OUR SECOND DAY OF GUIDED BIRDING AT ORLANDO WETLANDS AND MERRITT ISLAND FLORIDA WITH JIM EAGER
On Thursday 16th May, as planned, we headed east to Cocoa Beach and met Jim Eager for another day of guided birding. The heavy rains precluded us from going to Ritch Grissom and instead we travelled to Orlando Wetlands which is an area of waste water management. It is vast and the roads are easy to walk. Unlike yesterday we spent part of the morning walking around, listening and watching. With expanses of water large ‘gators’ were easy to spot.
On the way Wild Turkeys with poults walked on the woodland edges.
A target bird and another first for us were Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. They flew and perched on dead tree limbs and were easy to see. Later in the afternoon, in a trailer park, and in a well manicured setting we counted 125 of this species. Standing with them were two Sandhill Cranes and White Ibis. That's so easy birding!
Most Egrets and Herons were evident and allowed excellent views. Black Vultures were seen in good numbers, even on the ground, and Turkey Vultures flew as usual. Water levels varied and in one area it was low which allowed waders to feed. We had our first sightings of Roseate Spoonbills and in the distance, we reasoned, were Least Sandpipers.
Two Bald Eagles perched on dead trees, but without a nest in sight. The dead palms showed Woodpeckers were here and we saw and heard a Red-bellied which we had not seen one the Tuesday. We searched for Barred Owls without success. Ironically at Orange Lake, by a lagoon one sat to be photographed. Sometimes it is easy.
We returned eastwards and travelled around Merritt Island where it is easy birding and all from the car. On the mud 26 Semi-palmated Sandpipers fed. They were distant, but still well observed. One Least Tern was seen. A Killdeer flew up from the side of the road and away. Both Willet and Limpkin were seen.
It is a known site for Green Herons and close to the road were four active nests that we observed. Adults perched for the camera and chicks were photographed as well. A Snowy Egret also posed nearby.
Merritt Island’s brackish water is the correct environment for Reddish Egrets and we watched and enjoyed seeing them search for food. The only Heron not seen was the Black-crowned one and so our list only lacked that one.
Butterflies and Damsel Flies were around us and some stopped long enough for the camera.
Photographs will have to wait, probably until we return to Spain, and I need to work in my Wordpress site.
Summing up this day. We knew that we would be in different habitats. It was an easier photographic environment and some species were close by. If only these sites were always close by! Whatever we saw or did not see both days were a terrific experience. I felt good to have done it.
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