Posted by Paul on February 12, 2003 at 16:25:19:
To coin a phrase from my leader. Today I was at Wakodahatchee at 7:05 AM and already was 12th in line at the bobcat corner. Seeing old friends is always fun...and honest we talked about birds as we waited for the bobcat. Which came out on schedule at 7:40 AM, ran across an open space and then walked toward all of us at a measured step. There were no friends for the next 4 minutes as camera's whirred, film spun through and computer chips were pushed to the max. Then it was over and we contented ourselves with seeing myriad yellow-rumps, blue-grey gnatcatchers beyond count, several gaggles of robins milling around, and coots, moorhens, and blue winged teal all fighting for favored tufts of grass upon which to build their nests. Green winged teal are still in residence, and 20 some glossy ibis drifted in. Red-winged are in full color and full throat. Purple martins are about 150 by now and growing by the minute. Purple Gallinule are scarce.
And if you want to see the damage being done by the lac scale, take a look at what's left of the bayberry hedge in the parking lot...GONE! About 60 feet of it.
Wakodahatchee is exit 81 off of Turnpike, go east about 2 miles to Jog Road, turn left and go north about 1.5 miles. It is the South Palm Beach Water reclamation center. From Coral Springs about 22 minutes. Go early, very early as the bird life is uncommonly active. By 10:00 AM the power walkers, joggers, and noisy people reduce the tranquility greatly. It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. The lay of the land favors early morning for photo ops. Because of the way the boardwalk is constructed there are more shots to the west then east.
Also, this wonderful boardwalk (and that should be the operative word) is special need accessible. Many people in strollers and wheel chairs make constructive use of the facility.