Posted by Robin Diaz on July 28, 2002 at 16:25:33:
This morning Conrad Sankpill, Jill Rosenfield and I checked out Lucky Hammock area. Of interest: Sandhill Cranes (seemed to be a family group), Bald Eagle, Greater Yellowlegs, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Indigo Bunting, and Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
Next, we scouted Lucky Hammock Annex (south of LH, just past the fence) where the SFWMD has a great planting project. This is wonderful habitat and seems to hold great potential. Anyone birding Lucky Hammock, please continue south a bit and report any sightings. Of interest: Swallow-tailed Kite, 4 woodpecker species (Red-bellied, Northern Flicker, Pileated and Downy), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (~5), Prairie Warbler (3) and Yellow-throated Warbler.
Near the Homestead General Aviation Airport, we saw 2 Northern Bobwhites cross SW 217 Avenue, and just east of the airport we found a field with 14 hunting Swallow-tailed Kites. There were also Great White Heron, Purple Martin, Barn, Bank and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
Jill and I poked around the area past the SW 232 Street Marsh (it had mostly dried up) and found some nice birds. Of interest: Northern Bobwhite, White-tailed Kite (2), Roseate Spoonbill (4), Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper (3), Spotted Sandpiper (with spots!), Semipalmated Sandpiper (great close comparison with 4 Least Sandpipers), Stilt Sandpiper (2), Pectoral Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt (lots), and Eastern Towhee. Common Nighthawks were at all locations.