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Posted by Alex Harper on 11:37:52 01/06/12
I spent the afternoon of 1/5 birding my way towards the Coastal Prairie Trail in Everglades National Park. A stop at Cutler Wetlands in Cutler Ridge yielded several Stilt Sandpipers among the many yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitchers.
A bright male Vermilion Flycatcher is still present on the north side of the C-111 Pump Station. Moving westward, two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, and a Western Kingbird were along the north side of 9336, about 100 yards east of where 9336 intersects with Aerojet Road. A young, white-morph Swainson's Hawk was feeding in this area.
West Lake had many Ring-necked Ducks, as well as about a dozen Lesser Scaup. Mrazek Pond contained several drake Green-winged Teal and Roseate Spoonbills. A Short-tailed Hawk was present here, as well.
The figs at the entrance to Eco Pond had two Cape May Warblers and a female Black-throated Blue Warbler.
I parked at the A Loop of the Flamingo Campground and walked towards the Prairie Trail. Sedge Wrens were calling from within the marsh to the north. At the very entrance to the Coastal Prairie Trail, I found a Brown-crested Flycatcher loosely associating with a mixed flock.
Finally in the coastal prairie, I set out for the sharp-tailed sparrows seen last week by Toe and Larry (Larry and Toe?). I walked north and then west towards the three outlying mangroves. With some patience, I managed to get onto two Saltmarsh Sparrows. With daylight dwindling, I began moving back towards the trail to wait for a Short-eared Owl to replace the northern Harrier patrolling the field. Roseate Spoonills passed overhead, as well as a Peregrine Falcon. At 5:35, a Black Rail began growling , then calling within fifteen feet of me. I paused, and waited for several minutes. I could hear the bird moving through the vegetation, but was never able to get on the bird. Two or three other Black Rails were calling throughout the prairie. The calling ended by civil twilight, and a Lesser Nighthawk foraged overhead. On my way out to the car, I saw an Eastern Whip-poor-will and a Barred Owl. Another Eastern Whip-poor-will crossed the main road, just north of Flamingo.
I spent the night at the Long Pine Key Campground. I awoke to frigid temperatures in the high 30s, and joined Carlos Sanchez this morning at the Sparrow Fields and the Chekika unit of Everglades National Park. See his post below.
Alex Harper
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