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Posted by Vincent Lucas on 15:41:16 05/01/12
Yesterday afternoon, just before the rains, Alan Murray told me that he witnessed impressive numbers of warblers/migrants coming off of the Gulf of Mexico near Gordon Pass in Naples. Consequently, this morning I spent an hour or so visiting Pelican Bay Community Park here in North Naples. Almost immediately, I saw a male Cape May Warbler in the oaks near the tennis courts. Soon, a few Blackpoll Warblers appeared and then a "pulse" of a few dozen warblers came zipping through, most of which were the aforementioned warblers. Other warblers present were three American Redstarts, a Prairie Warbler and a Black-and-white Warbler. There could have been some others, but I wanted to head down to the Big Cypress National Preserve to look for Bobolinks in the controlled burn areas where I found them last year at this time. On my way down US Rte. 41, near the Big Cypress Marketplace flea market at the intersection of Auto Ranch Rd. & US Rte 41, I saw 23 Swallow-tailed kites in the air at one time. Amazing! Further down US Rte 41 in the Big Cypress National Preserve, about 1/2 mile east of Carnestown, I saw about 25 Mottled Ducks along with a few Blue-winged teal in a "sky pond". Also present were many Black-necked Stilts, some actively nesting. On Dona Dr. in the Big Cypress National Preserve, the Purple Martins were busy attending to their young. There were still a few Barn Swallows as well as Tree Swallows near the canals. A few of the Tree Swallows were juveniles. I am sure of this as I studied them well as they perched in some Pond Apples along the canal. I also inadvertently scared up some Common Nighthawks that were resting in the tall grass along the canal. Eastern Meadowlarks, a Northern Flicker, some Red-winged Blackbirds and other common birds were also present. At .25 miles west of mile marker 66 on US Rte 41 in the Big Cypress National Preserve, in a controlled burn field, I located about 15 Bobolinks along with a few Great Crested Flycatchers sitting in some burned-out trees. There were many Georgia Satyrs (Neonympha areolatus), Variegated Fritillaries (Euptoieta claudia) and tons of wild flowers in this lush "prairie". Lastly, on SR29 near Jerome, I saw a Wild Turkey along the side of the highway.
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