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Posted by John Boyd on 08:23:38 03/02/08
About 20 birders joined me yesterday for the TAS trip to the Everglades. A pale Red-shouldered Hawk stood guard by the turnoff to Coe Visitors center. A search of the parking lot failed to find any Great Horned Owls, but we found Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the first of several Downy Woodpeckers for the day.
The usual birds were present at Anhinga Trail. Highlights were Anhingas swallowing fish and a Purple Gallinule that was dragging a catfish away. The Gumbo Limbo Trail was fairly quiet, as it has been this winter.
A few of the group saw the young male Hooded Warbler along the road near Hidden Lake. A Pull-and-Holdback (Pisonia aculeata) was in full bloom along the road. Besides numerous bees, we found a Parula and Bella Moth in the Pisonia.
Several Eastern Bluebirds proved extremely cooperative along Research Road, as were Pine Warblers. Robins were also present in several spots. We had no luck with White-tailed Kite, so we headed to Long Pine Key for our picnic lunch. At Long Pine Key, we added Towhee, Nuthatch, Thrasher, and a Flicker being chased by an American Crow. Martins were coming down to the lake to drink.
The Barred Owl chicks were the stars at Mahogany Hammock. I think the first of over 10 Swallow-tailed Kites were seen on the way. We kept seeing them all the way to Flamingo.
As usual, Paurotis Pond had Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks. About 50 Blue-winged Teal were on Mrazek Pond, along with a Lesser Yellowlegs.
The sandbar at Flamingo was carpeted by hundreds of Skimmers and Willets. 7 Black-necked Stilts were at Eco Pond. Our last new bird of the trip was a Black-and-white Warbler at West Lake.
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