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Posted by Vince Lucas on 20:09:46 11/04/08
This morning, Kermit "Spike" Updegrove and I left Naples bright and early to make it over to Dump Marsh in Miami-Dade County to check-off the Tropical Kingbird originally found by Roberto "Toe" Torres. I have seen one other Tropical/Couch's Kingbird in Florida but it didn't vocalize, thus, the lack of specificity of this Tyrant. We got to the locale near S.W. 248th St. across from Mt. Trashmore (Pee-uuu-eee!) and found the bird in less than a minute. There was another local couple there prior to our arrival but for the life of me, I can't remember their name. My apologies to them. Anyway, just as others have noted, the Tropical Kingbird was associating with the lone Western Kingbird and the differences in both appearance and vocalizations were noticeably different. While we were there, a Northern Mockingbird continually harassed the two Tyrants to the point where the Tropical would constantly flush from the south side to the north side of S.W. 248th and from the telephone lines to the shrubbery. I managed to get a few photos but lighting conditions were definitely not favorable this morning. While there, Tricia Auffhammer arrived with bigger and better "guns" and got some outstanding photos. In the area were many American Kestrels, a few Northern Harriers, scads of both vultures and gulls (on Mount Trashmore), several Palm Warblers, a Savannah Sparrow, many Euro Starlings, Boat-tailed Grackles, Brown Cowbirds and a lone Bald Eagle. Spike walked around the ponds and said that there were a number of waders and a few ducks, coots, etc. but I didn't make the walk. After bidding adios to Tricia, Spike and I went to Cutler Wetlands where we saw the rather "anemic" American Flamingo along with three American Avocets, two Black-necked Stilts, two Wilson's Snipe, both yellowlegs, many Long-billed Dowitchers, many Dunlin, a Killdeer, plus all of the expected waders, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills and a few Barn Swallows that were passing through. What I don't understand was what were these "dudes" doing in their half-track out in the marsh? One of the half-tracks was pulling the other one that apparently had engine trouble. Were these local "yahoos" or were these worker bees for SFWMD, FFWC, etc.? Anyone know? Either way, they were doing a nice job of tearing up the backside of the marsh with their machines. . . . After leaving Cutler Wetlands, Spike and I headed west over to Krome Avenue and then north. I hadn't been to the Chekika Unit (Everglades National Park) in a rather long time so we headed west along SW 168th St. and about two miles from the intersection with SW 237th Avenue I spotted two White-tailed Kites perched in some dead trees out in the glades on the south side of the road. Nice to see these birds again. We drove to the entrance of the Chekika Unit but there was a chain across the entrance thus thwarting our progress. From there, we made our way back to Naples via US Rte 41 (aka Tamiami Trail) stopping first at the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area not far west from the Seminole Casino. The highlight in this VERY wet area was a lone Snail Kite plying the waterlogged glades. A stop at the old airboat stand near the Everglades Tower Inn produced another Snail Kite sitting in the lone Bald Cypress fifty feet from the parking area. We didn't stop again until we got to the backside of the Fritchey Wetlands north of Collier-Seminole State Park right off of US Rte. 41. We pulled into the small turn-out and watched probably a hundred or so Glossy Ibis and an equal number of Wood Storks plus all of the other waders and a dozen or so Mottled Ducks feeding ravenously in the very wet fields. Another lone Snail Kite flying high over the wetlands rounded out our day. It was a good day for the 5 or so hours of actual birding we did. Oh, before I forget, if anyone is interested, Alan Murray again found the Bell's Vireo at Sugden Regional Park in Naples this afternoon that he initially found yesterday. I hope it stays until tomorrow when i can get down there to see it. This is a first record for Collier County as far as I can ascertain.
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