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Posted by Paul-the-other on 22:09:05 05/14/06
A short and quick trip to Wakodahatchee was very refreshing this morning. The morning was cool and mist hung close to the ground and over the water. The winter visitors have gone north and Wako had only about 25 people enjoying the day.
The vegetation is growing rapidly and bullrushes and Alligator flag are reaching railing height. Still no mosquitoes but wasps are becoming a presence.
No stilt nests this year.
Least bitterns, tr-colors, and two side by side Great Blue heron nests are the key attraction. The small island on the south side is the place to see a real "rookery" in session. In fact there are so many baby tri's that incoming parents have to check carefully to see which are there young. The bitterns are very near the water edge and alligators and turtles are just below them. Above grackles study the little ones. Pretty precarious situation.
Young Green herons are by the downramp at the entrance and two black bellied whistling ducks were asleep on the green bank dividing the two north water bins.
Two limpkins were crying out the whole morning and moving from one area to another. Shrike "zeeked" in the parking lot and mockers were visible carrying food to some nests somewhere. The terns are reduced in number---only 8in flight and only saw three small ones being fed. Gallinules, coots and moorhens were in small numbers and the babies seemed to be in the order of one or two per clutch. Purple gallinules are nest building on the south side of where the ramp "breaks downslope" at the entrance. Two eggs were plainly visible.
No new birds. No great photo ops. Just a pleasent morning in the sights and sounds of "Old Florida" and hoping it becomes and stays the "New Florida."
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