Posted by Paul Bithorn on September 01, 2002 at 11:31:21:
The Tropical Audubon Society field trip on Saturday, August 31, 2002 to the sod farms was a most fructifying experience.
We began birding at Holeyland/Rotenberger W.M.A. on the Palm
Beach/Broward County line. Two Smooth-billed Anis were at their usual haunts where the paved road ends on the south side of the canal. A King Rail that had been killed by a car afforded us close study. The buff feather edgings were beautiful. We marveled at how small the bird appeared in the hand. I had a similar experience many years ago with a Sora that I released that had been turned loose in a friend's house after he pulled it from his cat's mouth. The diminutive rail fit neatly into the palm of my hand.
Common Yellowthroats, Prairie Warbler, Eastern Towhwees and Red-shouldered Hawks were also seen along the road.
The sod farms and flooded fields east of US 27 in Palm Beach County south of South Bay were very productive. A stunning White-tailed Kite peered back at us from atop a dead Braziian Pepper from about 30 yards away as we drove along the dirt road east of the Miami River/Canal within view of the large tower to our left.
A Black-bellied Whistling Duck was seen mixed in with Great Common American Egrets and Glossy Ibises (Ibi) in a rice field along the way.
A large kettle of White Pelicans soared overhead with a few Wood Storks and a Bald Eagle mixed in for good measure as we shared good scope views of an Upland Sandpiper from the little paved area just north of the tower. Black-bellied Plovers in alternate plumage as well as Pectoral Sandpipers grazed in the fields of St. Augustine around the tower.
Short-billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-bellied & Semipalmated Plovers and Killdeer were in the
flooded field just north and across the street from the tower. A pair of Gull-biled Terns, a few Black Terns and a lone Roseate Spoonbill were also seen here.
Drinking Cliff and Barn Swallows as well as a few Bank Swallows were seen at the small rockpit north of SR 827. Several northern Yellow Warblers were also in the area.
The Miami Canal stand of champion Red Cedars had aproximately 10 Barn Owls. An Indigo Bunting was on the wires across the canal along with a Red-tail Hawk.Belted Kingfishers are moving into this area as well.
Three Snail Kites were seen from I-75 on the drive home in Area 2A just north of Westin on the drive home. Life is good............especially when birding our bird-rich state.