Everglades Nat. Park Birdwalk, 2/11/06

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Posted by Jeff Weber on 18:24:14 02/11/06

Twenty-one birders gathered this morning to sample the incredible bird life of Everglades National Park. Our first find was an American Bittern providing great views just past the first concrete bridge after the entrance station. It did its cryptic reed-imitation pose, and then did a flyover to make sure everyone had a good look.

A walk around Anhinga Trail turned up all the usual suspects. There were baby Anhingas in all levels of development -- some were adult sized and were replacing their white fuzz with black flight feathers, while others were newly hatched, all pink skin and desperate hunger. Purple Gallinules were present in some numbers, both juveniles and adults. A Barred Owl called from the cypresses beyond the boardwalk.

Research Road provided a Pileated Woodpecker flyover, and a confiding Pine Warbler on the ground near the panther camera set up beyond Gate 2B. We had a Brown-Crested Flycatcher just beyondGate 15, past Hidden Lake (close examination eliminated Great-Crested). We climbed the new berm farther down the road for scope views of the wetlands and found two Bald Eagles (one adult, one juvenile), Blue- and Green-Winged Teals, an American Avocet, lots of Greater Yellowlegs, Least and Western Sandpipers, Black-Bellied Plovers, Hooded Mergansers, and one Ruddy Duck.

Parotis Pond produced Roseate Spoonbills, as well as excellent extended looks at the female Vermilion Flycatcher that's been hanging out there. She has nice orange-tinged sides this year.

On the way home, some of us stopped at the new Redlands winery to sample guava and passionfruit wine. It actually wasn't too bad, and I encourage everyone to try this place out. Pinot Noir it ain't, but don't turn up your noses before you've tasted.

Thanks to everyone on the walk for their enthusiasm and sharp spotting. There's no place like the Everglades in winter; makes me truly glad to live down here.

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Comments:	: Twenty-one birders gathered this morning to sample the incredible bird life of Everglades National Park. Our first find was an American Bittern providing great views just past the first concrete bridge after the entrance station. It did its cryptic reed-imitation pose, and then did a flyover to make sure everyone had a good look. : : A walk around Anhinga Trail turned up all the usual suspects. There were baby Anhingas in all levels of development -- some were adult sized and were replacing their white fuzz with black flight feathers, while others were newly hatched, all pink skin and desperate hunger. Purple Gallinules were present in some numbers, both juveniles and adults. A Barred Owl called from the cypresses beyond the boardwalk. : : Research Road provided a Pileated Woodpecker flyover, and a confiding Pine Warbler on the ground near the panther camera set up beyond Gate 2B. We had a Brown-Crested Flycatcher just beyondGate 15, past Hidden Lake (close examination eliminated Great-Crested). We climbed the new berm farther down the road for scope views of the wetlands and found two Bald Eagles (one adult, one juvenile), Blue- and Green-Winged Teals, an American Avocet, lots of Greater Yellowlegs, Least and Western Sandpipers, Black-Bellied Plovers, Hooded Mergansers, and one Ruddy Duck. : : Parotis Pond produced Roseate Spoonbills, as well as excellent extended looks at the female Vermilion Flycatcher that's been hanging out there. She has nice orange-tinged sides this year. : : On the way home, some of us stopped at the new Redlands winery to sample guava and passionfruit wine. It actually wasn't too bad, and I encourage everyone to try this place out. Pinot Noir it ain't, but don't turn up your noses before you've tasted. : : Thanks to everyone on the walk for their enthusiasm and sharp spotting. There's no place like the Everglades in winter; makes me truly glad to live down here.
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