Posted by Paul, not Paul Bithorn, not Paul Leader on January 15, 2003 at 15:45:39:
A great gathering of eagles today, no not the flying ones, the photographer ones, at Wakodahatchee. And all were treated to much courtship, fluttering feathers, coy behavior as the Great Blue wooed his mate. The sun was great, the breeze light, and the platform steady (which if you know Wakodahatchee is saying something). Heidi Payne and a large number of other Canon shooters were there, heck we were even polite to one another. Chuck Comer, world famous sports photographer, was there wondering when the passing play began. The only passing he saw was the twigs from male to female as the great blues continued to build their nest. So, hey, Chuck, it isn't playoff caliber but for this group we all had a great time. And even took a few pictures in the process. Birds? Oh yes, we saw the usual but the numbers of blue-winged teal is increasing greatly. If this bird is still open on your life list, come here, and wrap it up in 5 minutes. Several times the flocks winged over the rambling spectators. You would swear that some bird hospital is releasing these critters there are so many. Sora are still about, coot, moorehen, scores of anhingas, cormorants, and more palm warblers then there are palms for! Still just a few terns but one skimmer flew over...a solo. No hawks, osprey, this day.
The activity was all territorial today...pairs of everything and all fighting off other like pairs. There was one stunning display of a moorhen that actually beat an intruder under water and then stood on it and beat and pecked it. We thought the loser was actually going to be held under water to the point of death. It was startling. I have never seen such a display of aggression by this bird in some 50 years of birding.
By the way, footnote; the lac scale is all over Wakodahatchee and the wax myrtle is dying at an alarming rate. For a graphic example look at the scores of feet of hedges already dead in the parking lot and note the investation on the remainder.
So my fellow Pauls....we were talking about you, thinking of you, and yes you missed it...at least for today.