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Posted by Alex Harper on 21:03:44 12/13/09
After many months away, I finally returned to the Everglades to bird, herp, and enjoy the surroundings. I arrived at Royal Palm at about 1:15 in order to search the roadside scrubs for Rough Green Snakes. These snakes are a beautiful lime green, and just as overlooked as they are easy on the eyes. I walked along stretches of Research Road as well as just north of Anhinga Trail. Despite a long search, I was not even able to find my target.
The birds cooperated, at least.
On Anhinga Trail, I spotted an American Bittern from the boardwalk, and two Limpkins called.
While searching a stretch of the Royal Palm, I heard then saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Spending most of the winter in Pensacola, the kinglet's call didn't register as an uncommon bird. To me, it's call is part of the background on the way to classes. It was nice to see only my third one in the county.
At Lucky Hammock:
White-tailed Kite- 2
Northern Harriers- many in fields north of Lucky Hammock especially
Sandhill Cranes- 8
Least Flycatcher- 1
Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows
Two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were present at 217th ave and 312 street at 4:45. Back to Lucky Hammock by sundown.
The Short-eared Owls were not seen, but the male could be heard calling "poo poo poo...." from somewhere in the field south of Lucky Hammock. Many Whip-poor-will's were present, and I was even able to catch the eye shine of one sitting along the road for a visiting birder from New Mexico.
A short cruise for snakes in the park yielded only a Florida Banded Watersnake, despite the heat today. I settled for a couple meteors seen from the Pa-hay-okee parking lot.
A leisurely day in field was celebrated with my step-mother's very own Cuban style chicken with beans and rice, washed down with Harpoon IPA (yes people, I am of age now). Here's to being back in Miami.
P.S., anyone thinking of heading up to to St. John's County for the Tundra Swans, let me know ;)
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