Tuesday, July 21st
Today Bob Pelkey and I traveled from Ft Myers across the state to Palm Beach County to visit Loxahatchee NWR. We were twitching today to find a lifer.
I had dipped on finding a Smooth-billed Ani several times, but we knew about the highly reported pair of these birds being seen by many birders on the Marsh Trail at Loxahatchee.
And today they were cooperative.
I had dipped on finding a Smooth-billed Ani several times, but we knew about the highly reported pair of these birds being seen by many birders on the Marsh Trail at Loxahatchee.
And today they were cooperative.
We arrived just before nine a.m. and did not have to wait very long. There unique call easily identified their approach and were kind enough to pose for a few pictures. Lifers!!
In our time here we also added a King Rail, Common Gallinules, Limpkin, Snail Kite, Black-necked Stilts and a few waders.
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| Smooth-billed Ani on the Marsh Trail |
Before leaving the refuge we checked out some muddy cells at the entrance where we saw a lot more Black-necked Stilts, Least Sandpipers, a couple Solitary Sandpipers, more Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and many more waders.
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| Black-necked Stilt |
Earlier we had a slight delay when we spotted a flooded field on Sam Senter Road. We had many Black-necked Stilts, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a couple of Least Sandpipers, Rosette Spoonbills, a Least Tern, some Mottled Ducks and all of the expected waders.
As we were heading back toward home, we stopped to investigate some rice fields. Lots of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, a trio of Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, more Yellowlegs, Black-neck Stilts and waders were seen.
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| Limpkin on the Marsh Trail |
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| Great Blue Heron on the Marsh Trail |
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| Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in the rice fields |
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| Fulvious Whistling-duck laying low in the rice |
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| Tricolored Heron |
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| Little Blue Heron on the Marsh Trail |
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| Swamp Lily seen along the Marsh Trail |
The Smooth-billed Anis were seemingly ridiculous with their "antics" to capture our undivided attention, Tom. They got mine. The species has a wonderful character. As you know I devoted a lot of attention to the insects. I think I may have seen a couple of new things or "lifers" in that class as well. It was a very rewarding day. Of course, with the road construction south of Lake Okeechobee we want to warn those traveling from coast to coast at this time to stay on 80 to 441 if they are in a hurry. Otherwise Sam Senter Road was a great diversion of interest with 700 (Connors Highway) offering the abundance of species you've described as well. Raucous crowds they were with conditions that can change unexpectedly, of course.
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