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Posted by Vince Lucas on 12:12:03 03/16/08
The water levels at Stormwater Treatment Area #5 (STA-5), south of Clewiston in Hendry County, are still very high due to much pumping of water into the various cells over the last month or so. Consequently, the "Three Amigos" (Alan Murray, Margaret England and I), led the crowd of nearly a hundred folks, including a large contingent from Manatee County Audubon Society) to some of the cells we normally don't frequent on our tours. The water levels in these cells was lower and that's where the majority of the birds were keeping residence, at least on yesterday's tour.
It was unseasonably hot (87 degrees F) out at STA-5 but a nice crosswind kept things bearable. It's interesting to me at least, to note the passing of the seasons at STA-5. Many of the wintering ducks and other waterfowl have left for points north or their numbers reduced and I've noticed the number of wintering American Kestrels and Northern Harriers to be somewhat diminished as well. Likewise with American White Pelicans and certain shorebirds. Wintering passerines like Northern Rough-winged and Tree Swallows as well as Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbirds weren't as prevalent as in weeks past. Numbers of Black-necked Stilts were up over previous weeks and many were already showing indications of soon-to-be breeding.
The highlights of the tour were probably the two Bald Eagles that strafed the marshes causing a flock of an estimated 300+ Black-bellied Whistling Ducks to constantly take flight and even from a distance of 1.5 miles away, we could still make out their bold white upperwing-stripe patches as they banked to-and-fro against the azure sky. Several Peregrine Falcons made hurried passes over the various cells and sometimes alit on the crossarms of telephone poles but never for too long. John & Chadda Shelly found the only Cave Swallow of the year as well as a Red-breasted Merganser that had alluded the rest of us but that had been seen in previous weeks.
Here is the lists for Stormwater Treatment Area #5, including Blumberg Rd., for 03/15/2008:
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck >300
Fulvous Whistling-Duck 17
American Wigeon >30
Mottled Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal 100
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron (no Great White Heron -- GBH white morph) seen today.
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron >10
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle 4
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk
Crested Caracara 2
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon 3
Purple Swamphen 5 or 6
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Limpkin 5+ (several heard calling but not seen)
Black-bellied Plover 1
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt >75
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin 4
Stilt Sandpiper >10
Long-billed Dowitcher >300
Caspian Tern 1
Black Skimmer 50+
Mourning Dove
Common Ground-Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Phoebe 1
Western Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
White-eyed Vireo (heard only)
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow <50
Cave Swallow 1
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee (heard only on Blumberg Rd.)
Savannah Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
I need to mention a very nice "new" wetlands that is just north/northeast from the Ocean Boy Organic Shrimp Farm on CR835. Look for a small sign that reads "Farm 8" i.e. Farm Road 8 on the west side of the road and pull into the drive if the gate is open and drive back to the wetland. Alan Murray and I stopped there first thing in the morning, soon after daylight, and immediately were greeted by a Solitary Sandpiper, perhaps the same one seen and photographed at the nearby Deer Fence Canal area on the first Clewiston/STA-5 CBC back on December 15, 2007. The bird was very cooperative. Also present were at least three Snail Kites and 7-8 Limpkins -- all extremely vocal. Of course the "usual" ducks and waders were also present. After the "official" tour at STA-5, most of the members of the Manatee County Audubon Society followed us to this location and we were able to find two of the Snail Kites and several Limpkins but the Solitary Sandpiper was a no show. Near the Deer Fence canal on CR835, we encountered at least three Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and at least five Western Kingbirds along the main drag (CR835) and several more Western Kingbirds at the Cassin's Kingbird site on the dirt road leading to Chuck Obern's Farm adjacent to the Deer Fence Canal. A pair of Crested Caracara in a Bald Cypress were a lifer for a Vermont birder. Note: the Western Kingbirds were across the canal and thus too distant to make any positive ID's as to the presence of the Cassin's Kingbird. Soon, these western visitors will be just a fond memory to us Floridians as they return to their breeding grounds out West.
One last note, for several weeks I have mentioned the presence of a nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes in a wetland just north of the intersection of CR835 & CR833. A few weeks ago, we watched as the female diligently sat on her eggs in what would rightfully be called a "lake" surrounding her. Yesterday, we saw no evidence of a nest and the pair of Sandhills were feeding out in the mostly dry "lake". Apparently, something happened to cause the egg not to hatch, perhaps predation or who knows what. How sad.
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