Friday, August 21, 2015

August Avian Migrants At The EAA: Part II

After a very rewarding stop at one of Florida's Everglades Agricultural Area flooded fields on the west side of U.S. Highway 27, Tom Obrock and I continued our travel south toward the King Ranch sod fields.


The American White Pelican above (image 1) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

A good view of several bird species was possible at a much closer range than that seen earlier in the day after an overshoot of the ranch as we went as far south as the towers.


The Green Heron above (image 2) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Black-necked Stilt above (image 3) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 4) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 5) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 6) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

Our arrival at King Ranch offered a similar impression I have had on my previous visits to this venue. I was challenged greatly to get even a diagnostic shot of the wildlife.


The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 7) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 8) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Black-necked Stilt above (image 9) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.


The Gull-billed Tern above (image 10) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.


The Gull-billed Tern above (image 11) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

After a brief stop at King Ranch we continued on toward Brown's Farm Road. More flooded fields south of County Road 880 about halfway toward Six Mile Bend from Belle Glade were enticing to investigate along the way.


The Cliff Swallow above (image 12) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.


The Black Tern above (image 13) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.


The Stilt Sandpiper above (image 14) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.


The Black Tern above (image 15) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.


The Black Tern above (image 16) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

It was in this area southeast of Belle Glade that I was sure we would see at least one Wilson's Phalarope. With the absence of the bird, Tom noted that Vince McGrath would have put us onto the phalarope, among others.


The Semipalmated Sandpiper above (image 17) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Common Nighthawk above (image 18) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The primarily Glossy Ibis above (image 19) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Glossy Ibis above (image 20) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The mixed shorebirds above (image 21) were photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Our final stop of the day along Brown's Farm Road was particularly rewarding with thousands of birds in an area more than a square mile divided by accommodating intersecting roads.


The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 22) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Pectoral Sandpiper above (image 23) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Green Heron above (image 24) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 25) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 26) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Although the venues along Brown's Farm Road are typically the furthest visited on this trip, I would favor arrival to them at sunrise with perhaps more birds to see that otherwise will have moved on in the late morning hours.


The American Avocet above (image 27) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The American Avocet above (image 28) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The American Avocet above (image 29) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The 4 August EAA trip this year was a little early for Upland Sandpiper which Tom advised me was reported on 16 August.


The Solitary Sandpiper above (image 30) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.


The Wood Stork above (image 31) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Please also see August Avian Migrants At The EAA: Part I
Please also see Cooper's Hawk vs. Swallow-tailed Kite

2 comments:

  1. A smorgasbord of avian delights, Bob! I love the nighthawk, gull-billed tern and other choice species!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Hemant. On the final trip of the year to this venue on 25 August one Gull-billed Tern was observed in flight just west of Six Mile Bend. This should be considered one of the rarer species to be seen in the EAA during migration.

      Delete