Greater White-fronted Goose -- STA-1W -- Palm Beach County & Other Sightings


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Posted by Vince Lucas on 22:16:59 02/25/06

Today, Alan Murray and I left Naples bright and early to join about 40 others from The Audubon Society of the Everglades (Palm Beach County) and led by Gloria Hunter to bird STA-1W just north of Loxahatchee N.W.R. Despite overcast skies that spit rain off-and-on all morning, we had a few outstanding sightings including great views of a Greater White-fronted Goose -- the first I've ever seen this far south in the state. There was some discussion about the origin of this bird but to me, this was a wild bird, or appeared so to me. With the recent documented sighting of five Greater White-fronted Geese from Dinner Island Ranch WMA in nearby Hendry County (approximately the same latitude), this would lead further credence to the probable validity of this bird. I mean, who keeps Greater White-fronted Geese in captivity? This bird was photographed by many of the photographers in the group, so hopefully, a photo will appear soon. Birders are reminded that access is only permitted at STA-1W on certain dates and in organized tours led by a SFWMD employee or designee. The next opportunity for birders to bird STA-1W is March 11th. If interested, go here for details:

http://tropicalaudubon.org/sta.html

Other great sightings today at STA-1W, (not all birds are being reported and in no particular order) were:

Gull-billed Tern -- at least 6, probably more
Purple Swamphen -- 2
Stilt Sandpiper -- 3-4
Peregrine Falcon -- 1
Fulvous Whistling-Duck -- at least 7, maybe more, I don't recall the exact number
Black-bellied Whistling Duck -- 30+
Northern Pintail -- 10+
Northern Shoveler -- 25+
Black-necked Stilt -- 1
Roseate Spoonbill -- 50+
Bald Eagle -- 1 subadult
Semipalmated Plover -- 1
Black-bellied Plover -- 6 or more
Long-billed Dowitcher -- 100+
Dunlin -- 2
Wilson's Snipe -- 6+
Least Sandpiper -- 100+
Black Skimmer -- 300+
Caspian Tern -- 40+
American White Pelican -- 150+
Swamp Sparrow -- 2+ (not seen by all)

Others who were on this fieldtrip may wish to add any corrections or additions.

Afterward, Alan and I spent about 45 minutes at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Water levels were high, but we still saw some nice birds:

Purple Gallinule -- 4
Forster's Tern -- 4
Green-winged Teal -- 6+
Northern Parula -- 2
Pine Warbler -- 2
Downy Woodpecker -- 1
Awesome views of Anhings & young as well as Great Blue Herons and young on their nests.

Next we walked the short-loop at Green Cay Wetlands and saw, beside the "usuals":

Purple Martin -- 25+
Northern Rough-winged Swallow -- 50+
Purple Gallinule -- 4

At Okeeheelee Nature Center on Forest Hills Blvd., we saw:

Wood Duck -- 4 (2 pairs) -- beautiful birds!
Painted Bunting -- 2 (male + female)
Indigo Bunting -- 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 1 female
Sandhill Crane -- 1

On the way back to Naples, we saw 3 Common Mynas at the McDonald's in Clewiston. I might mention that we briefly tried finding these birds in the morning on our wat to STA-1W but failed to do so. As a consolation prize, however, some 100+ Black Skimmers were flying overhead of the shopping center next to the McDonald's, a rather strange sight indeed.

On CR833 & CR846 (Hendry County), other than a huge semi that dumped its load of Bell Peppers, we saw:

Crested Caracara -- 4+
Eastern Meadowlark -- 1

On CR858 (Collier County) we failed to find any of the Tyrant flycatchers! No Vermilion Flycatcher, no Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, no Western Kingbird! This was a first for me. We did find a distant Limpkin in a temporary wetland on the east-west leg of CR858, however as well as a very dark Red-tailed Hawk.

In all, we had a total of about 95 species or so on the day -- just another great day of birding in the Sunshine State!



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