[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Paul-the-other on 06:23:22 11/29/04
A great sighting trip this past weekend..and a chance to see many other birders out and about. It was also good seeing Paul-L at the Vermillion Fly-Center. Speaking of which, he is there in great color and now has taken to resting in the Strangler fig on occasion when it gets too hot. The phoebe also in association with the VFC and seems to battle it regularly. And speaking of battles we witnessed one of the most extraordinary things at the ranger station at Flamingo. A snowy egret was claiming the area where the two sea walls join by the Guy Bradly (sp) memorial as its feeding ground. The sea weed was heavy and the bird was walking on it at beginning low tide. Suddenly another snowy appeared and started to feed and was promptly attacked by the first. The first one drove the interloper down with repeated blows to the body and head until it began to sink. At that point the first egret jumped atop the intruder and hammered it relentlessly in a display of aggression I have never seen in these birds. The poor bird spread its wings to keep from sinking in the water which made an even bigger target. The attack went on for about 7 minutes and finally the poor target was waterloged and barely showing above the seaweed tangle. The first bird left and resumed feeding...the second bird just lay half submerged and drifted slowly out to the bay on the receding tide. Part of the order of things but still tough to watch.
The bluebird was present at the Scout camp at research road as were nuthatch, black throated green warblers, and a bevy of pine/palm/and prairie warblers. Northern Harrier were over the farm fields at Lucky Hammock and the sandhill cranes were working the new plowed fields. The barred owl was heard but never seen at Mahogany since it was in the little hammock just north of the featured boardwalk.
Red-shouldered hawk were plentiful, the osprey were courting and nest fixing, and the shorebirds were numerous. We learned to go to the shore edge at flamingo at high-tide plus 30 minutes and watched the birds pushed up to the grass line for easy viewing.
Mrazek, West Lake, nine-mile were devoid of any major sightings.
Mosquitoes were unbearable to none depending on the high wind and direction and on Friday the cold temperatures. It's easy to say there were none if the wind was blowing right and the poor fellow who comes the next day (as in Sunday when the wind quit) is tormented beyond belief.
Sadly, the dove hunters showed up at Lucky Hammock and surrounding area. 'Tis the season. But all in all, the Park and area is coming into its glorious winter season and the recent controlled burns give better viewing at Anhinga and other areas.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]