A bizarre day at Wakodahatchee

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Posted by Paul-the other on February 22, 2004 at 19:12:02:

It was a bizarre day at Wakodahatchee. First the good news. All three Great blue Heron nests now have active chicks. The visitors are all abuzz with photographers crowding one another to photograph the events..except for the nest on the 50 foot high tower. The anhinga nests are also active appear and appear to be about 7 in number with more being built. For those interested in watching the Great blues and anhingas feeding babies, this is the place to be. The view is great and all spotters are willing to share their scopes.

Now for the sad news. One of the adult anhingas apparently made a bad landing, or fell from one of the nets and got caught between two branches and strangled. So there it hangs by the neck under the nest with the babies in it. A sad and strange sight.

But the strangest thing of all happened at 11:35 AM. A great commotion began and people began to crowd and area by the entrance boardwalk. There was a strange brown shaped bird that almost defied description until you placed it in view of binoculars or spotting scopes. It was a glossy ibis that had one wing curved downward in a half circle and the other wind curved above it’s head in a half circle shape. It looked for all the world as a ballerina in a graceful display. A truly unusual sight suggestive of what doves do when they “ant” and put a wing out something like an outrigger and roll on their sides. But the ibis was full standing, and the weather was warm. The lower wing entered the water at shore side by about maybe 6 inches. Because of how the wings were stretched the bird gave a brown color, not the iridescent blackish green. A beautiful and mystifying pose. After 5 minutes the bird withdrew the wings back to its body. ruffled the feathers and calmly walked away.

Limpkin were wailing in the distance and a red-shouldered hawk called frequently. Coot, moorhens and purple gallinule were engaged in territory disputes. Blue-winged teal flew about in many sets of three (always the eternal triangle).

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: It was a bizarre day at Wakodahatchee. First the good news. All three Great blue Heron nests now have active chicks. The visitors are all abuzz with photographers crowding one another to photograph the events..except for the nest on the 50 foot high tower. The anhinga nests are also active appear and appear to be about 7 in number with more being built. For those interested in watching the Great blues and anhingas feeding babies, this is the place to be. The view is great and all spotters are willing to share their scopes. : Now for the sad news. One of the adult anhingas apparently made a bad landing, or fell from one of the nets and got caught between two branches and strangled. So there it hangs by the neck under the nest with the babies in it. A sad and strange sight. : But the strangest thing of all happened at 11:35 AM. A great commotion began and people began to crowd and area by the entrance boardwalk. There was a strange brown shaped bird that almost defied description until you placed it in view of binoculars or spotting scopes. It was a glossy ibis that had one wing curved downward in a half circle and the other wind curved above it’s head in a half circle shape. It looked for all the world as a ballerina in a graceful display. A truly unusual sight suggestive of what doves do when they “ant” and put a wing out something like an outrigger and roll on their sides. But the ibis was full standing, and the weather was warm. The lower wing entered the water at shore side by about maybe 6 inches. Because of how the wings were stretched the bird gave a brown color, not the iridescent blackish green. A beautiful and mystifying pose. After 5 minutes the bird withdrew the wings back to its body. ruffled the feathers and calmly walked away. : Limpkin were wailing in the distance and a red-shouldered hawk called frequently. Coot, moorhens and purple gallinule were engaged in territory disputes. Blue-winged teal flew about in many sets of three (always the eternal triangle).

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