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Posted by Kurt Gaskill on 19:30:30 07/04/10
Hello All!
Highlights of this morning's trip to ENP were Shiny Cowbirds, 2 adults (and maybe one female) at Flamingo, near the boat launch area hanging out with mainly starlings and a few Brown-headed Cowbirds. A larger Brown-headed Cowbird flock (36) worked the grassy edge nearer the Visitor Center.
Other interesting sightings were King Rail briefly calling near the bridge about a mile (?) from the entrance toll booth. Great Horned Owls could be heard dueting in the Pine Woods near the toll booth for nearly 30 min. My visit to Royal Palm and the Anhinga Trail produced nothing unusual, but on the way back I stopped to view one of the many Green Herons flying about. Near the car in the grass (with a good water level!) a Least Bittern took offense and popped up and left - adult female.
About 0.5 to 1 mile past the Mahgoney Hammock turn a few Seaside Sparrows were singing and one could be viewed without too much difficulty. I found representatives of all the long-leggeed waders except for night-herons; in addition, there were 2 Sandhill Cranes and one Black-whiskered Vireo. Also potentially notable were 12 White-crowned Pigeons at the (empty) trailer campsite loop at Flamingo. The Red-shouldered Hawk count was 14 and the Swallow-tailed Kite count was 6.
On another note, I avoided considerable Deer Fly interactions by staying in the car most of the time after Royal Palm. At Eco Pond I saw one monsterous Horse Fly which scared me out of my wits!
Closer to home for you all, Cutler Wetland mitigation project produced a single Short-billed Dowitcher mid-afternoon. A Cave Swallow also gathered cattail fluff (or some such) and flew off. All the regulars were there, included at least 2 sets of Common Moorhen with young! As I left, an interesting bird near the guard rail caused me to turn about - it was the Bronzed Cowbird (male) whose red eye looked into my soul.
I tried to stop at the dump, but learned this was a no-no. Continuing south I looked in vain for any ani but found none - but saw lots of Cattle Egrets and White Ibis plus a single fly-by Yellow-billed Cuckoo on the 344st canal. Common Mynas were, of course, near Florida City as well as Monk Parakeets. White-winged Doves were found en masse at one ag field location (30 or more strong). The Common Nighthawk count for the day was 62.
Thanks folks!
Kurt
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