Posted by Florian Jeff on August 12, 2002 at 17:59:01:
Working today in the retention areas on the east boundary of the Everglades NP (general area of Manfredi's marsh), I resighted the pair (male & female) of White-cheeked Pintail that Jeff Kline sighted last month while I was working on another project. I checked a few days after that past sighting and never found them. But they were here today again.
They were south of the second levee that connect from the canal (pump station) to the retention areas west of the old road (and north of the mango field). Basicaly south from the hill that views Manfredi's Marsh).
The old retention area was flooded as well as the far south one were Black-bellied plovers were on the spilt-way in incredible numbers. Glossy Ibis gave nice sightings and a lot of birds were there, that's for sure (didn't look too much since I had to work but Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers were there as well as a lot of small ones - Least type).
I have no idea were the Pintails come from. I would assume that they are escapes but who knows. Does anybody have some information that would help? I didn't notice any band (but didn't think about looking for them either but I think they would be obvious on a bird of this syze - I had them standing one a gravel road) and those two birds can for sure fly well (but not going very far - couple hundred of meters).
Anyway, they are were nice birds and it is always some fun to see exotic stuff down here.
Looks like a lot of stuff is going on with migration (a lot of "Uppies"...).
Happy birding to you.
Florian