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Posted by Brian Rapoza on 20:50:48 02/16/08
Twenty-three birders, including several from Collier Audubon, joined me for today's carpool trip to Marco Island in Collier County; the trip included several stops along Tamiami Trail. Our first stop was the abandoned airboat concession west of the Shark Valley entrance, where we had distant views of at least two Snail Kites. Next stop was Kirby Storter Wayside in Big Cypress National Preserve, where we spotted a Louisiana Waterthrush near the boardwalk. Other species tallied there included Wilson's Snipe, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, Pine and Black-and-white Warbler and Eastern Meadowlark. We then headed to Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park; highlights of that stop included Bald Eagle (on nest), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
After lunch at the Collier-Seminole State Park wayside picnic area (American Goldfinch seen there), we continued west to Eagle Lakes Community Park, where we found several Bronzed Cowbirds, along with a few Brown-headed Cowbirds. Other species found there included Glossy Ibis and Cooper's Hawk. We arrived at Tigertail Beach just before low tide; unfortunately, shorebirds were unusually scarce. A few plovers (Black-bellied, Wilson's, and Semipalmated) were found in grassy areas, while a small flock of Least Sandpipers worked an exposed mudflat. A Reddish Egret danced nearby. A Wood Stork briefly touched down along the lagoon before heading elsewhere; it's the first time I can recall seeing that species at Tigertail.
Our last stop before heading back to Miami was Oil Pad Road, between Collier Seminole and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Parks; this road provides access by foot to Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, on the south side of Tamiami Trail. This area is usually attractive to ducks and waders, including Roseate Spoonbill, but today only a few waders and a small flock of Blue-winged Teal were present. Considerably more waders, plus a few American White Pelicans were in a marsh on the north side of Tamiami Trail, east of SR 29.
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