Posted by Brian Rapoza on October 12, 2003 at 17:11:06:
Saturday's TAS trip to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and Tigertail Beach on Marco Island produced the following sightings:
Along Government Road (Route 833) in Hendry County, a Wild Turkey and four Crested Caracara were seen. At a flooded area on 833/846, among a flock of about 15 Roseate Spoonbills, were Stilt, Pectoral, and Least Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, dowitcher sp., Wilson's Snipe, Killdeer and Black-necked Stilt.
At Corkscrew, it was very quiet. Redstart, Palm Warbler and Common Yellowthroat were the only warblers. Two Limpkin were seen, as were Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren and Great-crested Flycatcher. A Red-shouldered Hawk was seen on its nest. A Black Pine Snake was also seen.
At Tigertail, a very high afternoon tide pushed the birds elsewhere. Only Willet and a Reddish Egret, plus the usual Laughing Gulls were seen.
At Big Cypress Bend boardwalk on US 41, Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker were heard. The boardwalk was remarkably mosquito-free, but fuzzy white caterpillers were crawling everywhere and on everything, occasionally including us. Dick Cunningham thought he could hear them falling from the trees. He has better hearing than I do.