Posted by Paul on January 04, 2003 at 23:00:37:
We were treated to a real surprise on our weekend trip to the ENP for bird photography. We got a chance to see the elusive Burmese python. 2.5 miles from West Lake, stretched half across the road at 9:05 PM.
If you are birding in the Hell's Bay area be alert. This animal was 15-18 feet long.
The weather was foul for a good part of out visit. Friday was threatening all day but high winds didn't arrive until 3:00 PM. Overcast, dull light and then high winds ended all hopes of photography, fishing, and watching sunsets. Eco-pond is still congested with growth and viewing is very poor. Given a month or two more and the only viewing will be the birds on the island trees. There were no ducks, few coots, no grebes, no gallinules or moorhens. But the ibis were about in great number and Roseattes flew north to south and back each day we were there. Saturday was cold, very cold and clear . As in 48 degrees with brisk winds. We were thrilled to see an American eagle "duke it out" with an osprey for the osprey's catch. Three more osprey joined in and it was a regular aerial combat scene. A pair of osprey are now nesting in a "topped" mahogany tree in the parking lot by the boat ramps. About 15 feet height. Great for photography and study. But keep the required distance, please. And the white morph of the Great blue heron is still in attendance by the outdoor movie screen. We watched with binoculars as several fishermen fed the bird from their bait bucket. That explains the birds omni-presence in that area. Anhinga Trail has the first anhinga babies hatched and making their "buzz" noise. Several hawks circled overhead but didn't come for the kill. The hawks were a strange coloration and could not be identified by us. They were not the standard red-shouldered or red-tailed. They sure put the anhinga into a tizzy.
Deer are abundant at the research center area. We saw them everytime we drove into that area. But alas, we did not see the fabled mountain bluebird! Is it gone?
Warblers and other migrating birds were plentiful but the high winds kept their flights irregular and erratic. Palm warblers are actually "underfoot" at Royal Palm. Cheeky little guys, they are.
Scoping the Bay we sighted Willets, many white pelicans as well as brown, also black skimmers in good numbers. Little blue and immature little blue were abundant. Ruddy turnstones worked the shoreline and the black and turkey vultures were having a picnic with all the scouts and college campers picnic supplies. Many visitors were impressed with the mosquito situation which was bad, very bad on Friday. By Saturday and the passing of the cold front the situation was divine. Snake Bight trail was pleasant and produced a great horned owl to the visitors.