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Posted by Alex Harper on 18:14:01 12/30/14
Hey all,
I meandered up to Pompano Beach (Broward County) and Wakodahatchee Wetlands (Palm Beach County). Highlights included Neotropic Cormorants, Horned Grebes, and a Yellow-headed Blackbird.
I began scanning lakes in the vicinity of the Pompano Beach landfill which lies between I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. A number of gulls are attracted to the landfill and can be seen congregating at some of these lakes surrounding the landfill, but getting views of birds on the lakes is a bit trickier. My first stop was at a lake located behind warehouses on the north side of Green Road and just east of Powerline Road. With the use of a scope, I tallied two Horned Grebes feeding alongside Pied-billed Grebes. Along Wiles Road, I turned north on SW 43 Terrace and drove to the end where a busy waste facility attracted a number of gulls. I pulled off to the side and watched birds coming and going from the lake and perching on the surrounding buildings. Among Laughing and Ring-billeds were a number of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls in all cycles. Returning to this location could yield something a bit more unusual.
My next stop was Windmill Park in Coconut Creek. The lake at the north end of this small park usually has an assortment of ducks. I turned up a handful of Ruddy Ducks and Lesser Scaup among Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, domestic Mallards and Ring-necked Ducks. The oaks near the parking lot had an assortment of standard wintering passerines, but a Yellow-throated Vireo and Pine Warbler in the same binocular view provided good comparisons of the two.
Two Limpkins were seen along the turnpike while in route to Wakodahatchee, and Ring-necked Ducks were obliging at the Atlantic Avenue turnpike exit.
Wakodahatchee provided great looks at a number of wetland species as usual. The Neotropic Cormorants are still on their nests, and the continuing Yellow-headed Blackbird came in around 4:00 just past the first right on the boardwalk.
eBird list:
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Palm Beach, US-FL
Dec 30, 2014 2:50 PM - 4:13 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
51 species (+1 other taxa)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 33
Mottled Duck 1
Blue-winged Teal 18
Pied-billed Grebe 9
Neotropic Cormorant 2 At least two individuals, with two being seen on a nest. Smaller than nearby DCCOs, with longer, "droopier" tail by proportion. White borders on the gular patches seen on both individuals.
Double-crested Cormorant 38
Anhinga 25
Brown Pelican 1
American Bittern 1
Least Bittern 2
Great Blue Heron 12
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 1
Tricolored Heron 10
Cattle Egret 2
Green Heron 5
White Ibis 9
Glossy Ibis 8
Roseate Spoonbill 2
Turkey Vulture 26
Osprey 1
Northern Harrier 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Sora 1
Purple Gallinule 3
Common Gallinule 41
American Coot 22
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Royal Tern 2
White-winged Dove 1
Mourning Dove 4
Belted Kingfisher 2
Monk Parakeet 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
swallow sp. 27
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 4
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 1
Palm Warbler 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler 18
Red-winged Blackbird 19
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 One associating with Red-winged Blackbirds. Very dark brown - nearly black - body with mostly yellow head and breast. Dark lores. Sliver of white primary coverts seen when in flight.
Common Grackle 29
Boat-tailed Grackle 3
Alex
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