Corkscrew Swamp & Blair Audobon Centre

Monday 26th

It was chilly yesterday, it was raining this morning but we have had a terrific day in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. I have been very impressed with all the wildlife sites that we have been to, but this one has to rank with the best. It has a boardwalk of 2.25 miles which takes you through a mixture of habitants including trees that are called Bald Cypress. They are several hundred years old and were saved by Audobon from the loggers.The volunteers are very helpful and before we were half round we found two of them walking with an intern from The Big Cypress who had majored in Biology and with a specific interest in snakes. We learnt a lot from all three that added to the enjoyment of our day.

Before we even got into the car a flock of American Crows flew overhead being vociferous as they did so.
It rained heavily on the way, but I still checked the roadside for my first sighting of a Crested Cara Cara. I am still searching.
Our list for today is as follows:-
American Kestrels
Anhinga both male and female
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black and white Warbler
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Carolina Wren - stupendous after hearing so many times its very loud call
Cattle Egret
Common Yellow-throat
Eastern Pheobe
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Great-crested Flycatcher
Great White Egret
Large Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Loggerhead Shrike
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinals both female and male.
Northern Mockingbird
Painted Buntings - two females and two males
Pileated Woodpecker - female
Red winged Blackbirds
Red-bellied Woodpecker - both sexes
Red -shouldered Hawks - both sexes seen mating.
Tricoloured Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
White Ibis
Wild Turkeys
Woodstorks both juvenile and adult.

Upon examination of the photos we possibly have added one more to our all time list. We may have seen a female Indigo Bunting and we will endeavor to clarify this ID tomorrow morning.

All this identification would not have been possible without some of these species being located and identified by the volunteers. This also includes a Red-bellied Turtle and a Cotton Mouth/Water Moccasin warming itself up on a log. We were told that this was a regular spot for it. It was our first live snake on trip. Also the biggest Alligator so far - it was very broad and it was huge. Thought to be the second biggest one on the reserve.


There is so much to see here not just the wildlife, but also all the flora and fauna. The people here had set a scope on a Ghost Orchid in flower. This was the fifth time this winter it has flowered which is surprising as it normally flowers during the summer months.There are many species to see and study. Butterflies were scarce with only a Zebra Longwing to show.
In addition to the Painted Buntings there are also Indigo Buntings - which we hope to see on site as well as nesting Barred Owls.
Our all American bird list has now increased by a total of seven (possibly eight) new ones. A excellent day and we are going again tomorrow.