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Posted by Paul-the-other on 19:00:18 04/09/06
A hot, windy, humid and threatening day started out with low expectations and developed into one of the more interesting field events of this season.
The cold front moved south slower than expected but we were wary of cumulus clouds gathering west ands north. We opted for a "short trip" (as in minimal equipment quick look and see). Lox was filled with bird calls which included a cardinal that experimented with call that explored all the common notes in mixed up order. Cute! Three wood ducks then appeared on the scene in the trees in back of the restrooms. One male, two females. Lucky duck! (Couldn't resist that, gang). The great horned owl chick is grown and fledged and gone from the nest area. What a treat that was for two months. Limpkins wailed everywhere and mottled ducks are paired off. Starlings seem to be in every tree cavity there is and even took over the pileated nest site from two years past. The screech owl is absent so the expected "nest" probably was just a day roost. Our attention was drawn to a gathering crowd by the rebuilt "chickee" which is all anglo now so guess we can't use the seminole word any longer. The group was watching a red-shouldered hawk dismember a frog. The bird was in a half down tree just east of the parking area by the rest area building. A mockingbird was harassing the hawk unmercifully but the hawk was into what we all thought was dinner. Except, the hawk left suddenly and flew northeast clutching the frog remains in its talons. The crowd dispersed but the actions of the hawk caught my attention and I followed it. Soon we discovered the red shouldered hawk nest. Very visible. Due east of the two port-a-lets by about 150 feet in a pine tree. As best we could determine there are two chicks and old enough to rise up some distance past the nest edge. Mom ripped up the hapless frog and the kids had frog legs for brunch.
That would be enough for a pick-em-up trip but the gods of photography, good fortune, and story-tellers than served up a marbled godwit. One very lonely, but actively feeding marbled godwit was in the area east of the new rest area building (chickee?). Pesky bird stayed at 450 mm distance for over an hour. The bird was unusual in that there was a dark area on its chest and the neck feathers were puffed out. With no binoculars it just wasn't possible to see if it was injured or had a tumor. It seemed active enough and chased off two mottled ducks so the injury, if it is one, is not dibilitating at this time. Any one viewing this area watch for this creature.
The front finally pushed in at 1:00 with much, and much needed rain and to our delight, moderate hail. Paul Bithorn enjoys his beer but let me tell you, rum and coke with hail ice is a hail of a drink too!
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