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Posted by Carlos Sanchez on 07:36:18 09/21/08
Walter, Sue, and I decided to do a count in a less bug infested area than Chekika for this NAMC count. We decided upon Matheson, and we were not disappointed with what we saw. From the sun baked cement of the Matheson "Beach/Lagoon" to the dark, mysterious hardwood hammocks on the NW Trail, there were birds to be seen.
We started our journey on the service road on the west side of the road, where we carefully watched our step as we walked through dog territory. We quickly saw many Ovenbirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, American Redstart, and even a nice CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. The raucous calls of Red-crowned Parrots filled the morning air, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds buzzed around in the mid-canopy. A Brown Thrasher walked along a branch, pretending it was a giant Ovenbird. Toward the end of the service road, a Pileated Woodpecker flew by, and we had to move out of the way as it almost pooped on us.
The savannah-like habitat of scattered trees and tall grasses was full of Blue Jay, Hill Myna, Mourning Dove, and Northern Cardinal. Prairie Warblers and Common Yellowthroats were around as well. Later on, a pair of Cooper's Hawk were seen dueling in the air, a Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched on a snag along with a small mixed flock of Common Grackle and Red-winged Blackbird, and a Merlin, which was being inspected by a feisty Ruby-throated Hummingbird, was perched on an Australian pine. We also picked up a Yellow-throated Warbler in a date palm, before turning back into the dark recesses of the NW Trail -- where we only saw more Ovenbirds, Worm-eating Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.
We then headed out on the other side and walk into the mangrove habitat and lagoon. A Wilson's Plover was out in the middle of the parking lot, looking a bit out of place. Great Egrets fished along the shoreline, Double-crested Cormorants rested on the channel markers, and mixed flocks of Western Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, and Semipalmated Plover rested on the rocky walls of the lagoon. In the marina, we picked up Royal Terns, Brown Pelican, and several Yellow-crowned Night-herons resting in the mangroves.
We walked over the bridge that stretches across the canal. Here, we quickly picked up White Ibis feeding quietly under the mangroves and a Belted Kingfisher feeding in a small clearing. Walter was very tired, so we all decided to rest on a bench right by the sea, commenting on "We need to get a Northern Waterthrush." A small brown bird, as if on cue, flitted off the beach and into a low mangrove root. We gawked as we put out binoculars on it. I took out my field guide, Sue began taking many shots as the bird returned and hopped around a mere few feet from us. We concluded it was a SEASIDE SPARROW. A Spotted Sandpiper also suddenly flew in, adding to our list.
We literally waded our back, as the high tide was covering the street. It was great! The last place to bird in the park was the parkland at the entrance, where we picked up many more birds for the day, including Black-and-white Warbler, Red-shouldered Hawk, both vultures, Red-eyed Vireo, and more. There is a fruiting tree near the entrance that is full of fruit, and the birds seem to love it as it was swarming with BTB Blues, Prairies, and Northern Parulas.
We decided to end our day, exhausted after walking so much. 59 species for the day.
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