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Posted by Brian Rapoza on 16:12:28 11/09/10
This morning, I briefly visited Lucky Hammock before my birding class in Everglades National Park. Almost immediately after arriving, I heard the distinctive "whit" call of a Brown-crested Flycatcher, coming from trees on the Aerojet Road side of the hammock. With the assistance of my trusty iPhone, I was able to encourage the flycatcher to reveal itself. It perched on a Gumbo Limbo, then flew down to a tree in the understory, where it remained for long enough for me to obtain scope views. I was able to see several key field marks, including the almost all black bill, the lighter yellow of the breast and the less extensive rufous in the tail than would be seen on a Great Crested Flycatcher. I later heard a Great Crested Flycatcher calling from within the hammock.
I also visited Royal Palm Hammock before my class. In the Pond Apple tree directly behind the visitor center, I spotted a 1st winter Chipping Sparrow. On two occasions, it came down to the sidewalk seeking something to eat. Near the Taylor Slough bridges on my return to Coe Visitor Center to meet my class, a King Rail dashed across the road ahead of my car.
The highlight for my 4th grade birding class at Anhinga Trail (other than each and every alligator the students spotted) was an up-close look at an adult Purple Gallinule. On our way to lunch at Long Pine Key, the bus flushed an American Bittern from the side of the road. The bittern nearly breathed its last breath as it scampered across the road just a few feet ahead of the bus.
I stopped at SW 312 Street both before and after my class, but didn't see a single Scissor-tailed Flycatcher or Western Kingbird.
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