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Posted by John Boyd on 07:20:11 01/21/07
Most of the 15 or so participants in yesterday's trip to Wakodahatchee, Green Cay, and Loxahatchee opted to meet at Wakodahatchee.
We spotted a flock of Robins in some bare trees from the parking lot at Wakohatchee. A Cockatiel on the wire near the substation was a surprise. The 3/4-mile walk on the boardwalk brought us the usual waders, several Sora, a couple of Limpkins, Wilson's Snipe, and 4 species of duck including a drake Green-winged Teal and a pair of Hooded Mergansers. A couple of Forster's Terns were also spotted and a Brown Pelican was seen by some. A Downy Woodpecker was heard near the martin houses, but not seen.
Next, we headed to Green Cay. We took the left branch of the boardwalk to look for the Eared Grebe. It (and its scaup friend) were quickly located. We got excellent views as the grebe swam up to and then under the boardwalk, right where we were standing! The pace of new birds slowed down as we continued along the boardwalk. On the far side, a Cooper's Hawk took a shot at a duck. We then found a somewhat puzzling immature buteo. Eventually, we got a angle where some markings on the secondaries could be seen...Red-shouldered. Soon afterward, a fairly cooperative male Painted Bunting provided some eye candy. A distant group of swallows contained a couple of larger Purple Martins. After returning to the visitor's center, about half the group decided to continue to Loxahatchee.
Lunch was the first order of business at Loxahatchee, which once again has picnic tables under the post-Wilma shelter at the marsh trailhead. Northern Harrier and Killdeer were the only new birds spotted as we walked around the first impoundment to the tower. We spent some time enjoying the pleasant breeze and nice view at the tower. An interesting duck flew by while we were up there. Most of the group didn't get a good luck, but it was a small, dark, short-tailed duck with white secondaries, a somewhat chunky head and very rapid wingbeats. A look at the Sibley guide suggested Bufflehead, but I felt I need more info to call the bird. I finally remembered to consult some other books this morning, and I am now pretty sure it was a female Bufflehead. Nothing else matches the wing pattern and darkness.
We ended by walking over to the visitor's center (Downy and Sapsucker on the way) and circling the boardwalk. A couple of heard birds brought our total for the day to 70.
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