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Posted by John Boyd on 14:31:55 03/04/07
We started the trip at the Coe Visitors center, where we were greeted by a Brown Thrasher. A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was also seen by a few. From there, we went to Lucky Hammock. Bird diversity was low and a lone White-crowned Pigeon was the only highlight. Birding remained slow at the Annex, where we found Larry Manfredi, Paul Bithorn, and some Cedar Waxwings. Anhinga Trail was next. Purple Gallinules are always nice and a number of Great Crested Flycatchers were calling. Bird numbers remained low, and even the waders were not numerous. Gumbo Limbo trail was pretty quiet except for Myrtles and Catbirds and a couple of White-eyed Vireos. We drove to the end of Research Road. I was hoping for raptors. We got a couple of Turkey Vultures.
As we headed back into the pineland along Research Road I was getting pretty desparate for new birds. Fortunately, a couple of Bluebirds decided to take pity on us. As we admired the Bluebirds, they were joined by some Pine Warblers. Then a Brown-headed Nuthatch quietly snuck up. I was starting to feel a little better. Still, our species total was only in the 50's when we stopped for lunch at Long Pine Key. While we were eating, a Towhee flew into a shrub adjacent to the table. Paul Bithorn spotted a Swallow-tailed Kite, but most of us missed it.
Mahogany Hammock was next. We found a few warblers, but more importantly, also found a Brown-crested Flycatcher (as well as another Great Crested). Paurotis Pond not only had Wood Stork and Spoonbills, but also a dark morph Short-tailed Hawk. A stop-and-go at Nine Mile Pond was unproductive, but 3 more Swallow-tailed Kites drifted overhead as we headed south. Again, not eveyone saw them this time. Fortunately, another one appeared at a later stop so that all could see it. West Lake yielded a small warbler flock and Blue-winged Teal. At Mrazek Pond we added Black-crowned Night-Heron and Brown Pelican. The birds there are still putting on a good show. Coot Bay Pond had a few Wigeon among the Coots. An immature Bald Eagle flew over at close range.
The boat launch at Flamingo had Skimmers. It's been several years since I've seen them there. Two Western Kingbirds were present across the road from the visitor's center. We did not find any of the orioles or other flycatchers that have been present. Eco Pond yielded Shovelers, 3 Black-necked Stilts, and a variety of other shorebirds. By now things had picked up and we were approaching 90 species for the day.
The Coastal Prairie Trail provided the grand finale! We found Savannah, Swamp, and Grasshopper Sparrows (plus possible White-crowned and sharp-tailed), Painted and Indigo Buntings (some of the Indigos were in plumage and singing), and a Dickcissel.
The official total for the day came to 94 species. The list follows:
American Wigeon Red-bellied Woodpecker Blue-winged Teal Northern Flicker Northern Shoveler Pileated Woodpecker Pied-billed Grebe Eastern Phoebe Brown Pelican Great Crested Flycatcher Double-crested Cormorant Brown-crested Flycatcher Anhinga Western Kingbird Great Blue Heron Loggerhead Shrike Great Egret White-eyed Vireo Snowy Egret Blue-headed Vireo Little Blue Heron Blue Jay Tricolored Heron American Crow Green Heron Tree Swallow Black-crowned Night-Heron Brown-headed Nuthatch White Ibis Carolina Wren Roseate Spoonbill House Wren Wood Stork Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Black Vulture Eastern Bluebird Turkey Vulture American Robin Osprey Gray Catbird Swallow-tailed Kite Northern Mockingbird Bald Eagle Brown Thrasher Sharp-shinned Hawk European Starling Red-shouldered Hawk Cedar Waxwing Short-tailed Hawk Orange-crowned Warbler American Kestrel Northern Parula Merlin Myrtle Warbler Purple Gallinule Yellow-throated Warbler Common Moorhen Pine Warbler American Coot Prairie Warbler Killdeer Palm Warbler Black-necked Stilt Black-and-white Warbler Greater Yellowlegs Northern Waterthrush Lesser Yellowlegs Common Yellowthroat Least Sandpiper Eastern Towhee Dunlin Savannah Sparrow Short-billed Dowitcher Grasshopper Sparrow Laughing Gull Swamp Sparrow Ring-billed Gull Northern Cardinal Black Skimmer Indigo Bunting White-crowned Pigeon Painted Bunting Eurasian Collared-Dove Dickcissel Mourning Dove Red-winged Blackbird Common Ground-Dove Eastern Meadowlark Barred Owl Common Grackle Ruby-throated Hummingbird Boat-tailed Grackle Belted Kingfisher House Sparrow
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