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Posted by Jeanette on 17:36:17 08/12/08
Hi! I visited Cutler Wetlands,Chekika ENP and Larry and Penny Memorial Park today. At Cutler Wetlands there were somewhat fewer birds today than day before yesterday when I visited. On that occasion Bonnie was already there with her scope and a good selection of shorebirds were present. We saw Semi-palmated Plovers,Least Sandpipers,Pectoral Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, Dowitchers,Woodstorks,Roseate Spoonbills,Many Seagulls, Least Terns,Tri-colored Heron,Common Moorhens, Coots,I saw an Osprey the previous day and Glossy and White Ibi. Also present were quite a few Mottled Ducks,Great Egret,Snowy Egret, and Little Blue Herons. I guess the days kind of run together for me. Today I saw close up behavior of a Wood Stork staying right by a Great Egret as it walked in the shallow water. It was hoping the fish would be stirred up by the Egrets forward movement. Then the Woodstork would pause and wiggle its feet in the water. I watched to see if I could see its beak snap shut but could did not see that. It did hold one wing out at a time as if shading the water to improve visibility. I then left for Chekika but stayed only a brief time there. I noted Barn Swallows and a second type of swallow of which I'm not sure of the I.D.. A few Common Nighthawks were sitting horizontally on bare branches. A couple of Red-shouldered hawks were seen but no White-tailed Kites. However I arrived a little late in the day for them. At Larry and Penny Thompson Park I saw three Eastern Towees and heard about seven more. Quite a few swallows were flying but the sky was gray and I wasn't sure which kind. It rained for a short while and then I visited the camp ground. Around some of the pods planted are Oak trees. At pod No. nine, about 15 feet from my car I was surprised to see a beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler. As I got out of my car I noted many Gray-blue Gnatcatchers in multiple trees. Soon, two Black and White Warblers appeared, working the tree trunks and also a Northern Parula. I visited this park mid-day so possibly tomarrow I'm going to try early a.m. to see if more birds appear. I wonder what the history of birding in this park might be. It seems the trees and vegetation have grown substantially since last visiting this park. I know quite a few years ago a major fire occured here. Thats about all for now.
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