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Posted by Alex Harper on 10:43:59 04/14/14
I took a few friends out to the Everglades this weekend, and although I did not bird as much as I would have liked, I still had a few note-worthy birds.
West Lake and Flamingo had small groups of Orchard Orioles. I had three small groups, with about 12 in total. Indigo Buntings were also fairly abundant in the weedy areas around Flamingo and the main road anywhere south of Mrazek Pond.
Eco Pond had an American Avocet among the Black-necked Stilts. A few Northern Waterthrushes perused the shoreline around the island. The Flamingo Campground itself hosted Gray Kingbird and a Black-whiskered Vireo, along with a large group of Indigo Buntings (35). As the flats became exposed at low tide, shorebirds began moving in. Marbled Godwits prodded the exposed silt and clay among a number of Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Dunlin, and Least Sandpipers. Beyond the flats, a number of large sharks could be seen cruising the channel. These appeared to be Bull Sharks, with possibly one Lemon.
Common Nighthawks and Chuck-will's-widows were along the road as we made our way north to camp at Long Pine Key. At the campground, Great Horned Owl and Chuck-will's-widows called throughout the night.
We had a late and rough start Sunday morning, and the dawn chorus was not welcomed (we did not get to sleep until past 3:00 am). Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Bluebird and Brown-headed Nuthatch were among the pineland species vocalizing. A couple warblers appeared to be moving through; a few birds were aloft even at mid-morning, some of which sounded like Blackpoll Warblers.
The struggle was real by the time I made it to Old Ingraham Trail from Royal Palm. Warblers were still feeding. Among several species there were Worm-eating, Black-throated Green, and Cape May.
What was intended to be a short stop at Homestead General Aviation Airport for Burrowing Owls in the way back to Miami actually turned into an impromptu and whimsical skydiving venture. A 13,500 foot jump followed by a Cuban colada wasn't enough to wake me up. After leaving the airport, I promptly passed out by 7:00 pm. We did in fact see the owls and a few Bronzed Cowbirds.
Alex
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