By Phyllis Mansfield, photos by Jim Meyer
Kudos to Jim Eager for leading the Space Coast Audubon Society field trip to Three Lakes area this morning. Thirteen people joined Jim on a cool windy morning. Some of us were wanting another layer, while others were in shirt sleeves!! Before long the sun warmed us as did seeing most of the target birds plus a few extras. I tallied 72 species.
The Whooping Crane was a miss, but The hunt camp yielded at least three RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS for close viewing, several BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, PINE WARBLERS, finally a BACHMAN’S SPARROW viewed in the scope while singing. NORTHERN BOBWHITE was heard, as well as several EASTERN TOWHEE.
Lake Jackson at Prairie Lakes was a winner for us today: WHITE PELICAN, around 60 SNOWY EGRETS, 1 PURPLE GALLINULE, 2 ROSEATE SPOONBILL. Kim showed me a photo she took of a yellowlegs, but I said it looked like a SOLITARY SANDPIPER. We soon located 2 of them a few yards from us along with a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Overhead with the vultures were 2 SWALLOW-TAILED KITE.
We were ready to give up on the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, but Jim Located one on a dead tree on Overstreet Rd, head bopping in and out of a nest hole.
At the boat ramp on Lake Kissimmee there was a LIMPKIN and a SNAIL KITE was seen gathering it’s favorite-an apple snail.
We always enjoy this area for the abundance of BALD EAGLE, WILD TURKEY, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, SANDHILL CRANE. There were 5 species of woodpeckers, 6 species of warblers, 10 species of wading birds seen today. And for some the FOS CHIMNEY SWIFT.
Great day to be out looking for birds with other birders.
