Posted by Underground Holistic Birding Movement on August 11, 2001 at 20:33:44:
With the entire crew officially assembled, we loaded the vehicle early Saturday August 11, 2001, and headed towards "the Park." As everyone knows, you must be a brave soul to enter through the Gates of Aedes*, on any given day in August. We were blessed by the gods, and before we flashed the park pass, we had the brain to stop at the adjacent fields, to scope the area for any species of interest. The heat, rising surprisingly early was burning at our skin, but we prevailed, and keeping a sharp eye we discovered a few surprises. One of our correspondents, having been in the area less than a week before, had given some cues on expected aves, and we were not disappointed. Currents of low flying Hirundos (as in rustica) were streaming through at high and unpredictable speed. To our satisfaction, three species of Golondrina were seen here, most erratically flowing direction Southeast, others perching momentarily to flaunt their stuff, and then taking off again. Perched beautifully and daintily, in contrast to the Golondrina Cola de Tijera, were the smaller Riparia riparia x 2. Then, as in the flash of a dream, flew two Pterochelidon pyrrhonota, the Golondrinas de Farallon, on their way to the Indies, flying at half the rate of speed as the H. rustica. Perplexed at first by this spectacle, birds flying in by the hundreds, we focused again on the fields. As had been prophesied by our correspondent, three individuals of Grus canadensis alighted softly, as if magically, twirling in their huge size above the scraggly fields to feed. These were archetypes of the summer bird, with rusty bodies, their crowns limited in red plumes, and necks gray-blue. Interestingly enough, these birds, in plumage, resembled the "so-called" lesser northerns of the popular guides, yet undoubtedly huge; always a treat this far south. Listening in on the call of el Titere Sabanero, Charadrius vociferus, we remembered the birds of the mud flats and grass, and were yanked up to see a small band of Tringa melanoleuca, with their agitated whistles, piercing into the air and then coming back down to disappear in the tall grass. Spewed like mobile stones, almost unrecognizable in their camouflage, twenty roving Pluvialis squatarola did their thing, running and stopping. Three of these birds had perfect breeding plumage worn upon their frames. But of course, considering the time of year, our audience is well aware of that which we were after. Why else would we be scanning these fields on a late summer morning? We felt it our duty to confirm recent sightings of the elusive Ganga within the vicinity, and while the scope was being viewed, one of these birds came fully into focus, feeding incessantly among the sedge and rock. Its well known chicken-like head, skinny neck, yellowish beak, and beaming eye, all protruded over the distant range, to duck back down and disappear. After a few minutes of ambivalence, we had the bird locked down, Bartramia longicauda far into the northern fields. We all took turns at watching this beauty run like a turkey in unpredictable directions. To our surprise, this first bird then joined a second of its kind, and both were left alone to continue about their business. Were we to assume that this would be the climactic sighting of the day?
We made our way into the park, with the idea of visiting Anhinga Trail. One must be cautious of early passerines coming through, surprises might poke you in the head. As a mentor once said, the trick in the true evasion of mosquitos* (Aedes), lays in mental domination of the senses, in the conscious numbing of the dermis, in the complete focus of the quickening eye and ear, to perceive sound and motion through the disruptive layer of insect buzz. I'm afraid to say, we failed miserably. We failed, yes, but not without taking prisoners, and this we did of the enchanting calls of the Senorita de Rio, one which we recorded in our brains as we fled the scene quickly. Two of our members were fortunate enough not only to hear the full fledged chip-and-slurr song of the Seiurus motacilla, but also to see it, pumping its tail, and strutting its bright supercilium. After we made our escape, making way towards the parking lot, we were happily greeted by the soaring flight of a dark-phased Gavilan Colicorto, swaying side to side in high air, playing with an updraft, amongst a single Elanoides forficatus, and a half dozen Cathartes aura. The Gavilan Colicorto (Buteo brachyurus), was there momentarily, only to descend quickly behind the palms and gumbo, and never reappear. On our way to Flamingo, we were not alone. We were accompanied by the graceful flight of half-a-dozen E. forficatus, direction-bound and streamlined. Three times as many Casquitos blancos (Columba leucocephala) were seen all throughout the route south of Mahogany. Metopium toxiferum and Chrysobalanus icaco are in full fruit throughout "the Park," and the birds are feasting.
Flamingo was desolate, save for a handful of Catoptrophorus semipalmatus and Limnodromus griseus, many already in their non-breeding plumages; these accompanied by three or four Avoceta Parda (Limosa fedoa). Summer's heat drenching down, minutes seeming like hours, soon the tide receded and new species arrived. Two Pandion haliaetus bathed at opposite extremes of the bar, while two Sterna, a nilotica and a forsteri, came to rest. Soon, the usual assortment of Flamingo visitors alighted in disbanded flocks, including Rychops niger, Charadrius wilsonia, Charadrius semipalmatus, Calidris mauri, Calidris minutilla, Pluvialus squatarola, Sterna maxima. Opposite to the bay, wheeling in a dizzying kettle, nearly a hundred Alcatraz Blancos (Pelicanus erythrorhynchos) were sighted. At first betraying the ears of all, a soft high-pitched call was identified by one of our members, soon to be matched by a handsome yellow-lored specimen of the Birijita de Garganta Amarilla (Dendroica dominica). Having previously arranged it as a half-day outing, we recognized the time as that of the afternoon, and headed back toward Miami. On our way, we stopped at the roadside to examine a first year Gavilan Caracolero snacking on a Pomacea. This Rostrhamus sociabilis made of a dwarf Taxodium its perch, gliding back and forth over the glade, looking for food. As a backdrop, two distinctly different Buteo lineatus rested at a considerable distance, reminding us of the five others we'd seen earlier in the day, sitting on the field at the entrance to "the Park."
All in all, it was a nice day in "the Park", and it looks like more will follow with the nearby fields as productive as they were.
Big Shout Out to Bryant Roberts, our "man on the ground" at Flamingo (you know him from such great big-screen hits as "Hey, there are Avocets at Flamingo!", and "That Darn Short-Tailed Hawk"). Also a big "WHERE THE HECK WERE YOU GOING?" to C.J. Grimes who sped past us in a fire cache truck on research road (we know where you were going buddy- far away from that mosquito breading ground, that's where!)
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-War Zone
"Enjoy the wonder of Birds, and use a checklist only as a reference."
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Miami and Beyond
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