Posted by Paul on February 09, 2003 at 19:14:40:
Wakodahatchee was alive and well. Early morning visitors were greeted by the bobcat with its kill which was cleaned of feathers and eaten boldly in front of a gaggle of photographers who were there before 7:00 AM. There is no end to the antics of this cat…it makes itslef right at home and by most estimates has eaten his way through the entire rabbit population and now is working upon the coots and moorhens.
Wonder of wonders, a second, yes a second Great blue is now nest building on the tall pole south end. At the first nest, mommy is incubating. Each year should only add tot he numbers of GBH habituated to this environment and the people strolling the boardwalks.
Palm and pine warblers and yellow-rumped warblers were milling about in very great numbers. Most came within 3 to 5 feet of photographers. With a 80-200 mm telephoto you can have a field day with these critters.
Most blue winged teal are paired and coot/moorhen/Fla.Gallinule nest building and territory defense is well underway. A special delight was a pair of osprey that circled into the wind and used it as a “lift” so they could hover for 30 seconds or so over the water. Then they would drop, circle and repeat. Again a photographers dream come true—a motionless osprey suspended dead still in the air at about 100 feeet elevation.
Sora’s are numerous and very easy to spot. Tri colored, common, and little blues also about. Mottled ducks, green winged teal are few but quite visible, Blue-grey gnatcatchers are not so numerous and robins streamed overhead. Two alligators showed themselves to the delight of our Canadian friends. One limpkin showed a short time and then flocks of glossy ibis arrived along with white. And proving it must be Spring: The purple Martins are back and negotiating leases in the purple martin condominiums. Anhingas are also well into nesting.