Posted by Nancy Freedman on March 16, 2019 at 19:34:37
13 people joined me on a comfortable, overcast day. Before we even reached the first Chickee Hut, we had a Green Heron on the nest just to the left of the entrance; a Purple Gallinule on the right; Glossy Ibis flying over; Black-bellied Whistling Ducks flying over; a Black-crowned Night Heron fly over as well as Mottled Ducks; a Tricolor on the railing, Glossy Ibis' on nests; Cattle Egrets on nests. Great Egrets were in the most beautiful plumage I have ever seen. Ah, and then the Wood Storks in all stages of nesting, mating, new chicks, some older packed on all the trees along the boardwalk. Next up, Gray-headed Swamp Hens, a Common Gallinule making a nest (first for me), Black-necked Stilts, a smattering of Blue-winged Teal in the water and White-winged Doves flying over. Marsh rabbits were also about. Then a Least Bittern out in the open! After that, Jeanne Kaufman spotted the Golden-winged Warbler, Brian got on it and just as I got close, it flew, not to be refound. The Neotropic Cormorant took us a while as it was napping, but it was confirmed by a photo we could enlarge. A Blue-headed Vireo was in the area as was a Solitary Sandpiper across the pond. Pine, Palm, Common Yellow Throat warblers. Martins were in the house. As we were leaving, another Least Bittern was giving its loud mating call, which I had never heard before. At Green Cay we went left instead of right. There were Painted Buntings, male and female, at the feeders. Brown water snakes were mating in a group orgy and we saw lots of them around. We had our first Coots of the day as well. In the pine tree area, there was a very close up Yellow-bellied Sapsucker plugging away, along with Palms, a Parula and a Black and White. A Roseate Spoonbill flew over us. We found a calling Limpkin and finally, a Sora. The Sora was behind a female Red-winged Blackbird building an incredible basket nest. We also were able to see the Eastern Screech Owl. When we left, Brian found Cedar Waxwings in a ficus in the parking lot. After lunch at the Biwa Pavillion near Morakami Gardens, I went back. But, the three raccoons eating the ficus fruit beat me there and had chased away the Waxwings. I did see a Male Redstart as a consolation prize.