Monday January 14th
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| Snow Goose |
On this leg of my North Florida Birding Tour, spending a two-night stay visiting the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the Florida Panhandle. I have a must-see list of birds of interest. There is the American Flamingo hanging out at Mounds Pond 2, which is not a roadside venue. But the site is also the spot to locate American Black Ducks and Pintails. I am also interested in seeing Snow Geese, White-faced Ibis and the wide variety of waterfowl that frequent the Lighthouse Pond and offshore in the Gulf.
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| Wilson's Snipe |
On Sunday I arrived at 11 am on a cold, wet day. Within a week the refuge would actual have freezing temps and snow. Snow is quite the rare event in Florida.
Had some nice sightings and missed a lot too. Checked out the Twin Bridges location looking for the reported Rusty Blackbirds. Moved on to East River Pool - Long-billed Dowitcher, Wison's Snipe, Ring-billed Gulls, Savannah Sparrow, Yellowlegs and Green Winged Teal. At the Mound Pools added White, Glossy and White-faced Ibis, Snow Geese, Blue -Winged Teal, Hooded Mergansers, and Red-winged Blackbirds
White-faced Ibis
At the Lighthouse Pond and at the shore added Bufflehead, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Brown Pelicans, Forster's Terns, Cormorants, Redheads, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks. https://ebird.org/checklist/S209181072
Plans were to return tomorrow to finish. But later today I headed to the Panacea Unit of St Mark's to look to do some owling. This location on Bottoms Road is tidal marsh, which good habitat for Seaside Sparrow, Marsh Wren and Sedge Wren. But recently a Short-ear Owl has been patrolling the marsh. So, about sunset the owl appeared. Very nice. A lifer. A very uncommon bird in Florida. https://ebird.org/checklist/S209084183
Returned at sunrise to Bottoms Road for the Seaside Sparrow (seen & heard), Clapper Rail, Hooded Mergansers, but no wrens. https://ebird.org/checklist/S209246084
Went back to Lighthouse Road to continue with yesterday's birding. But the road was closed for some improvement project. https://ebird.org/checklist/S209253229. https://ebird.org/checklist/S209254086
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| Ruddy Duck |
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| American Wigeon |
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| Anhinga |
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| A wet, Red-shouldered Hawk |
