Posted by Alex on November 22, 2003 at 20:01:14:
Today Felipe and I had yet another day trip giving us even more species than the last time 2 weeks ago. We met Paul Bithorn again in Lucky Hammock.
Lucky Hammock and the Annex our first stop was alive with birds with 33 American Pipits, Killdeer, Northern Harrier, 4 hawks (Swainson's, Red-tailed, Broad-winged, and Red-shouldered Hawk), both vultures, Eastern Phoebe, Downy Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Savannah Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Common Ground Dove, House and Carolina Wrens, White-eyed Vireo, and a few warbler species (Orange-crowned, Palm, Prairie, Northern Parula, Northern Waterthrush and Common Yellowthroat). The Orange-crowned Warbler was a lifer for Felipe and the American Pipits were life birds for both of us. Paul also had
Next stop was the Vermilion Flycatcher spot. There was the Vermilion Flycatcher on the small oak trees with his buddy the Phoebe. There were also two male Eastern Meadowlarks. Felipe and I got many great close ups. Felipe may post some photos.
The flycatcher was a lifer for my step-Mom. We then said our good-byes to Paul.
The "Park"
We got 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the visitor center, but there was really nothing else around. Between Pa-hay-okee Overlook and Paurotis Pond there was a HUGE flock of Tree Swallows. I would estimate 20,000 birds. It was incredible, like a large insect swarm. Paurotis Pond had a few Chipping Sparrows in the area. Mrazek Pond had a large amount of Blue-winged Teal and a few Northern Pintail. Felipe found a Green-winged Teal female in the flock, but I could not. All 3 ducks were new for Felipe, and the Pintails were new for me. There was also one Belted Kingfisher.
Flamingo had a few American White Pelicans soaring around the visitor center giving Felipe another life bird. An American Crocohile was also present. Eco Pond had a few Roseate Spoonbills, Savannah Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, Palm Warblers, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, many White Ibis and Pied-billed Grebes, and almost all the heron species. We found many wrens in Eco Pond in the scrubby areas. We found what looked like the color of Marsh Wrens, but the looks were not good enough for me to give the species a name. What wrens are around there anyway? House, Marsh, Sedge? All three in there? They all sound the same and are very secretive. As for lifers there we found Northern Shoveler, American Bittern (many great photos; we watched him in plain view from the platform for about 20 minutes!), and Wood Stork and Short-tailed Hawk for Felipe. An unexpected sighting was a northern race Red-shouldered Hawk to add in comparison to south Florida's drab colored race.
The Flamingo Campground had many Osprey, Killdeer, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, and about 20 Short-billed Dowitchers. There were also 2 Sandwich Terns and a Great White Heron. On the way back to Miami we found a Bald Eagle adult flying over the Dwarf Cypress and marsh land. This is new one for Felipe's Florida list. A quick late stop to Lucky Hammock had a Greater Yellowlegs, and Flynn's had 6 possibly 7 Western Kingbirds coming in to roost. The day ended for me with 2 Blue-and-gold Macaws flying over the Doc Thomas House. I had 4 lifers and Felipe had 12. We had 88 bird species for the day.