Posted by Paul Bithorn on November 21, 2003 at 17:47:25:
After dropping off Mom & Dad at Port Everglades for a Caribbean cruise, my wife Pam & I decided to do a little Broward County birding. A lone Smooth-billed Ani perched atop the fence along the Perimeter Rd. in the southwest corner of Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Soon thereafter, we arrived at Tree Tops Park in Davie about 2:30 p.m. and using Susan Epps directions easily located the MacGillivray's Warbler. It was in the same location where it was originally seen by Ken Rosenberg.
After some soft pishing the bird began chipping as it hopped around near the brush pile and up in the nearby Brazilian Pepper and Air Potato vines. This western skulker is very vocal and and with a little patience can be located. We located it on three seperate occasions in an hour's time.
The pavilions referred to in Susan's post are named Satin Leaf, Gumbo Limbo and Sabal Palm. Park at the Gumbo Limbo pavilion and look east back over the mowed area and where the mowed area meets the brushy area you will see a sign "No dogs on horse trails" marking the start of a horse trail. This is the doubled trail (actually an old road - two tracks with grass in the middle) where the bird was seen yesterday - near the end of this trail. It was on the south side of the clearing at the end of the two track that is being used as a brush dumping area. The bird favors the large western-most brushpile about 50 feet to the right of the road.
Life is good......................................... knowing that South Florida winter rarities are starting to pop up.