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Posted by Vince Lucas on 22:00:27 07/19/08
Today was one of those canicular South Florida July days, with the thermometer pushing 95+ degrees F., and with high humidity, but that didn't stop some 15 or so intrepid birders/photographers/curious from enjoying the day and seeing some nice birds, out at STA-5 in Hendry County. A few folks came from as far away as the St. Petersburg area, while others came from the two coasts in South Florida. I wouldn't say that it was the best day we've ever had at STA-5, but it certainly was far from the worse. But let's face it, any day birding is better than most IMHO! Moving on, we saw a total of 59 species including one new species (Gray Kingbird) to add to the checklist! We probably could have added more species to the tally, i.e. shorebirds, but the water levels were extremely high due to the recent heavy rains in the last week or so. More on the results later, but first, I want to mention a few of the highlights from the trip out to STA-5 from Naples. Alan Murray and I were joined by Neapolitans Bill & Roberta Marten as we plied the back roads out to STA-5. Some highlights: two Great White Herons (white morph of Great Blue Heron). One was seen in the flooded field just north of the intersection of CR835 & CR833 on the west side of CR833. The other one was seen along the canal that parallels CR835 in the vicinity of the Ocean Boy Shrimp Farm. A half-dozen or so Burrowing Owls were seen in the ranchland 3 miles or so west along CR833 just before it makes the big turn south heading toward its intersection with CR835. Of course, we saw the usual Crested Caracara, Sandhill Crane (2), Swallow-tailed Kite, Snail Kite (4 or so at the Farm 8 Wetlands on CR835), Limpkin, Black-necked Stilt, Wood Stork, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Ground-Dove, etc. in several areas along the CR846 --> CR833 --> CR835 corridor.
Back to today's results for STA-5, which includes Blumberg Road from the entrance gate at STA-5 to CR835. On the way in, we saw four or so Fulvous-Whistling Ducks in the flooded field at the intersection of CR835 & Blumberg Rd. Also in the same vicinity, we heard an Eastern Towhee and it was later seen by a few of the other birders arriving after us. We saw a Northern Bobwhite along Blumberg Rd. as well as one or two migrant Barn Swallows.
On the way out from STA-5, after the others had left, Alan & I and the Martens decided to stop to see if the Barn Owls were at home in the first ag building on Blumberg Rd. (as one is heading south on Blumberg Rd.). Lucky for us, two were in residence. We also saw a Eurasian Collared-Dove (uncommon in the canefield areas of Hendry County) but the biggest surprise was a HY Gray Kingbird sitting on a telephone wire looking extremely "hot" i.e. mouth agape and "panting". This species is uncommon in the interior part of South Florida away from water and the coast. This was a new addition to the STA-5 checklist, which now stands at either 161 or 162. I'm sure Margaret England can clarify this situation when she returns from out West. We also counted a flock of 20+ Barn Swallows pulsing through the area.
Finally, and I apologize for the excess verbiage, here is the day list for the STA-5 tour (including Blumberg Rd.) for Saturday, July 19, 2008. Not all birds were seen by all participants:
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck -- 6
Fulvous Whistling-Duck -- 5
Wood Duck -- 5
American Wigeon -- 1
Mottled Duck
Blue-winged Teal --1
Ring-necked Duck -- 2
Lesser Scaup --1
Northern Bobwhite
Pied-billed Grebe
American White Pelican -- 4 or 5
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Least Bittern -- >20
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron -- 2 (one immature and one adult)
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill -- 1
Wood Stork
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Swallow-tailed Kite -- 35+ (staging over the cell/impoundment that borders Chuck Oberon's Organic Farm). This is the largest number of SWKIs we've seen at STA-5.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Crested Caracara -- 2
Purple Swamphen -- >6
Purple Gallinule -- 2 or 3
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Limpkin
Killdeer -- 1
Black-necked Stilt -- >10
Forster's Tern -- 2
Black Skimmer --2
Eurasian Collared-Dove -- 1
Mourning Dove
Common Ground Dove
Barn Owl -- 2
Common Nighthawk -- 35+ sitting on telephone lines along Blumberg Rd. plus a dozen or so others found elsewhere
Gray Kingbird -- 1 (new addition to STA-5 checklist)
Loggerhead Shrike
Purple Martin -- 2
Barn Swallow -- 20+
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling -- 20+ (Seen over one of the cells/impoundments at STA-5, not on Blumberg Rd. The most we've ever seen of this species at STA-5)
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee -- 1
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Boat-tailed Grackle
That's eight species of waterfowl for mid-July in South Florida folks! Some nice leps, odes and mammals were also seen but I'll save that for another time. The "gimpy" bobcat on CR835 was special though.
Thanks goes out to all who attended today's tour and who made the day a great experience! The next STA-5 tour is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th. Contact Margaret England at sta5birding@embarqmail.com if interested in attending. The shorebirds should be migrating through the interior/sod farms at that time. This area, south of Belle Glade, isn't that far away from STA-5 so bear that in mind.
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