Saturday February 2nd
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| Florida Brown Water Snake |
Arrived about 7:30 this morning at Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres.to look for interesting birds. Walked the four plus miles around the perimeter of the main cell, collecting counts for my monthly birding report for the Lee County Bird Patrol, a volunteer group of birders working for Lee County Parks and Recs.
The water levels had risen significantly due to recent rains. Any changes in water levels does effect what you will see at the marsh. Started out this morning with the call of a Green Heron. His bird has been doing a cackle that is very similar to a King Rail. The rail, sora, least bittern, hooded mergansers and purple gallinule were not seen or heard today but I did manage a long list.
Ron Bishop, who I ran into toward the conclusion of the walk, put me onto an American Bittern. He also had spotted a nest of Florida Brown Snakes sunning on the stone works at the water control works south of the parking area. The species is new to me but Ron correctly identified the water snakes in the field
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| Nesting Sandhill Crane |
Lots of Sandhill Cranes. One flock of these birds were being quite fussy with each others. The feathers were actually flying. At least two Sandhill nests were seen.
Perhaps the higher water level, creating more open water in the marsh, was attractive to the pair of Snail Kites seen. Dark-phased Short-tailed Kites were soaring above Harns today as well.
Ring-necked, Muscovy and Mottled Ducks were seen, plus Blue winged Teal, Common Gallinules, American Coots, Limpkins, Swamphens, Anhingas and a few White & Glossy Ibis. The usual Waders were here - Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, Great Egrets, a couple of Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Tricolored Herons
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| Loggerhead Shrike |
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Tricolored Heron |
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| American Coot |
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| Sandhill Crane |
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| Great Egret |
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| Eastern Phoebe |
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