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Posted by Bill Boeringer on 09:23:26 05/16/05
I did the Loop Road route for the NAMC on Saturday, and while birding was slow, the occasional unexpected bird provided highlights, and as usual it was great to see (and hear)the Big Cypress breeding birds that do not normally show up farther east.
Tamiami Trail provided few noteworthy birds. Only a single Snail Kite was seen from west of Shark Valley. Along the way I also saw (at stops) Purple martins, a Black-necked Stilt and heard Greater Yellowlegs. Into Big Cypress, and before reaching Collier County, I also added Tufted Titmouse and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
In Collier, stops along the way yielded a Limpkin, a Blackpoll Warbler(one of the very few migrant warblers seen), and a singing Red-eyed Vireo. There was virtually nothing after the turn onto Loop Road, at Monroe Station.
Things picked up a bit in the Sweetwater Strand area. No Red-eyed Vireo--the first miss here in several years. However, a strong chip in the cypress, followed by the distinctive song, confirmed Prothonotary Warbler on territory, and soon a second was heard. At least one male was seen numerous times during the morning.
Water levels were down, and I located a small off-road pond that held a bunch of waders, including Wod Storks, White Ibis, Great Egret, and Little Blue & Snowy Egrets. All of the usual suspects were also located, including Pileated & Downy Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Parula, and Carolina Wren.
Moving back north along Loop Road, on the way to Loop Road Nature Center, stops at watering holes generally yielded several birds.
Highlights included Eastern Kingbird, 2 late Gray Catbirds, Barred Owl, 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and American Redstart. At LRNC, I added Blue Jay and a singing Red-eyed Vireo amid a cacophony of gunfire. The pinelands north of the LRNC were quiet (no Bluebirds or Pine Warblers) but did yield Eastern Towhee.
North of this, on the way back to 41, was unusually productive, in an area which normally has little to offer. In a camground area I located Blackpoll Warbler and Yellow-biled Cuckoo. At another wet area, amidst the waders and gators were 2 King Rails in the open and a Spotted Sandpiper in full breeding plumage.
Day totals (D=Dade, M=Monroe, C=Collier)
Double-crested Cormorant D12 M1
Anhinga D19 M3
Great Blue Heron D7
Great Egret D20 M2
Snowy Egret D9 M1
Little Blue Heron D4 M3
Tri-colored Heron D2 M1
Cattle Egret D1 M1
Green Heron D7 M4
White Ibis D7 M18
Black Vulture D45 M1
Turkey Vulture D19 M4 C2
Wood Stork D4 M2
Osprey D1
Snail Kite D1
Red-shouldered Hawk D4 M5 C2
King Rail M2
Common Moorhen D3
Limpkin C1
Killdeer D1
Black-necked Stilt D1
Greater Yellowlegs D1
Spotted Sandpiper M1
Eurasian Collared Dove D4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo M1
Barred Owl M1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird M2
Red-bellied Woodpecker D3 M13 C3
Downy Woodpecker M2
Northern Flicker M1
Pileated Woodpecker M2
Great Crested Flycatcher D4 M20 C1
Eastern Kingbird M1
White-eyed Vireo D3 M22 C2
Red-eyed Vireo M1 C1
Blue Jay M1
American Crow D10 M5 C6
Purple Martin D6
Tufted Titmouse D1 M11
Carolina Wren M3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher D1 M6
Gray Catbird M2
Northern Mockingbird D1 C1
European Starling D20 M3
Northern Parula M4 C1
Blackpoll Warbler M1 C1
American Redstart M1
Prothonotary Warbler M2
Common Yellowthroat M5
Eastern Towhee M1
Northern Cardinal D9 M19 C2
Red-winged Blackbird D11 M9 C2
Common Grackle D20 M46 C10
Boat-tailed Grackle D138 M3
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