Posted by Juan on May 10, 2004 at 02:46:35:
Hello all,
Rafael and I started at Sandy Key, caught the falling and early incoming tide at Lake Ingrahm, rising tide at Snake Bight and ended the day with a fruitless search in Garfield. Some highlights from 12 hours on the water include
Common Loon 2
Whimbrel 11
Marbled Godwit 102
Reddish Egret 10
Roseate Spoonbill 104
Clapper Rail 3
We found and photographed a dead Common Loon in breeding plumage on Carl Ross Key (used to be connected to Sandy Key). There was also a dead Indigo Bunting and Dunlin. At first light on this same tiny key there was a tight group of 45 Great White Herons. First time we'd seen them like this. Seven species of warbler were on this key.
Parts of Lake Ingrahm and Snake Bight were carpeted with shorebirds, many in breeding plumage, a real treat. Short-billed Dowitchers were more numerous than Dunlins and Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers in Lake Ingrahm. Some stunning Red Knots were also there. Not as many Dowitchers in Snake Bight. Whimbrels were in Lake Ingrahm and adjacent lagoons but not Snake Bight. Marbled Godwits were in Snake Bight but not Lake Ingrahm. Very few Willets in Lake Ingrahm, many more in Snake Bight. Wilson and Semipalmated Plover numbers seemed low. The Piping Plovers that like the sandbar West of East Cape Canal were not present. We also couldn't find the Long-Billed Curlew that we've seen in all seasons in the Lake Ingrahm area. Somehow we missed the Flamingos. Perhaps they're in the backcountry West of Gator Lake. Of six tern species seen Royal were the most common with 220 counted. 156 lingering White Pelicans were found. Not too many raptors; one Peregrine, three Swallow-Tailed Kites, four Bald Eagles, 21 Osprey. A Pied-Billed Grebe was just off Buoy Key as the sun was setting.
A windy but edifying day.