Today, Alan Murray and I left Naples bright and early to join about
40 others from The Audubon Society of the Everglades (Palm Beach
County) and led by Gloria Hunter to bird STA-1W just north of
Loxahatchee N.W.R. Despite overcast skies that spit rain off-and-on
all morning, we had a few outstanding sightings including great views
of a Greater White-fronted Goose -- the first I've ever seen this far
south in the state. There was some discussion about the origin of
this bird but to me, this was a wild bird, or appeared so to me. With
the recent documented sighting of five Greater White-fronted Geese
from Dinner Island Ranch WMA in nearby Hendry County (approximately
the same latitude), this would lead further credence to the probable
validity of this bird. I mean, who keeps Greater White-fronted Geese
in captivity? This bird was photographed by many of the photographers
in the group, so hopefully, a photo will appear soon. Birders are
reminded that access is only permitted at STA-1W on certain dates and
in organized tours led by a SFWMD employee or designee. The next
opportunity for birders to bird STA-1W is March 11th. If interested,
go here for details:
http://tropicalaudubon.org/sta.html
Other great sightings today at STA-1W, (not all birds are being
reported and in no particular order) were:
Gull-billed Tern -- at least 6, probably more
Purple Swamphen -- 2
Stilt Sandpiper -- 3-4
Peregrine Falcon -- 1
Fulvous Whistling-Duck -- at least 7, maybe more, I don't recall the
exact number
Black-bellied Whistling Duck -- 30+
Northern Pintail -- 10+
Northern Shoveler -- 25+
Black-necked Stilt -- 1
Roseate Spoonbill -- 50+
Bald Eagle -- 1 subadult
Semipalmated Plover -- 1
Black-bellied Plover -- 6 or more
Long-billed Dowitcher -- 100+
Dunlin -- 2
Wilson's Snipe -- 6+
Least Sandpiper -- 100+
Black Skimmer -- 300+
Caspian Tern -- 40+
American White Pelican -- 150+
Swamp Sparrow -- 2+ (not seen by all)
Others who were on this fieldtrip may wish to add any corrections or
additions.
Afterward, Alan and I spent about 45 minutes at Wakodahatchee
Wetlands. Water levels were high, but we still saw some nice birds:
Purple Gallinule -- 4
Forster's Tern -- 4
Green-winged Teal -- 6+
Northern Parula -- 2
Pine Warbler -- 2
Downy Woodpecker -- 1
Awesome views of Anhings & young as well as Great Blue Herons and
young on their nests.
Next we walked the short-loop at Green Cay Wetlands and saw, beside
the "usuals":
Purple Martin -- 25+
Northern Rough-winged Swallow -- 50+
Purple Gallinule -- 4
At Okeeheelee Nature Center on Forest Hills Blvd., we saw:
Wood Duck -- 4 (2 pairs) -- beautiful birds!
Painted Bunting -- 2 (male + female)
Indigo Bunting -- 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 1 female
Sandhill Crane -- 1
On the way back to Naples, we saw 3 Common Mynas at the McDonald's in
Clewiston. I might mention that we briefly tried finding these birds
in the morning on our wat to STA-1W but failed to do so. As a
consolation prize, however, some 100+ Black Skimmers were flying
overhead of the shopping center next to the McDonald's, a rather
strange sight indeed.
On CR833 & CR846 (Hendry County), other than a huge semi that dumped
its load of Bell Peppers, we saw:
Crested Caracara -- 4+
Eastern Meadowlark -- 1
On CR858 (Collier County) we failed to find any of the Tyrant
flycatchers! No Vermilion Flycatcher, no Scissor-tailed Flycatcher,
no Western Kingbird! This was a first for me. We did find a distant
Limpkin in a temporary wetland on the east-west leg of CR858, however
as well as a very dark Red-tailed Hawk.
In all, we had a total of about 95 species or so on the day -- just
another great day of birding in the Sunshine State!
Cheers & good birding!
Vincent Lucas
Naples, FL
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"If a man have a strong faith he can indulge in the luxury of
skepticism" -- Friedrich Nietzsche
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