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Posted by Alex Harper on 11:16:01 11/24/06
I finally got my lazy butt out of bed for the first time in a month to do some birding. I'm glad I did, since I managed to see some nice birds this morning between 7:00 when I arrived at Lucky Hammock and 10:00 when I left Cutler Wetlands.
Lucky Hammock was quiet at first, but at 7:30 the sun got the bird activity up. Here is a partial list, though I didn't see nearly as many sparrow species as Toe did yesterday.
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
American Kestrel
Sandhill Crane
Lesser Yellowlegs
Eastern Phoebe
White-eyed Vireo
Tree Swallow
Cave Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray Catbird
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted Chat- at least five
Clay-colored Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow- many
Grasshopper Sparrow- several
Swamp Sparrow
At the Annex, where I met Larry "The Man" Manfredi
Red-breasted Mergansers- about ten flew over
Broad-winged Hawk
White-winged Dove
Eastern Phoebe
Bell's Vireo
American Pipit- fly over
Orange-crowned Warbler- about ten
Magnolia Warbler
Black-and-white Warler
Wilson's Warbler- one, possibly two
Indigo Bunting
I also managed to grab a Penninsula Ribbon Snake from the side of road. After letting it bask on my hand (nearly twice as warm as the surroundings) I let it go.
I headed up to Dump Marsh, since it made sense to me that if sea ducks are at the Annex, there might be numbers of ducks at Dump Marsh. There were ducks, but not in high numbers. A partial list of the Dump Marsh birds:
American White Pelican- about forty
American Bittern- twoMottled Duck
Mottled Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Peregrine Falcon- three or four
Herring Gull
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Brown-headed Cowbird
On my way back I swung by Cutler Wetlands to look for more ducks and shorebirds. I was pleasantly surprised by thousands of gulls sitting in the mud flats. Most of them were Ring-billed with many Laughing and some Herring. If there isn't something good in that flock I will retire from birding and give away my binoculars.
Yesterday, while spending Thanksgiving at a friends condo in Hallandale Beach, I watched many Northern Gannets close to shore from the balcony.
I also noticed a report of an Eared Grebe in Green Cay Wetlands from FLORIDABIRDS listserv. This was all that was on the post:
"Eared Grebe found at Green Cay Wetlands near visitors center. Green Cay is located approx 3 miles north of Atlantic Ave on Hagan Ranch Road, Delray Beach.,
Brian Hope, Delray Beach"
Well, I've got college applications to finish up. Enjoy the long weekend.
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