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Posted by Paul Bithorn on 16:57:39 08/30/09
The Tropical Audubon Society field trip on Saturday, August 30, 2009, to the sod farms in Palm Beach County, offered thirty, intrepid birders a mixture of lifebirds, yearbirds and beerbirds. The weather was rather steamy with a mixture of rain to help stoke the engine.
Our first stop, the Holeyland/Rotenberger W.M.A., produced a nice mix of species. We stopped at the water control structure west of the Chinese Fan Palm nursery and found Yellow and Prairie Warblers, along with White-eyed Vireo,Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Eastern Kingbirds. Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey,Belted Kingfisher,Bank and Barn Swallows,Brown Thrasher, American Redstart, Black and White Warbler,Common Yellowthroat and Orchard Oriole were seen on the drive, We continued west in the Holeyland/Rotenberger W.M.A. and located a Traill's Flycatcher sallying for insects. The bird refused to call despite a tape being played attempting to entice it to confirm its true identity. After being joined by a second silent Traill's, we pressed on, seeing more bow-hunters (deer season) than birds. A couple of Limpkins were heard as we made the long drive - including a missed turn - to the Cypress Stand on Miami Canal. We were hoping for Barn Owls, which have roosted here for many years, but the heavens opened up and we decided to head out for lunch. Many spent shotgun shells in the area were cause for concern. One of our birders did see a single bird fly as we ran to our vehicles.
After a hardy lunch in Clewiston, we hit SR 880 and headed to Brown's Farm Road. We crossed the canal on our left to several flooded field and with the help of David Simpson and Andy Bankert, two of Florida's finest birders, we picked up two Wilson's Phalarope's,swimming in circles like Whirlygig Beetles,Black-necked Stilt, Ruddy Turnstone,Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least, Stilt,Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers,Kildeer, Black-bellied and Semi-palmated Plovers, along with Black and Gull-billed Tern, Mottled,Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Purple Swamphen and Yellow-crowned Night Herons.
The King Ranch Sod Farms along US 27 added an Upland Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpipers, and a Semi-palmated Sandpiper.
We called it a day, and returned home to Miami. A respectable 17 shorebird species were seen on the fieldtrip. Life is good............ as I hoisted a celebratory libation - Peg Leg Imperial Stout, 12 ounces of a dangerously dark - yet very drinkable stout - with the luxurious character of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. This here pounder has a fine layer of yeast at her bottom. It won't send you to Davey Jones locker, but will protect your brew from the rigors of life at sea.
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