Northern Harrier Vs. White-tailed Kite

With an opportunity to make some early December wildlife observations in southwest Florida much further from home, I made a trip with Tom Obrock to Flamingo located at the terminus of Everglades National Park.

The bird food above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

Door to door, this trip was 17 hours and 512 miles. As I reflect on it, those numbers seem exaggerated, though they are not. The day went by too quickly with too much left unseen. The trip with Tom and his guidance offered a handful of lifer birds seen and photographed including Vermilion Flycatcher which I was not able to capture well for its brilliance.

The American Kestrel above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Sandhill Crane above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Vermilion Flycatcher above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Vermilion Flycatcher above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Killdeer above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The male Monarch Butterfly above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The male Monarch Butterfly above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Gray Catbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Gray Catbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

Also personally observed for the first time was a Tropical Kingbird; a bird species that I need to leave for you to identify at the end of the article as I am not yet qualified to distinguish it from Western Kingbird. Seen for the first time as well was a White-tailed Kite which had a skirmish with a Northern Harrier northwest of Lucky Hammock. The stop at Flamingo offered an American Avocet. I think it was the first time Tom had personally seen the species at this venue.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed near Lucky Hammock in (C-111) December 2012.

The Hooded Merganser above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Snowy Egret with juvenile above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Purple Gallinule above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Purple Gallinule above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Yellow Rat Snake above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Palm Warbler above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

We along the way in one direction or another saw a lot to entertain us. At Mrazek Pond we encountered an alligator that had evidently been struck by a passing vehicle. The beast was being made quick work of by the vultures, not soon enough to diminish the stench of decay. It was here that I had my first good view of Green-winged Teal showing signs of the breeding season. The unmistakable call of a Belted Kingfisher was heard before the bird was seen.

The alligator above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Yellow Rat Snake above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The directory above was photographed Everglades National Park (Pine Glades Lake) in December 2012.

The Snail Kite above was photographed Everglades National Park in December 2012.

The Snail Kite above was photographed Everglades National Park in December 2012.

The American Crow above was photographed Everglades National Park in December 2012.

The Green-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Green-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal with Anhinga above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The American Coot with Common Gallinule and Green-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

At Flamingo and closer to Lucky Hammock, Tom made sighting of other species that would have been lifers for me as well. The threat of rain the day before had me question if it would be worthwhile to make the trip. We got caught briefly in conditions that were not favorable for taking pictures of the wildlife, but certainly not for making observations. I saw a crocodile for the first time at Flamingo.

The Blue-winged Teal with Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Green-winged Teal with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Osprey above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

Tom Obrock above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The American Avocet above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Caspian Tern above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Greater Yellowlegs above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Monk Parakeet above was photographed in Homestead in December 2012.

A Yellow Rat Snake slithering on the boardwalk at Anhinga Trail was a highlight as well. Ending the day at Lucky Hammock with the light being lost quickly, 2011 Florida Big Year birder Jim Morris was present, with his friend Graham Williams arriving at an opportune time as well. We observed Lesser Nighthawk which for me was an interesting contrast to Antillian Nighthawk seen earlier in 2012 thanks to Tom.

The Western Kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Western Kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Western Kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

2011 Florida Big Year Birder, James Morris, currently from Deltona, above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

Aircraft were seen in the last light of the day and were identified for me as F-16 Fighting Falcon by Greg Clarkson. In the image presented below, Greg noted the extended cockpit/ canopy which is usually associated with training or special mission aircraft, and what may be an Electronic Counter-Measures Pod attached to the ventral side of the aircraft. The Fighting Falcon appeared to be making a landing approach to Homestead Air Reserve Base. Greg also advised me that the F-117 Stealth Fighter is referred to as Nighthawk.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon above was photographed at Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Lesser Nighthawk above was photographed at Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.