Avocets in the Everglades

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Posted by Susan Schneider on 08:09:53 06/14/04

Avocets in the Everglades

Two unexpected adult American Avocets at West Lake were the highlights of my Sunday Everglades trip. Most of the expected summer specialties were also present, including heard-only Mangrove Cuckoo and Black-whiskered Vireos. White-crowned Pigeons were easily seen. Perhaps most impressive was a distant flock of fully forty Wood Storks flying in formation high above the marshes.

I began by unsuccessfully listening for the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow near the Mahogany Hammock turnoff--but enjoying the singers that *were* present: a Common Yellowthroat male alternating between singing and feeding young, Pine Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Eastern Meadowlarks, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Carolina Wren, plus a rich frog and insect chorus. Wildflowers, butterflies, and Eastern Lubber grasshoppers were plentiful.

Paurotis Pond held many breeding waders, including the Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks that have been mentioned in previous posts. The yellow bill on the juvenile Storks was rather startling (undignified on this species!). A juvenile Wurdemann's was an odd-looking sight. An Eastern Kingbird repeatedly chased the nearby Vultures.

A pair of Swallow-tailed Kites graced West Lake, soaring with Vultures at one point; along the trail a female Prairie Warbler investigated me from several feet away. A singleton Kite hunted over Eco Pond, full of waders. The only Glossy Ibis of the day sported a thin white facial border, and was not far from the only Black-crowned Night Herons. Two
lingering Tree Swallows flew over. Adult and juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks allowed close approaches, even when feeding on a kill; both were of the Eastern form. A surprise Reddish Egret flew over, heading for
Florida Bay.

At the Bear Lake trailhead, I was fortunate to hear a calling Mangrove Cuckoo. The mosquitoes soon had me in full retreat, however. They were at bearable levels elsewhere (with repellent).

At Nine Mile Pond, preparing to kayak with the gators, a parade of birds gainsaid me: A third-year Bald Eagle harassed an Osprey, two Black-necked Stilts landed a short distance away, Anhingas did their snake-in-the-water bit, a Caspian Tern appeared out of nowhere and landed at the far side, and a dignified adult Wood Stork looked on. I survived the gators, but they do make for a different kind of boating experience, especially in an inflatable. One large gator yawned, showing teeth that could have made short work of my kayak! Maybe I should stick to birding.

The trip total was 57 species.

Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron (including juvenile Wurdemann's)
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Reddish Egret
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Wood Stork
Mottled Duck
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Swallow-tailed Kite
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Laughing Gull
Caspian Tern
White-crowned Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Monk Parakeet
Mangrove Cuckoo
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
European Starling
White-eyed Vireo
Black-whiskered Vireo
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Boat-tailed Grackle
Common Grackle
House Sparrow

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Comments:	: Avocets in the Everglades : : Two unexpected adult American Avocets at West Lake were the highlights of my Sunday Everglades trip. Most of the expected summer specialties were also present, including heard-only Mangrove Cuckoo and Black-whiskered Vireos. White-crowned Pigeons were easily seen. Perhaps most impressive was a distant flock of fully forty Wood Storks flying in formation high above the marshes. : : I began by unsuccessfully listening for the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow near the Mahogany Hammock turnoff--but enjoying the singers that were present: a Common Yellowthroat male alternating between singing and feeding young, Pine Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Eastern Meadowlarks, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Carolina Wren, plus a rich frog and insect chorus. Wildflowers, butterflies, and Eastern Lubber grasshoppers were plentiful. : : Paurotis Pond held many breeding waders, including the Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks that have been mentioned in previous posts. The yellow bill on the juvenile Storks was rather startling (undignified on this species!). A juvenile Wurdemann's was an odd-looking sight. An Eastern Kingbird repeatedly chased the nearby Vultures. : : A pair of Swallow-tailed Kites graced West Lake, soaring with Vultures at one point; along the trail a female Prairie Warbler investigated me from several feet away. A singleton Kite hunted over Eco Pond, full of waders. The only Glossy Ibis of the day sported a thin white facial border, and was not far from the only Black-crowned Night Herons. Two : lingering Tree Swallows flew over. Adult and juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks allowed close approaches, even when feeding on a kill; both were of the Eastern form. A surprise Reddish Egret flew over, heading for : Florida Bay. : : At the Bear Lake trailhead, I was fortunate to hear a calling Mangrove Cuckoo. The mosquitoes soon had me in full retreat, however. They were at bearable levels elsewhere (with repellent). : : At Nine Mile Pond, preparing to kayak with the gators, a parade of birds gainsaid me: A third-year Bald Eagle harassed an Osprey, two Black-necked Stilts landed a short distance away, Anhingas did their snake-in-the-water bit, a Caspian Tern appeared out of nowhere and landed at the far side, and a dignified adult Wood Stork looked on. I survived the gators, but they do make for a different kind of boating experience, especially in an inflatable. One large gator yawned, showing teeth that could have made short work of my kayak! Maybe I should stick to birding. : : The trip total was 57 species. : : Brown Pelican : Double-crested Cormorant : Anhinga : Great Blue Heron (including juvenile Wurdemann's) : Great Egret : Snowy Egret : Little Blue Heron : Tricolored Heron : Reddish Egret : Cattle Egret : Green Heron : Black-crowned Night-Heron : White Ibis : Glossy Ibis : Roseate Spoonbill : Wood Stork : Mottled Duck : Black Vulture : Turkey Vulture : Osprey : Swallow-tailed Kite : Bald Eagle : Red-shouldered Hawk : Common Moorhen : American Coot : Killdeer : Black-necked Stilt : American Avocet : Laughing Gull : Caspian Tern : White-crowned Pigeon : Eurasian Collared-Dove : Mourning Dove : Monk Parakeet : Mangrove Cuckoo : Red-bellied Woodpecker : Downy Woodpecker : Great Crested Flycatcher : Eastern Kingbird : Tree Swallow : Blue Jay : American Crow : Carolina Wren : Northern Mockingbird : Loggerhead Shrike : European Starling : White-eyed Vireo : Black-whiskered Vireo : Pine Warbler : Prairie Warbler : Common Yellowthroat : Northern Cardinal : Red-winged Blackbird : Eastern Meadowlark : Boat-tailed Grackle : Common Grackle : House Sparrow :
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