Black-Necked Stilts

Black-Necked Stilt

After leaving work Sunday morning I was in search of any of the early migratants being reported. Sanibel Lighthouse had reports of kingbirds, hooded warblers, worm-eating warblers, waterthrushs, buntings, grosbeaks, etc. But I chose the much closer Six-Mile Cypress Slough as I was a bit tired after completeing a twelve-hour shift. I first stopped at the I-75 rest stop at Daniels Road to look for any wilson's snipes. I found that the recent rains had flooded much of the proerty which had attracted about ten Black-Necked Stilts plus another four Greater Yellowlegs and several Glossy Ibis and a lone White Ibis. No snipes, but the stilts were a pleasent suprise.

At Six-Mile Cypress the parking area was a bit quite. Did get looks at a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, a Hairy Woodpecker, a couple of Tufted Titmice (not sure on the plural) and a noisy Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. At the lake, had a Limpkin sitting atop a tree across the water and was also was lucky to find a trio of Wood Ducks at one of the ponds. They immediately flew off, as usual. They don't stick around when the people start to show up. Later found a mixed flock of feeding warblers which included Black-and-White, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers and a couple of Downy Woodpeckers. The many Cardinals were in full voice and several Gray Catbirds were as well. Heard several Common Yellowthroats, a Great Crested Flycatcher and a couple of Carolina Wrens, but could not be seen.

So I missed out on the migrants, but the stilts, limpkin and wood ducks were a plus for the day.