Archive for the ‘Wildlife News’ Category

Date and Time: 5/10/10, all day

Location Name: Lake Louisa State Park

Day Rating: B

Special Encounters: Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo

Report:

The Park is quiet at this time of the year, but there are a lot of non migrant songbirds around – morning/evening.
Saw the above and then some, heard: Eastern Meadowlark, Brown Trasher, Eastern Towhee and a lot more.
Many Dragonflies around as well, but slim pickings what Butterflies is concerned – their populations suffered severely
from the frost.

The water at Lake Luisa is as high as I have ever seen – so that’s a good thing, too.

submitted by: Klaus

Date and Time: 5/7-8/10, all day

Location Name: Fort de Soto Park

Day Rating: B

Special Encounters: A gorgeous place – and while the migrant songbirds didn’t show, we were treated by a lot of shorebirds. Whimbrel, Reddish Egret White Morph, Reddish Egret, Marbled Godwit, Shortbilled Dowitcher, Dunlin, Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Magnificent Frigatebird, American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer and so much more. Friday was outstanding – Saturday not so much, since too many people were coming in.

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submitted by: Klaus

P.S.: It would have been a straight “A” Rating, if it were not for some of the recreational morons, that still are allowed in the park.
I’m not talking about sunbathers etc., but those who take Jetski’s into the lagoons, race along the beach or generally just give a damn, if they scare wildlife.

Date and Time: 5/9/10, 10-4

Location Name: Gatorland

Day Rating: A

Special Encounters: Just breathtaking activity. Babies to see from: Double Crested Cormorant, Tri-colored Heron, Great Egret, Woodstork, Common Moorhen, Green Heron, Limpkin, Snowy Egret and soon Cattle Egret. Alligator mating season is in full swing, too!

submitted by: Klaus

Date and Time: 1-2-10, 6 am – 2 pm

Location Name: Circle B Bar Reserve

Day Rating: A

Special Encounters: If there were a higher rating than A – Circle B Bar Reserve would certainly get it these days. Unbelievably packed with wildlife. Special encounters: Bobcat (Donnie Thompson), Peregrine Falcon Bald Eagles, Lesser Yellowleg, White Faced Ibis

Report:
The Audubon American White Pelican count is now at 7,000. It’s an unforgettable view to see that many soaring over your head. Add to it hundreds of Cormorants, Woodstorks, Many Terns.
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submitted by: Klaus Peter

Date and Time: 12-26-09, 12-30-09

Location Name: Myakka River State Park

Day Rating: B

Special Encounters: Enjoyed seeing numerous limpkins along banks of river south of Upper Myakka Lake.

Report:
We camped at Big Flats Campground for four nights. Found the campground to be very crowded and noisy, but this wasn’t too much of a problem as our plans were to hike and bike some trails and get out in the kayaks. The first day, we biked most of the park and I saw my first barred owl. The tourists seemed to be most impressed with the great number of feral pigs in the park. A ranger told us that the wading birds were MIA due to high water levels, but that kayaking would be better than usual. We kayaked on day two, encountering a large number of very big alligators – rather intimidating when they patrol around in front of the yaks! We saw many osprey, red-shouldered hawks, wood storks, little blue heron, great blue heron, belted kingfishers, snowy egret, anhinga, cormorants, black vultures (huge numbers), turkey vultures, green heron, cattle egret, a number of limpkins (my favorites), one solitary roseate spoon bill and a pair of lesser yellowlegs. Also, raccoons and white-tailed deer. There is a “birdwalk” but not much action on the days we visited. The last full day we spent hiking some of the VERY beautiful trails in the park – but, very few birds – just a woodpecker or two. A good place to spend multiple days as the park is very large. There is also a canopy walk between two towers which is fun for kids, and the 75 foot tower has great all-around views. Overall, it was a great trip, but it was a bit too touristy and I wish there had been more birds!
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submitted by: catmca