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Posted by Paddy Cunningham on 17:11:28 04/28/14
Ft. De Soto is amazing place even without a fallout. 103 species were seen on the trip, (plus an additional 5 more by the leaders) 18 species of warblers including-Bay-breasted, Blue-winged, Hooded, Tennessee, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, 15 species of shorebirds including Whimbrel, Wilson s Plover and Oystercatcher, Scarlet and Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted and Blue Grosbeaks, and flocks of Indigo Buntings. Members of the Audubon of the Everglades attended along with Kim Willis of Dupuis State Reserve Forest, who is also a Big O Birding Festival Leader She was a great help and even got 3 life birds herself. Ft. De Soto lived up to its promise.
A drive across 70 was very scenic with lots of birds to see including 15 plus views of Crested Caracaras, Eastern Meadowlark, Sandhill Cranes, Swallow-tailed Kites and even a Scrub Jay on the Lake Wales Ridge. This road beats Alligator Alley for birds.
At Ft. De Soto with great excitement we headed straight to the Mulberry bushes and our first bird was a brilliant Rose-breasted Grosbeak with such a large fruit it was staining his rose breast purple. Blue Grosbeaks showed their pumpkin orange wingbars and Indigo Buntings moved in large flocks. A female Blue Grosbeak lingered at the fountain in her umber fineness for great views. Flashes of yellow showed Orchard Oriole females and eventually a male. The warblers we saw first were some of the rarest, including the best look of my lifetime of a Bay-breasted. The cream colored cheek patch stood out along his rusty sides and cap. A Blue-winged Warbler with its elegant eye line was very close in a Privot. Lots of Tennessee warblers hung upside down eating fruits, hiding behind leaves. We worked hard to compare them to a Red-eyed Vireo. Brilliant red crossed us over head with Summer and Scarlet Tanagers.
At East Beach turnaround we dung in on the shorebirds which were very close for inspection. It was great comparing Semipalmated to the uncommon Wilson s Plover and Short-billed Dowitchers to Dunlins where one actually had a black belly. A Black-bellied Plover was beautiful in full summer black bellied plumage. Feeding behavior of all shorebirds was discussed and we ended up with 10 species. A Reddish Egret danced for us and Red-breasted Mergansers swam by.
No kidding at the East Picnic area 6 male and female Hooded Warblers were in the grass hopping around, so beautiful. At one point 3 Scarlet Tanagers were in one tree so close you could almost touch them. Along the trails we saw the as Chris said the swaying Northern Waterthrush. Quietly we creeped into the Seagrapes to find a Grey-cheeked Thrush or was it a Swainson? Being this close really helped us to learn and see the overall darker head of this Grey-cheeked. Sadly a dead Kentucky Warbler was found (we couldn t count it). We had amazing views of a Magnolia and Black-throated Green Warblers at eye level feeding together. A beautiful sunset called us and a wine and cheese Happy Hour was given to toast an amazing day. We had a seafood dinner a la fresco.
Early morning at Arrowhead Picnic area was a nice hike in this multi-habitat forest. It was pretty quiet with the wind shift from the favorable west to the east. But we did add Blue-headed Vireo, a singing Prairie Warbler and a brief look at a Wood Thrush. At the beach among the bikinis and blankets, Marbled Godwit and a Whimbrel with its amazing bill poked around the sand bar. Looking among the Laughing Gulls was a surprise, one had a long red bill, an Oystercatcher. We couldn t leave Ft. De Soto without going to the Mulberries one more time and we added Yellow Warbler, and Cedar Waxings to all of our delight among the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
A quick stop at the Celery fields brought us a Limpkin, Forester Tern, Bald Eagle and other wetland species. I had hope for Bobolinks where I had seen them there in the past by the hundreds moving in waves. We didn t see them, but someone had reported them that morning, so they must of moved on. Cecil Webb/Babcock WMA is a beautiful place and we waited to see a Red-cockaded Woodpecker but had to settle for an Eastern Bluebird feeding and a calling Northern Bobwhite.
Next year we plan to go April 18 & 19th (Easter is earlier) which for the last 3 years has been the weekend when the last cold front has come through causing a fall out. I know Ft. De Soto can be even more amazing then, but it was still GREAT this weekend. See you then.
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