ASE Web

Ten birders showed up to brave the bitter cold (morning temps in the 50s!) of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge this Saturday for our scheduled walk.  Our newest leader, Andy Furman, conducted us around the Marsh Trail in fine style, and we tallied 39 species despite the cool and windy conditions.

The trip provided many fine examples of pairs, including Belted Kingfishers, Solitary Sandpipers, Red-shouldered Hawks, Blue-headed Vireos, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. It should be noted that none of these “pairs” were exhibiting any kind of pairing activity (nesting, courting, breeding), apart from being located in close proximity to each other (although the hawks appeared to be calling to each other). The woodpecker pair was the only one that was obviously a male and a female. Even if they weren’t true pairs, it was nice to see that sometimes, birds of a feather do flock together. Speaking of flocks, there were a few flocks of warblers as well, including Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Pine, along with a single Black-and-White Warbler.

Purple gallinules played hide and seek in the spatterdock, providing excellent views at times, while a Black-crowned Night-Heron put in a nice daytime appearance (see photo gallery). Savannah Sparrows were reported, but we were unable to find them; last week’s Western Kingbird had apparently moved on, and the intriguing report (including photograph) of Smooth-billed Anis from October failed to produce any anis today. The only “expected” species we missed was Limpkin, and, not having been to the refuge in some time, I can’t say whether we should have expected to see any today or not.

Below you will find the complete species list, and a few photos.

Species seen

Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Wood Stork
Mottled Duck (pair)
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk (pair)
Purple Gallinule
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Killdeer
Solitary Sandpiper (pair)
Belted Kingfisher (pair)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (pair)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Blue-headed Vireo (pair)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle 

And a few photos:

A Black-crowned Night-Heron played hide and seek with us in the reeds; a little farther along, we encountered a pair of Solitary Sandpipers. Yes, a pair. We recognize that they are “supposed to be” solitary, but we can only report what we see. And the real highlight of the trip was this member of a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, happily devouring a snake while several photographers clicked away within 20 feet. This image was digiscoped from a much more respectful distance; habituating wild birds to close approach in a wildlife refuge is Not A Good Thing.