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Posted by Nancy Freedman on 15:52:46 03/19/11
20 of us enjoyed beautiful weather and great birds, including a contingent of four from Naples. Here's the blow by blow: At Wakodahatchee, we started off with 2 Red-winged Blackbird males displaying their epaulets (not unlike the male Anhingas on Anhinga Trail); Black-necked Stilts had arrived, there were numerous Soras; all the wading birds (with the exception of Little Blue) were present and raising their young, including Glossy's and Cattle Egrets, we had a glimpse of Tri-Colored Heron eggs as blue as their parents lores; two Marsh Wrens were in the back singing their hearts out, Martins were in their houses, and we saw the Virginia Rail where we saw it in January; Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were flying around. To top it off, we had an Eastern Screech Owl in the owl box in the parking lot (which is to the right of the restrooms). There was also a Red-tailed Hawk. Marsh rabbits were visible as well. At Green Cay, we started off with a chattering Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the parking lot; a Snipe in the usual Snipe place, Martin houses were busy here too, there were Rough-winged Swallows as well as Tree Swallows; and a Cooper's Hawk eating a freshly caught Coot in the back near a gazebo; a Screech Owl returned our calls, White-winged Doves were mating in the Cypress area; Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal were present and accounted for as were Mottled Ducks. No Virginia Rail for us here but lots of Soras. Warblers at both locations were almost non-existent, only Palms, Myrtles, a few Pines, a Common Yellow Throat and a Prairie. The group broke up then and Audrey, David, Jerri and I headed to Wellington Environmental Preserve, arriving at 1:45 pm. It is only about 23 miles from Green Cay. I walked the entire inside trail (which is lengthy) leaving Audrey, David and Jerri at the observation tower. We had scads of Limpkins, Savannah Sparrows (new for the day); the usual waders (again no Little Blues), Northern Harriers, a Red-shouldered Hawk, Ground Doves and a juvenile Bald Eagle. No Canvasbacks or Snail Kites unless Audrey, et al., spotted them from the tower.
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