Biscayne and Boardwalks

My morning quest for the LaSagra’s Flycatcher at Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne met with the same result as yesterday! I am sure that it is the change in weather pattern and the high winds that are keeping it out of sight. Migrants were fewer, though there was a Blackpoll and Rose-breasted Grosbeak along with a handful of Cape May Warblers (above).

On the lighthouse jetty sat a lone immature Great Cormorant (above). It is hard to believe that this northern species is this far south – in southern Florida! It has been here all winter and must like the tropical weather, though I think that it is bleaching out the bird.

For the afternoon I headed north into Palm Beach County to the wonderful man-made wetlands. Beginning at Green Cay (above) I walked the mile and a half boardwalk, along with many sunday walkers. Waterfowl were represented by pairs of American Coots, Common Gallinules, Blue-winged Teal and families of Mottled Ducks.  The most bosterious birds were two territorial Limpkins, whose cries carried a great distance which led to numerous people asking if I knew what was making that sound.

If there was ever a place to see Least Bitterns it is in these wetlands. Along with three or four sightings of birds flying between clumps of aquatic vegetation, I came across a male (above) who was stalking along the bulrushes looking for nesting material.  He did eventually cut off a small piece of dead stem and carried it away in a hurry.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands (above) is only a mile away and about half the size of Green Cay, with a half mile boardwalk. Being so close to each I recognised many people that I had seen earlier in the afternoon at the newer of the two facilities.

Since I was last here, there has been a significant increase in the number of herons and egrets now breeding. Small colonies have sprung up consisting of Great, Snowy and Cattle Egrets (above), Great and Tri-colored Herons, all nesting along side Anhingas. They have taken up most of the available space in these pond apple thickets.

Some of the babies were well developed and very aggressive when a parent returned to the nest, even if they had no food to offer. This was most noticeable with a fully grown young Great Blue Heron (above) that would not take no for an answer!