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Posted by Nancy Freedman on 08:11:06 03/17/08
13 birders (4 from Naples) joined me dark and early Saturday morning. Highlights at Wakodahatchee were all the nesting waders, one Sora, only one pair of Martins at the otherwise empty houses, Poof the Macaw who someone tried to walk away with, a Snipe close up and personal, and clacking-billed big baby Great Blues. At Green Cay, there were at least four Limpkins but no babies that we could see. BUT there were numerous newly hatched Moorhens which were absolutely bizarre. Their wings looked like hands sticking out of their sides, constantly waving, and they were bald. Both parents fed a clutch averaging four chicks. We had two Tricolored herons with the bluest bills I've ever seen. There were more Snipe too. The Martin houses here were overflowing. We were up to a 3-warbler day (you can guess what they were) but being surrounded by all that breeding plumage kept us happy. After eating lunch in the parking lot, eight of us then went on to Okaheelee which was wonderful! Linda Humphries showed me the Wood Duck area and on the second try we got 5 males and a female! We walked some of the trail, it was getting a little hot but not too bad. Added a real nice male Parula and a black and white, making it a 5-warbler day. There were also 2 female painted buntings at the feeders; couldn't find the cranes. The Martin houses here too were empty. The nature center is fantastic. They have Hootie the red morph Screech Owl tethered right at the desk, he'll even trill back at you. And then there was Cypress, the barred owl also on display sitting on a t-bar. Linda and I helped release some Atala butterflys and as we were leaving,some young volunteers were bringing in a Gopher Tortoise someone had found at a construction site. Trip ended around 2:30.
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