Posted by Paul Bithorn on July 17, 2001 at 11:24:58:
On Saturday, July 14, Juan Villamil and I birded the Holeyland/Rotenberger W.M.A., sod farms along U.S. 27, the U of F Experimental Station (X-Files Farm), Browns Farm Road, Belle Glade Marina/Campground, Miami Canal west of U.S. 27 and the Pembroke Pines Mitigation Pond. We had 75 species with the highlight being a Black Rail calling at the Belle Glade Marina/Campground in the vegetated area between the parking lot and the trailers. It called only once.... kikidoo kikidoo kikidoo but we had no tape to attempt to lure it out into the open. A colony of Smooth-billed Anis continues to roost where the paved road turns to dirt on the Holeyland road. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was also in the area. U of F had both Whistling Ducks as well as Least Sandpipers and Sanderlings(unusual for so far inland).A single Barn Owl was in the White Cedars along the Miami Canal. This traditional roost has had up to half a dozen owls in the past. Spent shotgun shells on the ground raise great concern as to the fate of the other family members. Saw Black-necked Stilts, my 53rd species for the Mitigation Pond. Our 75th species was White-tailed Kite at the previously reported site in Pembroke Pines. We located two of the five birds that have been seen their. Plenty of wet areas for the impending shorebird invasion. Keep us updated on the Curlew Sandpiper at Merritt Island. Sorry for the late post. There is a cure for the summertime blues! Life is good.........