boat around to head back to the open lake. Just minutes later, a large alligator thrashed in the water behind us—a dramatic reminder of the untamed life all around.

As dusk settled, I felt a deep respect for this wild place and immense gratitude for the chance to sit quietly with nature, to observe, to photograph, and sometimes just to watch. These hours on Blue Cypress Lake—whether in the hush of dawn or the golden hush of evening—were a blessing, a reminder of the power of observation, and the privilege it is to witness the natural world, undisturbed.

Tip for Your Visit:
Whether you’re a photographer, a birder, or simply a lover of wild places, remember that sometimes the most powerful moments come when you put the camera down and let your senses take over. Respect the wildlife, move quietly, and let the magic of Blue Cypress Lake reveal itself to you.

Central Florida Birding Part 2: The Ospreys of Blue Cypress Lake