Posted by Brian Rapoza (for Paul Bithorn) on October 20, 2018 at 19:59:43
Ten birders joined Paul Bithorn and me for today's trip to Shark Valley and Big Cypress. The trip officially began at the S-334 water control structure on Tamiami Trail just west of Krome Avenue and ended on Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Highlights included: Eight Snail Kites seen along Tamiami Trail on the drive to Shark Valley (we only pulled over for the first two) Limpkins all along Tamiami Trail and at Shark Valley American Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Broad-winged Hawk and seven warbler species (mostly around the parking lot) at Shark Valley Along a side road off Loop Road in Big Cypress, an Empidonax flycatcher that was most likely an Acadian. Also, Chestnut sided and Black-throated Green Warbler. At Mitchell Landing campground in Big Cypress, a Philadelphia Vireo and first for fall Eastern Phoebes Here's our trip list: Eurasian Collared-Dove Purple Gallinule Limpkin Anhinga Double-crested Cormorant American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron White Ibis Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Snail Kite Cooper's Hawk Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Barred Owl (heard in Big Cypress) Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker American Kestrel Acadian Flycatcher (probable) Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird European Starling Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Northern Cardinal