FEB. 5, 2011, FIELD TRIP TO GREEN CAY AND
WAKODAHATCHEE WETLANDS, PALM BEACH COUNTY
The February 5th St Lucie Audubon field trip to Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach County was enjoyed by 31 participants, and included a reunion with Hank Hull and his daughter, Connie, now of Pembroke Pines. Hank was formerly Field Trip Chairman of the St Lucie Audubon Society and, along with his wife, Dotty, a stalwart of the organization for many years until Dotty’s unfortunate death last year. Although Hank, as was Dotty, is now wheelchair-bound, he completed all aspects of the trip, including the Sweet Tomatoes after-trip meal.
While only 54 species were seen at the Wetlands, (plus another seven species while travelling from one location to the other and finally, to Sweet Tomatoes) there were a number of very satisfying highlights. At Green Cay the entire group was treated to excellent looks at Black and White, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as Blue-headed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Nevertheless, the top sighting at Green Cay was the most cooperative American Bittern any of us could remember, as he posed a scant 10 feet from the boardwalk for a full half hour, and assumed every different position, like a super model on stage.
At Wakodahatchee we were greeted in the parking lot by a Pea Hen, and saw numerous Purple Gallinules (at Green Cay also). Most interesting were displaying Great Blue Herons and the various Anhinga nests with babies from almost full grown to just out of the egg. Several Soras were seen, but disappointing was the absence of the very accommodating Roseate Spoonbill that had been present all week, but decided to take Saturday off. Only sharp-eyed Hank and his daughter spotted Spoonbills at a distance. Hart and Jewel Rufe led the trip
Submitted by Hart Rufe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
