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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 15:01:06 09/27/07
My son and I made a last minute dash into the Everglades yesterday with two out of state birders in search of Greater Flamingos. We left the dock in Flamingo around 6:15 p.m. and were in Snake Bight Channel by about 6:30. I scanned all the areas from the Snake Bight boardwalk all the way to Porpoise Point. I saw a few pinkish blobs which could have been Roseate Spoonbills. After setting up a scope on the boat and after the heat shimmer subsided, I was able to make out the correct coloration of Greater Flamingos. We were able to get identifiable looks through the scope, especially after the birds lifted their heads to show long necks and large bills. A couple of birds flapped their wings showing black wing tips.
I have attached a photo of what birders might expect to see from a boat view or from the end of Snake Bight trail. I recommend going by boat to avoid the prolific mosquitoes present along Snake Bight trail. It would be difficult to see them from Snake Bight trail boardwalk because trees block your view. I used to jump off the boardwalk and walk on the mud and go around the trees. This however can be risky because you could sink into the mud. I have not been to the end of Snake Bight trail since the hurricanes two years ago, so I don't know how much new mud was deposited by the storms.
We saw some Forester's Terns, Ospreys, flocks of White Ibis and more of the usual birds in the area but not too much else. We were there at high tide so we saw hardly any shorebirds.
Larry Manfredi
Homestead, FL.
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com
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