Red-cockaded Woodpecker

This was another trip to combine business and pleasure. Mike was attending the West Palm International Boat Show and Sharon went along for a little R&R. We left early Thursday morning taking the Sebring to Okeechobee to West Palm route which offered some nice scenery and the occasional  Swallow-tailed Kite. After dropping Mike at the show Sharon was anxious to go to Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Every May the rookery (bird nesting area) is filled with hundreds of birds in every stage of the nesting cycle. The first nest on the boardwalk was a Green Heron quickly followed by all species of heron and egret in their stunning breeding plumage.

There were many people on the boardwalks dodging a few rain drops while taking in the spectacle. Several people were talking about the number of Wood Storks nesting and the reduced number of herons. Some of us remember it wasn’t that long ago that the Wood Stork was endangered and are encouraged to see them make a comeback. Probably the highlight of the nesting birds was a Glossy Ibis with eggs peeking out below.

We were up early Friday morning  for a little birding before the boat show. First stop was Boynton Beach Inlet Park where we found our target Northern Gannet. After dropping Mike at the show, Sharon was off to Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands which is a very reliable place for Painted Bunting, Mottled Duck and Purple Martins (spring). Pure Mottled Ducks are becoming hard to find because they also breed with Mallards. Other specialty birds that are regularly found include the Purple Gallinule and Gray-headed Swamphen. While walking the 1.5 miles of boardwalk I saw 35 species with the best bird being an Eastern Screech-Owl.

Next stop was Loxahatchee NWR in hopes of a Snail Kite. It was early afternoon which is not a good time for birding so only managed 11 species. However, there were thousands of Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers which are a destructive nuisance but impossible to miss since they are 2″ – 3″ in size. Someone needs to tell the Cattle Egret because I hear they suck them up like vacuum cleaners.

Saturday morning we headed out for a little urban birding at the Breakers Hotel. This is a known location for parrots and it did not disappoint. Check the area off Pine Walk next to golf course to look for Yellow-crowned and Red-crowned Parrots.

West Palm has a nice downtown area next to the boat show with plenty of restaurants and shops. There are many colorful murals throughout the area and parts of the sidewalk are painted like a Monopoly board. My favorite mural is ‘Love Letters’ (panel 5) with the typewriter seats. This is great place for a weekend getaway.

After leaving the show we made a stop at Indrio Savannahs Preserve for the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay. Mike booked a room at Captain Hiram’s Resort on the Sebastian River. They have great restaurants and live music plus activities on site and close by. We had the seafood tower filled with fresh local seafood that was fantastic.

Sunday morning we had high hopes for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. We ran into a very helpful Park Ranger that provided information on the location of the RCWP. Not only did we find the target bird, we also found Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Pine Warbler, Eastern Towhee and other great birds.

Our final birding stop of the weekend was some farm fields around the canals in Vero. We know that farm fields are often good for raptors and we hit the jackpot with eight raptor species. Highlights were a pair of Crested Caracara, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks and our target species: Swallow-tailed and Snail Kite.

 

This was one of our favorite Florida birding trips. There is a lot to see in this great state.

Next up: Arizona

Trip Birds: 75   Life Birds: 0