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Posted by Rick Schofield on 11:10:59 03/25/14
Eleven adventurous Audubon Society of the Everglades souls rendezvoused on Florida s west coast on Saturday for a three part traveling tour.
Part One started at Tigertail Beach Park on Marco Island where we waded the inland side of the lagoon spotting several waders including at least two -- but more probably three or four -- Reddish Egrets (one of our target birds). The waders were fewer in number than I expected but we still got a wide variety. Tons of shorebirds were mostly on our side of the lagoon including Willet, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, and Ruddy Turnstone. They are usually on the opposite side and require a scope to get descent views
Prairie Warblers by the dozens were on both sides of the lagoon singing loudly back-and-forth to their brethren. Most were well hidden but we eventually had good looks at several. One even perched photogenically on the mangrove roots at the edge of the water.
We were buzzed briefly by a Northern Harrier and several Osprey. Flocks of Fish Crows passed overhead as well. While we got one target bird (the Reddish Egret), we dipped on another target bird (the Red Knot). Maybe next year.
When we returned to the point where you can ford the lagoon to get to the Gulf beach, most elected to take the chance and go for it. Someone had placed a sign indicating the place to cross but, in retrospect, I am convinced that there was a better place because we were up to our thighs (and, for some, waists) in the water. My recollection was knee-deep water at the worst and, indeed, I saw a group crossing at a different point in much shallower water than we were dealing with.
Unfortunately, there was not much avian activity on the beach -- though there was plenty of human activity! We only saw several Royal Terns, a few Brown Pelicans, and a single Osprey. On our way back to the ford though, Beth spotted a Common Ground Dove and Susan -- determined succeeded in spotting a lone Wilson s Plover.
Back in the parking lot, people changed out of their water shoes (and some, their clothes) and we were off to Part Two of our tour -- Stan s Idle Hour Restaurant in Goodland. If you ve never been, you really should go when in the area. It s a local landmark with live music on weekends and huge music festivals on Sundays. Along the way, we checked for, and found, several Burrowing Owls. They were plentiful enough that I suggested that we forget about stopping for every one!
Part Three of our journey took us to Eagle Lakes Community Park in South Naples. Like Peaceful Waters Preserve in Wellington, it is a large park with baseball, softball and soccer fields. In the back is a fairly large lake (though now partly filled in with reeds, cat tails, and Willow bushes) with a paved bike/walk-way that goes around.
No sooner had we arrived than a full adult Bald Eagle soared overhead (gee, how did this place get the name Eagle Lakes ?) followed shortly thereafter with a buzz-by of a Sharp-shinned Hawk. We walked around the lake stopping under each of the mini gazebos for relief from the hot sun. And, while we again dipped on some target birds (Rusty Blackbird, Shiny and Bronzed Cowbirds, and Eastern Bluebird), we ended up with a reasonable checklist.
It was a long, but wonderful, day.
Rick
Marco Island--Tiger Tail Beach, Collier, US-FL
Mar 22, 2014 8:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Audubon Society of the Everglades field trip (part 1). 11 birders; Rick Schofield, leader.
44 species
Mottled Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Reddish Egret
Green Heron
White Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Black Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Black-bellied Plover
Wilson's Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Willet
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Royal Tern
Common Ground-Dove
Burrowing Owl 7 (along the access roads to Tigertail Beach)
Belted Kingfisher
White-eyed Vireo (between the snack bar and the lagoon)
American Crow
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler (at least 50, singing in the bushes along both sides of the lagoon, some easily seen, most only heard)
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17565230
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Stan s Idle Hour Restaurant, Collier, US-FL
Mar 22, 2014 12:45 PM 2:00 PM
Protocol: Eating
Comments: Audubon Society of the Everglades field trip (part 2). 11 birders; Rick Schofield, leader.
11 menu items
Soft-shelled Crab basket
Grilled Mahi-mahi basket
Fried Scallop basket
Fried Oyster basket
Grilled chicken sandwich
Grilled Ahi Tuna basket
Hamburger sandwich
Food sp. 4
View this checklist online at http://e-eat.org/eat/view/checklist?subID=S12348765
This report was generated automatically by eEat v3 (http://e-eat.org)
Eagle Lakes Community Park, Collier, US-FL
Mar 22, 2014 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.25 mile(s)
Comments: Audubon Society of the Everglades field trip (part 3 -- part 2 was lunch). 11 birders; Rick Schofield, leader.
34 species
Blue-winged Teal
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle 1
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Loggerhead Shrike
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
House Wren 1
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17565433
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
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