Posted by Nancy Freedman on January 25, 2020 at 19:42:53
10 People joined me today. Got to Wako before 7 to get parking spaces as both Green Cay and Peaceful Waters are closed. No problem that early. Usual sightings, BC Night Herons, tons of Green Herons and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Cormorants and Anhingas are nesting while the Cattle Egrets and Wood Storks are still contemplating. Great Blues are nesting and saw one couple with a fairly big chick. Only 3 Purple Gallinules but 8 Gray-headed Swamp Hens. A few Glossy Ibis, a pair of Blue-winged Teal, two fly-over Mottled Ducks, a pair of scouting Martins and one Sora. Warblers only included Palm, Myrtle and Common Yellow Throat. Also a Marsh Rabbit and large Florida Green Water Snake which had either just eaten or was pregnant. Left for Sem Chi around 10 a.m. Were lucky enough to see a Shiny Cowbird pair along with some Brown-headed Cowbirds at the plant. As well as a fly-over juvenile Bald Eagle, a Red-tailed Hawk, Harrier and Roseate Spoonbill. Down the road about .5 miles we scoped for the Pacific Golden Plover. Dipped. There were lots of Black-bellied Plovers, a few Gull-billed Terns and some Caspian Terns along with Ruddy Turnstones, Long billed Dowitchers and Dunlin. We checked one more time at the plant for Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Nada. Home around 2 pm. Nice weather good people.