Posted by John Boyd on March 14, 2004 at 07:45:25:
Alligators, crocodiles, wading birds, migrating and wintering warblers, butterflies, interesting plants...even a Florida Panther! It's the Everglades. What a wonderful park!
We met at the Coe Visitor's center at 7:30. A number of us had checked some of the nearby areas before meeting. Painted Buntings at Lucky Hammock were probably the most interesting birds seen before we started. The Vermilion Flycatcher was not seen (it was present last Sunday).
Our first birding stop was at Royal Palm. Many of the big waders were in breeding plumage and happy to show it off. A Green Heron nest with chicks was found near some of the Anhinga nests. Two males Anhingas had their bills locked as they struggled over territory. A little farther along, two alligators were having their own territorial dispute. As we approached the end of the boardwalk, we encountered 3 American Bitterns. One of them stayed out in the open less than ten feet from the boardwalk!
Swallow-tailed Kites soared overhead as we returned to the visitor's center. A walk down the old Ingraham highway yielded a Lousiana Waterthrush at the pond. It proved extremely cooperative and most of us were able to get scope views of the bird.
Long Pine Key was next. We parked near the entrance to the nature trail and had barely assembled when we detected the calls of Brown-headed Nuthatches. Eventually we located 3 on a dead pine. The nuthatches were quite upset about a Red-bellied Woodpecker that was also on the pine and were continually harassing it. The Red-belly didn't seem to pay much attention.
We walked the nature trail, doing a little botanizing on the way. As we approached Mosier Hammock, we encountered a mixed flock of warblers. It included Black-throated Green, Yellow-throated, Prairie, Black-and-white, Redstart, and a Blue-headed Vireo. Towhees were heard calling, including one hidden in front of us as we exited the hammock. Other warblers in the area included Myrtle, Pine, Palm, and Common Yellowthroat.
We then drove to Mahogany Hammock. As usual, hammock birding is a hit-or-miss proposition and we were beginning to think this one was a miss. We did finally find some warblers, including 2 each Black-and-white and Black-throated Green.
Paurotis Pond had nesting Wood Storks, along with Snowy and Great Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills. A lone White Pelican was feeding on the water.
By the time we got to West Lake we were all getting hungary, so we put the picnic tables to work. There were many coots on the water and a small flock of warblers in mangroves near the picnic tables. After lunch, we worked through the warblers, finding Parula, BT Green, and Black-and-white. We were barely on the boardwalk when an Ovenbird was spotted. A little farther along a Northern Waterthrush was heard calling but we were unable to locate it. Numerous Prairies were also present in the mangroves.
We got to Flamingo at low tide and went to work scoping the sandbar. Only two shorebirds were found: Willet and Spotted Sandpiper. A Great White Heron was on the rocks to the left. Skimmers, Royal and Caspian Terns, and a surprise adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were also on the sandbar. The Cape May Warbler was found in its usual spot in the seagrape. We found 3 crocodiles over near the marina.
I finally got my day Cattle Egret and Common Moorhen at Eco Pond. A walk around the pond added an adult Bald Eagle. Some of the group spotted a Grasshopper Sparrow that was briefly out on the railing. Eco Pond seemed to be butterfly city today. There were large numbers of Great Southern Whites with their turquoise antenna clubs were all over the area. We also saw Queen, Monarch, Gulf Fritillary, Zebra, Julia, Mangrove Buckeye and Large Orange Sulphur as we circled the pond.
As is usual with Everglades trips, the group dwindled through the day as many people do not plan to bird the whole day, or have other things they must get back to in the afternoon. (This trip is extremely flexible that way.)
Only 5 of us were still birding when we left Eco Pond. Before heading back north, we decided to try Bear Lake Trail which sometimes has a warbler flock or a cuckoo. Although it was an interesting walk, it was extremely quiet today.
Our last birding area of the day was Research Road. We stopped at gate #2. A short walk on the trail yielded Flicker. We found some Eastern Bluebirds as we drove west on Research Road. The highlight of the day came just west of the Daniel Beard Research Center. A big cat appeared on the north side of the road...a big cat with a very long tail! A Florida Panther!! It was a lifer for 3 of us (including me). It was Brian Rapoza's second ever, and I think the third for Dick Cunningham. By then the sun was low in the sky and we headed for home. What a way to finish the day!