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Posted by Brian Rapoza on 20:22:52 02/04/12
Twenty-seven birders, some from as far away as Montana, joined me for today s TAS carpool trip to Stormwater Treatment Area 5 in Hendry County. Thanks as always to Margaret England of Hendry-Glades Audubon Society for coordinating tours at this remarkable and extremely popular birding location. While on the tour, the TAS group was able to see all of the recently reported STA-5 rarities, including the drake CINNAMON TEAL and both CASSIN S and GRAY KINGBIRD.
Among the thousands of waterfowl were both Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck and Ruddy Duck; Northern Pintail, Green-wing Teal and Canvasback were reported by other tour groups. Raptors seen during the tour or en route included Osprey, Snail Kite, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier (abundant), Sharp-shinned, Cooper s, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. Other birds tallied included American White Pelican, American Bittern, Least Bittern (heard), Roseate Spoonbill, King Rail, Sora, Purple Swamphen, Limpkin, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Long-billed Dowitcher (a few confirmed by call), Caspian Tern and Black Skimmer.
After lunch at Sonny s Barbeque in Clewiston, most of the group headed to Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, where we all viewed the recently-confirmed adult Neotropic Cormorant, as well as what appears to be a juvenile Neotropic, both among the many Double-crested Cormorants nesting along the west side of the boardwalk loop. The group failed to find any Virginia Rails while at Wakodahatchee, but found several Sora and at least one Purple Gallinule before approaching nightfall and a soaking rain chased us back to our cars.
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