[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Justin Miller on 21:01:26 02/11/12
Green Cay Wetlands was spectacular today (Sat Feb 11), starting from my visit around 11:30am. On the path into the nature center, the bird feeder on the right had two painted buntings, and several blue-headed vireos, along with yellow-rumped warblers and cardinals. Farther into the boardwalk, at the alligator pond were lots of purple martins and rough-winged swallows flying all about, and an American bittern on clear display. A second American bittern was a little farther along, and at the chickee hut area the passerines were really packing in. Along with the usual palm, prairie, and yellow rumped warblers, and more blue-headed vireos, were a white-eyed vireo, a female baltimore oriole, and a lovely northern parula. Also spotted was a possible cape may warbler, tentatively identified by another birder. Along the back stretch, two least bitterns were out in the open, at least until a northern harrier threatened some nearby moorhens and alarmed the bitterns. More than a dozen sora, several juvie common yellowthroats, and 3 roseate spoonbills. At the westernmost tree canopy there were dozens of rough winged swallows mixed in with some tree swallows hanging out in the treetops, occasionally flying out for bug runs - another northern harrier swept by a few times and spooked all the swallows into the air. And along the open lake area were veritable clouds of female red-winged blackbirds - dozens if not hundreds.
I'm hoping to be back again tomorrow.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]