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Posted by Bill Boeringer on 22:22:05 05/22/11
Waking up early, I decided to head out to Loop Road to do some birding (since I missed the NAMC, where I usually cover Big Cypress). Arriving at the area around Shark Valley in predawn light, I was able to hear one Chuck-wills-widow before they ceased singing, and saw my 1st Limpkin of the day. I got little else in Dade County, and hitting the Collier line high-tailed it to Loop Road, at Monroe Station.
However, I only got as far as Gator Hook, about 2 miles in, because the road is closed! Apparently, work is being done on the roads and culverts between Gator Hook (west) and just past Pinecrest to the east. Worse, work is expected to take into next April !
I walked the Gator Hook trail a bit, but it was quiet except for a Pileated Woodpecker. Heading back to 41, I had in a flyover Yellow-billed Cuckoo, plus singing Titmice, Carolina Wren, Parula, and Great Crested Flycatcher.
I went west to Kirby Storter, but it was dead--a singing Gnatcatcher was the highlight.
Heading back east along 41, I had several more Limpkins, several more flying Y-b Cuckoos, and lots of waders. Despite my efforts, though, I could not find a single Snail Kite.
Home by 11:00 am. No Prothonotary, no Red-eyed Vireo, no trip to one of my favorite birding sites (Sweetwater Slough), no Snail Kite.
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