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Posted by Brian Rapoza on 18:05:23 11/16/13
Twenty birders signed up for today's TAS trip to STA-5 in Hendry County. Sixteen met me at the Miccosukee service plaza on Snake Road, where the first Crested Caracara of the day was seen by some. Birds seen on the drive to STA-5 included Wild Turkey, Wood Stork and Sandhill Crane. Two more participants met us at the STA-5 entrance, but another couple scheduled to meet us there were (as I learned upon returning home) running late and never caught up with us. Hopefully, they arrived in time to join another group touring the STA. Two other participants somehow got separated from us between the service plaza and STA-5; hopefully, they're okay.
We had to deal with intermittent rain showers much of the morning, but still saw a nice selection of birds, though nothing unexpected. Ten species of ducks were found: Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Duck, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck and Ruddy Duck. We had twelve wading bird species, including American Bittern and Roseate Spoonbill. Raptors included several Snail Kite, plus both vultures, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Crested Caracara, American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. Many Limpkin were present, as well as five rails: American Coot, Common and Purple Gallinule, Purple Swamphen and Sora (several heard only). Only six shorebird species were seen: Black-necked Stilt, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher and Wilson's Snipe. Songbirds included House and Marsh Wren, Swamp and Savannah Sparrow and Painted Bunting. We didn't see the Tropical Kingbird that had been reported on an earlier tour. At the area where Cassin's Kingbirds wintered the past couple of years, we saw no kingbirds, but instead witnessed a near head-on collision between a river otter and a hungry alligator! Gators are fast, but otters, we learned, are faster.
When exiting STA-5, we spotted a Gray Kingbird on the wires on CR 835 just north of the Deer Fence Canal entrance. An immature Bald Eagle was seen en route to lunch in Clewiston. After lunch, I backtracked to the Miccosukee service plaza with three carpooling participants. Passing the Deer Fence Canal entrance, we found that the Gray Kingbird had been replaced by a Western Kingbird and five Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. Several Indigo Buntings were feeding in the tall grass below the wires. A single Crested Caracara was seen along Snake Road.
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