Posted by Susan Schneider on April 23, 2004 at 10:28:43:
My walking was still limited at Tigertail, but scoping from the ground brought me more Least Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Dunlin, and Dowitchers, plus Semipalm and Piping Plovers, and, of course, Willets. Black-bellied Plovers wailed to each other. And overhead--hey, finally, my first Frigatebirds in the East!! One male came close enough for wonderful scope views. I could have watched all day.
But on instead to Collier-Seminole, where I was up to some hiking again. After the domesticated racoons elsewhere, it was fun to come across a small wild family on an out-of-the-way trail and see them immediately scamper up a tree. Warblers were moving through, with the only new trip species being Worm-eating. Pileateds were again all over. So were beautiful wildflowers. I watched at the salt marsh platform, hoping for a lingering harrier, but no luck.
By this time, afternoon was upon me. Big Cypress Bend boardwalk in Fakahatchee was still very birdy, however, with Parulas and Prairies and Redstarts everywhere, and a few other species mixed in. One bird produced a slightly buzzy Nashville-like song--a
Prairie variant. An alligator mother watched over her babies, and two black snakes of some sort lazed on logs. The big surprise here was a Worm-eating Warbler feeding young! Someone else's, I presume--the nest was of the right location for Prairie Warbler or Carolina Wren. I have not heard of this sort of behavior in warblers before--any comments?? This must be one of the most beautiful trails in the world, and the many German visitors thought so too.
Finally (thanks for bearing with me) a few highlights along the Janes Scenic Drive: a young FOT Barred Owl hissing at me from 15 feet away at eye level, a Red-shouldered Hawk even closer, my second Red-tailed Hawk of the trip, and my first trip Short-tailed Hawks, three dark-phases circling together. Finally had a few swallows, Tree and Rough-winged. And can I mention the cardinal airplants forlornly perched on wires (they must fall off eventually)? The spot along the Tamiami Trail with the huge concentration of waders is worth a note. And, a final lasting memory, the female Boat-tail that landed importunately on my knee at the Miccosukee Subway.
The rarest bird on my trip extension was a retrospective ID, I'm sorry to say. I noted a possible White-faced Ibis, but discounted it at the time, knowing that Glossy can show a white facial border, and not realizing that White-faced occurred in Florida. When I got around to checking it, the border turned out to be far too broad for Glossy, however, so this was my third lifer of the trip. I have to admit that I don't even remember for sure at which site I found it! Oh well, next time I'll know. I ended with nearly 140 species; if anyone wants a trip list, let me know.
Good birding, Susan
Susan Schneider