Smooth-billed Ani Returns To Loxahatchee NWR

A 21 July 0500 departure from Fort Myers on Florida's southwest coast with Tom Obrock was timed to make a rendezvous with a rare species of bird that could be a lifer for the both of us.

Tom Obrock above (image 1) was photographed at Airport Road in July 2015.

Our ultimate destination was Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge just west of Boynton Beach on the Atlantic coast. The target species was Smooth-billed Ani that had been found by Mike Baranski in early June 2015.

The Least Sandpiper above (image 2) was photographed at Airport Road in July 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill with Snowy Egret above (image 3) was photographed at Airport Road in July 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 4) was photographed at Airport Road in July 2015.

En route along highway 80 a detour fortuitously placed us on Airport Road in the Everglades Agricultural Area east of Belle Glade. Tom and I had an early taste of what will come in the months ahead as migratory birds are attracted to the semi-flooded fields.

The immature Tricolored Heron above (image 5) was photographed at Airport Road in July 2015.

The Eastern Pondhawk above (image 6) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Needham's Skimmer above (image 7) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

Our next stop was the "Headquarters" entrance to Loxahatchee NWR. Tom led the way toward Marsh Trail where the Smooth-billed Ani had been reported numerous times in the preceding weeks. As I have a penchant to photograph anything that moves, I lagged behind observing the prolific insect life.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 8) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Florida Viceroy Butterfly above (image 9) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Florida Viceroy Butterfly above (image 10) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

By the time I caught up with Tom at the observation tower he had heard the ani in the impoundment west of the parking area. Within 15 minutes both Smooth-billed Anis made their appearance landing in shrubbery at very close range.

The Lubber Grasshopper above (image 11) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Zebra Longwing Butterfly above (image 12) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Pearl Crescent Butterfly above (image 13) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

According to eBird data checklists, Smooth-billed Ani was last seen at Loxahatchee NWR on 2 February 2003 by Perry Krakora before this year's reports. Interestingly, Hugh McGuinness who visited Marsh Trail on 31 March 1972 observed 10 Smooth-billed Ani.

The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly above (image 14) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Queen Butterfly above (image 15) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Pearl Crescent Butterfly above (image 16) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

There have been a few recent reports of Smooth-billed Ani outside of Loxahatchee NWR. Jane Wiewora made a follow-up visit to Jonathan Dickinson State Park on 21 July 2015 where she noted the ani had been observed two days earlier. Jane was successful in photographing the bird.

The Needham's Skimmer above (image 17) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Lubber Grasshopper above (image 18) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Smooth-billed Ani above (image 19) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

Smooth-billed Ani has been a species seen in Florida in recent decades never seeming to get a firm foothold. With recent sightings of the ani there have been postulations of the species's absence including eradication of invasive plants which they may favor as noted by Roberto Torres, and water levels.

The Smooth-billed Ani above (image 20) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Smooth-billed Ani above (image 21) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Smooth-billed Ani above (image 22) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

One might consider another possibility for the resurgence of anis in south Florida. My thoughts lean towards the apparent success of Snowy Owl and Razorbill making very unusual appearances in Florida in the not too distant past.

The Snail Kite harassed by Red-winged Blackbird above (image 23) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Snail Kite harassed by Red-winged Blackbird above (image 24) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Wood Stork above (image 25) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

There was a constant overflight of a variety of species of birds at Loxahatchee NWR. A Snail Kite, one of the refuge's signature species, was observed heading west not without expected harassment in this case by a Red-winged Blackbird.

The Wood Stork above (image 26) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The American Alligator above (image 27) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Metallic Blue Wasp above (image 28) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

As we headed back home, Tom and I made a stop along County Road 700 which was a boon. There was no siesta for the birds that were very active and in good numbers at the noontime hour. The flooded fields in the Agricultural Area do have the downside that the wildlife is typically at a distance requiring binoculars or a scope.

The Ruddy Daggerwing above (image 29) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Ruddy Daggerwing above (image 30) was photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in July 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 31) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.

Although the Duda Belle Glade Farm sod fields and Brown's Farm Road are the major destination in the Everglades Agricultural Area, all roads in the area should be explored including CR 700 from 20 Mile Bend to its termination at Canal Point along the shore of Lake Okeechobee.

The immature Black-necked Stilt above (image 32) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 33) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 34) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.

There is unquestionably a lot of ground to cover in the EAA. If one has the time during early Fall migration, species of special interest to potentially observe should include Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Black Tern, Gull-billed Tern, and White-tailed Kite.

The Fulvous Whistling-Duck above (image 35) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.

The Fulvous Whistling-Duck above (image 36) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.

The highlight of this late summer trip through the Everglades Agricultural Area for me was photographing the Smooth-billed Ani at Loxahatchee NWR.

The Fulvous Whistling-Duck above (image 37) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (CR 700) in July 2015.