Today I had originally planned to return to Ft DeSoto with the hopes that spring migration has begun. However reports were not good. No birds and a lot of mosquitoes. So I'll skip it today. Hopefully next week will be an improvement and I already plan on joining Bob Pelkey at that time.
Instead I headed to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary near Immakolee in Collier County. Arriving about 9 am and I already had roadside hits on a Broad-winged Hawk and a Hairy Woodpecker. Only was
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| Gray Catbird |
able to add a couple of warblers, Northern Parula and Black-and White. Not much here as far as spring migration is concerned. Still lots of Gray Catbids around and were the most common species of the day. Red-shouldered Hawks were also very active including one that another boardwalk visitor told me had captured a snake. Went over to check it out and found the hawk without the snake but with wings spread out to dry them. Had to have gotten wet with hunting water snakes.
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| Red-shouldered Hawk |
One sad but 'circle-of-life' event that was related by one of the volunteers to some of the visitors happened the other day when a mother wood duck enter the pond we were standing by with five ducklings in tow. This is when a black-crowned night-heron attached and grabbed a baby duck for a meal. This reminds me of observing yellow-crowned night-herons patrolling the least tern nesting area on Ft Myers Beach in search of a carelessly guarded tern chick.
Other species encountered at Corkscrew Swamp included Tufted Titmouse, Great Crested Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, a Swallow-tailed Kite, Downy Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Swamp Sparrow and White-eyed Vireos.
Another visitor I ran into was Vince Lucas, a very active birder, e-bird coordinator for Collier County and on a Big Year for Collier County. He gave directions to a residence in Immokalee were bird feeders are very active with buntings, white-winged doves and a pair of Pine Siskins. Yesturday he was alerted to a flock of cedar waxwings but missed them by minutes. Cedar Waxwings have not been very numerous this winter season in south Florida.
Following Corkscrew Swamp I did head over to Immoklee for the siskins. Along the way I found a flock of Black-belled Whistling Ducks. Did manage to locate the residence and yes, had a Pine Siskin on the feeder. LIFER!! Also had a large number of Indigo Buntings, a female Painted Buntings and Red-belled Woodpecker, and several White-winged Doves, but no waxwings. After leaving Immokalee came across a road kill location with several Black Vultures and a Crested Caracara. As for the vultures, one or more could be destined to colliade with traffic as they keep flying in low through the fast moving vehicules. I almost had one crash into my windshield. A close call.
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| The Red-shouldered Hawk nest |
On the way home stopped at CREW Marsh Trail on Corkscrew Road for lunch and spent about an hour hiking trails. Again not very birdy. Did encounter an active Red-shouldered hawk nest. Watched as one parent brought something to the nest for the single white, downy offspring observed. Then the other parent arrived with a three foot black racer. The adult could be seen working on this snake and was most likely feeding the baby.
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| Found this signage at the trailhead advising on what to do if a hiker encounters a Florida Panther |
Ground Skink - observed this small lizard on the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp.
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