JAN. 8, 2011, SLAS FIELD TRIP REPORT
VIERA WETLANDS, BREVARD COUNTY
The January SLAS field trip, scheduled for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, was changed to Viera Wetlands near Melbourne, because of the extended drought Florida has been suffering, which has created extensive “drylands” instead of the usual wonderful duck filled wetlands at MINWR.
Viera, of course, has plenty of water from the reclaimed wastewater that is treated there and fills the settling ponds that attract thousands of birds.
Twenty-four participants enjoyed sighting 65 species of birds. Highlights of the trip included watching a Merlin chase a flock of about 40 American Pipits over the sod fields just north of the wetlands; close-up and personal views of American Bittern, Wood Stork, Limpkin, Great Egrets displaying, comparison views of the similarities and differences between Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup, a lone American Wigeon, a very accommodating Red-shouldered Hawk for the photographers in the group, a young male Northern Harrier just standing for a long scope-filled period in the sod fields, and a juvenile Bald Eagle biting off more than he could possibly chew when he made an unsuccessful attack on a Wood Stork.
After a group dining experience, which seems to becoming a SLAS field trip tradition, Sam Fried went back to the wetlands to do some evening photography and found our 65th trip bird: a beautiful Sora. Hart and Jewel Rufe led the trip
Submitted by Hart Rufe
Wood Stork by Marc Rosenthal
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American Bittern (Rufe) |
American Bittern, hiding (Rufe) |
Blue-winged Teal (Rosenthal) |
Great Egret (Rufe) |
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Great Egret (Rosenthal) |
Green Heron (Fried) |
Hooded Merganser (Fried) |
Immature Ibis (Rosenthal) |
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Limpkin (Fried) |
Northern Mockingbird (Rosenthal) |
Pie-billed Grebe (Rosenthal) |
Wood Stork (Rufe) |
