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Posted by Paul-the-other on 16:38:50 12/28/05
In Reply to: Birding in ENP: part one posted by Paul-the-other
Wednesday morning was cold! 45 degrees at the Hampton Inn. After a quick breakfast we re-entered the park to be greeted by a small group of deer just past the toll booth. Most of the small ponds on the two sides were filled with Great Blue, common egrets, tri-colors and one very beautiful, and toally approachable white-morph GBH. This fella was so comfortable with having his picture taken that we suspected it was "bait-bucket-Bob" from down at Flamingo. That was the one that used to feed on the bait the fisherpeople left by the old movie screen.
Moving on to Anhinga Trail we found more species but nothing not expected to veterens of this board. The green-backs posed and stalked, the tri-colors beat each other up for territory, the anhingas posed on the fence, and the kettle of vultures grew to a huge display. While we watched them spiral on the thermals a couple from South Carolina (lurkers on this board) talked with us and we enjoyed that visit.
Two people claimed to have seen and photographed on Monday an alligator fighting a python and then eating it. Since this is a bird report I wont go further on that.
We were pleased by the appearance of two Eastern phoebes that were very accomodating to photography. Every person in the tour had smoking Nikons. That pleased three Japanese couples that walked up to see what we were doing. They thougt we must have seen an ivory-billed woodpecker what with all our activity. What can I say? It was just fun and if a phoebe wants to stand still and look at me...I'll accomodate and photograph it.
A pair of red-bellied woodpeckers was visiting the old Gumbo Limbo tree (now shattered and destroyed) by the east entrance of Anhinga Boardwalk. This would be down by the short overlook area. The birds have hollowed out a cavity and my guess is that they will nest there shortly. The hole is on the east-northeast side of the tree and thus not too visible to someone walking east on the tar path.
As we returned down the tar trail to the Royal Palm rest area building we were greeted by a pair of pileated woodpeckers that called repeatedly as they swooped from tree to tree around the water basin. What a sight that was in the early morning light.
By 10:30 the crowds began to increase and the noise level with it so we took our leave for Research road. And saw two palm warblers and one one red shouldered hawk. Not what you would call and exciting morning but a beautiful cool day. We left at 11:30 at took some comfort in shakes from Robert-Is Here.
Note: Flamingo has nothing. No water, no gas, no food. No service. Boat ramps only for the Whitewater Bay side.
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