Its a cold and windy Saturday morning in the Panhandle. Yesterday I had birded in Gainesville and in Tallahassee, today I had arrived at St Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
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| The Vermilion Flycatcher seen in February 2016 |
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| Rusty Blackbird |
For birders, visiting St Marks, especially in the winter months, can be a lot of fun. Many wintering species seen here can be quite uncommon to rare in southern Florida.
In preparing for this visit, I had spent a lot of time reviewing ebird reports from this venue. A couple of interesting species being reported had disappeared before we got there. A brewers blackbird that had been an easy pick in the lighthouse parking area and a beautiful, male vermilion flycatcher that had also been a easy pick up at Stoney Bayou impoundment. The flycatcher had returned to this spot for at least three years, Saw it on my last visit. But it disappeared a few weeks ago.
In preparing for this visit, I had spent a lot of time reviewing ebird reports from this venue. A couple of interesting species being reported had disappeared before we got there. A brewers blackbird that had been an easy pick in the lighthouse parking area and a beautiful, male vermilion flycatcher that had also been a easy pick up at Stoney Bayou impoundment. The flycatcher had returned to this spot for at least three years, Saw it on my last visit. But it disappeared a few weeks ago.
Lots of good birds are still on hand though.
Some targets today included Rusty Blackbirds, American Black Ducks, Clapper Rail, Virginia Rail, White-faced Ibis, Common Goldeneye, Nelsons Sparrow and more. Didn't get all of them, but did, finally, was successful with locating Rusty Blackbirds. A fellow named Don Morrow was nice enough to share the location of a flock at the double bridges. A good start.
Further on, along Lighthouse Road, stopped at Stoney Bayou. Lots of birds but so many were staying on the far shore in an effort to get out of the cold wind blowing across the water. Suspected and later confirmed at least one White-faced Ibis was on hand, plus White Ibis, Greater Egret, Snowy Egret, Coots, Buffleheads, Scaups, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron.
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Yellow-crowned Night-herons
are not common here
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Next stop was at the headquarters and picnic ponds area. Lots of American Wigeons, Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards, Rudy Duck, Coots, Pintails, Redheads, Black-crowned Night-herons and a lone Yellow-crowned Night-heron. Missed on the American Black Ducks and the reported Eared Grebe wasn't seen today.
Dave and Tammy caught-up with me at this point. They had stopped at the Biltmore Avenue Pond first today for another try for the Ross's Geese. No Ross's, but did relocate the Greater White-fronted Goose.
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| Black-crowned Night-herons are common |
We moved onto the Lighthouse. Lots of ducks - American Wigeons, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Lesser and Greater Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Cormorants, American Oystercatchers, Buffleheads, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers.
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| Redhead |
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| Canvasback |
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| American Wigeon |
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| Pintails |
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| Common Goldeneye |
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| Greater Scaup |
Spent a few more hours enjoying the refuge. We checked the helipad area for red-cockaded woodpeckers and henslow's sparrows. Dipped on these, but added Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Swamp Sparrow, Sedge Wren, House Wren, Bald Eagle and Brown-headed Nuthatch.
A good day
I'm glad to see you were able to make this highly anticipated trip, Tom.
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