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Posted by Vincent Lucas on 00:20:57 01/14/10
Today, Ohio birder Bob Furst and his brother Barry visiting from Chico, CA and I stopped at Eagle Lakes Park in Naples (Collier County) and ran into the birding club from the Pelican Landing Community in Bonita Springs where I work. In addition to several Green-winged Teal and a Sora, we were able to find a half-dozen or so Bronzed Cowbirds in the cell with the gazebo. The birds move around a lot, roughly associating with a group of Red-winged Blackbirds, but generally frequent the Nut Sedge and willows along the west/southwest corner of the cell or sometimes come out in the open by the chain-linked fence by the ball field and forage under the Mahogany Trees. . After leaving the group at Eagle Lakes, Bob, Barry & I headed for Tigertail Beach on Marco Island. We were able to locate all of the plovers in good numbers, including at least 8 Snowy Plovers. Other shorebirds seen were a few Red Knots (none banded), Short-billed Dowitchers, Least & Western Sandpipers, Dunlin, Sanderling, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, etc. What was truly amazing was the lack of virtually ANY birds on the Gulf. We had to work just to find a Laughing Gull. There were no terns of any kind, no Magnificent Frigatebirds, no Northern Gannets, etc. Several Double-crested Cormorants were about the only birds we saw. Perhaps this recent cold spell that is finally coming to an end (thank God), had something to do with it? There were a lot of dead fish washed up on the beach. Most looked like some sort of jack but I'm terrible with fish ID's. Afterward, we headed back east/southeast on US Rte 41 (Tamiami Trail) and then north on SR 29 to Immokalee. We had a dark morph (juvenile?) Short-tailed Hawk not far from the intersection of SR 29 & US Rte 41. On Oil Well Rd. east of SR 29, we saw a number of Limpkins. On CR 858 north of the Hendry Correctional Facility, we saw one Western Kingbird but no Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. They have been a "no show" there all winter so far unlike other years. Heading east into Hendry County from Immokalee on CR846 and then CR833 and CR835 yielded several Snail Kites on CR835 north of the old shrimp farm as well as a few Western Kingbirds near the Deer Fence Canal. Again, no Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were found. Hmmmm! We also had great views of another dark morph Short-tailed Hawk at this location. A quick stop in Immokalee to show Barry some Florida Scrub-Jays turned up none, unlike a week ago when there were 7 or 8 of them at the same location. All in all, it was an enjoyable day to be out birding as I don't get out as often as I like since my work schedule doesn't allow it!
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