Posted by Nancy Freedman on January 27, 2018 at 21:05:08
18 birders joined me on this windy Saturday. Welcoming us at Wakodahatchee were Monk parakeets heard in the distance and a large flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks flying overhead. The Wood Storks are now nesting in the first tree island on the path leading down to the gazebo, as well as almost everywhere else they can find. The tree island by the gazebo (the photo area) is on its last legs, filled with guano but plenty of nesting birds still, storks, Anhingas, Cormorants and Great Blue Herons. Common Gallinules, Coots, Green Herons, Pied-billed Grebes, Little Blue Herons, all put in appearances throughout the wetlands. We did finally discover the Neotropic Cormorant after it flew in to its usual nesting spot. There was a large flock of Glossy Ibis, some Blue-winged Teal, and Mottled Ducks about as well as a White-winged Dove. On the concrete path leading to the back, we had a couple of Parulas, a Black & White, and Cape May. A Red-shoulder Hawk was perched eating a lizard. There are bars on the Martin house to keep out crows but no Martins yet. Grey-headed Swamphens were numerous. In the second tree island next to the photo gazebo, there were ELEVEN Iguanas, plus many more scattered throughout the wetlands. There was an immature Purple Gallinule on the way out as well as a flyover Phoebe who then perched not far away. At Green Cay, the feeders in front had no seed, hence no birds. There were two all-white Rock Doves at the back of the Nature Center. Further on we spied a Pied-billed Grebe with two chicks; unfortunately, they were fairly far away so no good looks. We also heard, but did not see, a Least Bittern. Thereafter, we spied an adult Purple Gallinule, one Limpkin, Tree Swallows, and finally, male and female Painted Buntings at a feeder in the back which did have seed. Some saw a Least Flycatcher. More Swamphens were seen as well as Rough-winged Swallows and a beautifully plumed Snowy Egret. At the very end of boardwalk, we finally had a Common Yellow Throat which was not seen by all, accompanied by a Worm-eating Warbler who perched very nicely, along with a Gray Catbird. We had lunch at Morikami Gardens and called it a day.