[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Alex Harper on 15:32:04 02/20/06
A couple early birds met at the trirail station on Griffen Road in Hollywood Saturday morning. We headed north along I-95 into Martin County, and exited off Exit 110 where we met two other birders. We headed west towards Sebring. Black-crowned Night-heron, Crested Caracara and Sandhill Cranes were all seen.
Our first stop was a small park on Lake Istapoga, which is north of Lake Okeechobee. Quite a few birds were seen around the bathrooms, including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Savannah Sparrow.
Finally at Highland Hammocks State Park in Sebring, we parked at the museum. A Nine-banded Armadillo fed out in the open oblivious to anyone passing by. We proceededdown the Orange Trail, where we immediatly found a mixed flock. The flock was made up by Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Carolina and House Wren, and Common Yellowthroat. American Robins could be heard all around us or seen flying ovehead. Another group of birds on the trail contained White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Carolina Wren, and American Robins. An Eastern Screech-Owl answered to Paul's immitation.
We then crossed over to the Big Oak Trail. Red-shoulered Hawks called overhead. A mixed group of birds on this trail consisted of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler and American Goldfinch.
We twitched over to another trail with a board walk before walking onto the main road. The group was made up of more of the same birds seen earlier.
A Short-tailed Hawk was seen soaring around just after exiting.
Our next stop was Archbold Biological Station. Florida Scrub-Jays could be seen on both sides of the road. We only birded around the parkinglot. Common Ground-dove, Brown Thrasher, and Eastern Towhee were among the birds we added to the day list at this location. A distant Northern Bobwhite called two or three times.
We birded Old State Road 8 all the way down to Venus Flatwoods Preserve. Mottled Duck, Green Heron, and both yellowlegs could be seen from various flooded areas or ponds. A Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawks, Florida Scrub-Jays,Eastern Meadowlarks, and Eastern Towhees were all viewed.
A rather dark Red-tailed Hawk, a Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebirds, and plenty of Pine Warblers were around Venus Flatwoods.
Birding around the backroads west of Venus Flatwoods Preserve produced Northern Bobwhites, Wild Turkey, Barred Owl, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Florida Scrub Jays, Eastern Bluebirds and Eastern Towhees.
We proceded southeast towards South Bay in westernmost Palm Beach County where we would all split up after a bathroom break. A Crested Caracara was seen by a couple of us on the way there.
I managed to spot a Barn Owl flying over a field against the fading light south of South Bay.
We had 92 species for the day.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]