Feature: Everglades Agricultural Area Part I

A view from above, very high above the southern peninsula of Florida offers quite a stunning view of the landscape.

The Common Nighthawk above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

The most prominent landmark is Lake Okeechobee which has over time become a managed reservoir providing water for nearby urban areas and agriculture.

The Everglades Agricultural Area is primarily used for the growth of sugarcane.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

Crop production also yields citrus, vegetables, sweet corn and rice.

The fields create an interesting mosaic of shapes and colors not only as seen from above, but at ground level as well.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

Another interesting utilization of the land is the growth of sod which can be a magnet for certain species of birds.

Late summer here offers a glimpse of aves migration with countless birds on their way to South America, or to remain in Florida, for the winter.

The Wilson's Phalarope with Long-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

I would make my first visit to the area on 9 August 2011 with the intent of documenting my wildlife sightings through photography.

A 4:30am departure from Fort Myers led to my arrival at an extremely productive flooded field about a mile east of the University of Florida Agricultural Research and Education Center on County Highway 880 in Belle Glade, Palm Beach County.

The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

I had prior to my arrival traveled parts of Duda Road which was misguided for finding the scores of birds in the area.

I made my first sighting of a Common Nighthawk slumbering on a powerline on Duda Road which led to the realization that I was not going to be able to use the autofocus feature of the camera.

The Black Tern above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

Wrong camera to accompany a 2X extender which required me to manually focus all the images captured this day.

Manual focus is a skill that I didn't want to have a greater appreciation for on this trip.

The Black Tern above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

It is challenging enough to capture birds in flight with autofocus.

I should have remembered this major fault with the 5dm2 as Tim Rucci had told me last year that the 2X extender would allow autofocus at the center point with my primary camera.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

My thinking was that I would need the megapixel capability of the 5dm2 anticipating heavy cropping of images of birds expected to be photographed from a great distance.

At the flooded field I met part-time wildlife observer and photographer Deputy Sheriff Thomas Smith visiting from the Boynton Beach area.

The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

He told me he has been keeping a close eye on this area while I was quite surprised to find him where I did.

Tom was well camouflaged in vegetation on the berm that surrounds much of the field allowing him a very commanding view of the scene.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

I must admit I was tempted to cross the channel between us, but did not want to test its depth.

There were countless Black-necked Stilts primarily between the two flooded fields I was viewing and the birds were typically vocal.

The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

The highlight for me here was attempting to photograph my never before seen Black Tern.

A pair of American Avocet would fly in making them the first of season sighting for Tom and me.

The American Avocet above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

Although I was certainly in no hurry to leave, Tom advised that I visit the flooded fields off Browns Farm Road (first bridge on left).

Upon arrival there I paused to observe the Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork that were in great numbers.

The Great Egret above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

The birds were for the most part resting although became active when fish were periodically pumped into the field from the canal.

The wading birds seen here were in great contrast to the birds on the other side of the field primarily made up of shore birds.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

Another highlight was my first sighting of Gull-billed Tern which has the most appealing call of all the tern species I've heard.

Tom Smith arrived on the scene and allowed me a view through his scope.

The Gull-billed Tern above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

The Black Tern was present in this area as well with what I believe might be my first observation of Curlew Sandpiper.

A drive over the berm at Browns Farm Road offered a very commanding view of the flooded fields.

The Stilt Sandpiper with Black and Gull-billed Tern above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

High clearance is required here to avoid potential puncture of your vehicle's oil pan.

At noon time a rain storm made its way through the area and I chose to call it a day.

The Black Tern above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

In all I'm not sure the total count of new species of bird I photographed this day and the next with day two highlighted in EAA Part II.

Thanks are due to Tom Obrock for writing about this wildlife area in his blog this past week which was the impetus for my devoting my two days off from work to investigate the agricultural fields which are ripe with migratory birds.

The scene above was photographed at Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2011.

Press here for a map with locations of Everglades Agricultural Area wildlife venues visited in 2011.

Feature: Everglades Agricultural Area Part II
Feature: Everglades Agricultural Area Part III