Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Saturday, October 17 ~ 7:20 am–1:35 pm
Below are observations at Bird Rookery Swamp for Saturday, October 17. It was a great day including lower humidity and a nice breeze. I had 36 species of birds and 17 species of butterflies. Among the nicest of the birds was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird getting nectar from Alligator Flag blooms just north of marker 2 and the vulture roost and two Limpkins. One Limpkin was in the trees near marker 6 but the other was very cooperative walking across the tram between markers 2 and 3. There were also five warbler species including a pair of female American Redstarts, lots of Palm Warblers, and a Lousiana Waterthrush. A photo below of the waterthrush is one of a small Green Treefrog peeping over the top of a leaf.
BIRDS
Anhinga – 7
Great Blue Heron – 3
Great Egret – 7
Little Blue Heron – 14
Tri-colored Heron – 1
Green Heron – 3
Black-crowned Night Heron – 4
White Ibis – 81
unknown ducks – 2 (possibly Wood Ducks)
Black Vulture – 8
Turkey Vulture – 27
Red-shouldered Hawk – 10
Limpkin – 2
Mourning Dove – 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 1
Belted Kingfisher – 14
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 24
Downy Woodpecker – 2
Pileated Woodpecker – 3
Great-crested Flycatcher – 5
Eastern Phoebe – 15
Blue Jay – 1
Tufted Titmouse – 2
Carolina Wren – 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 2
Northern Mockingbird – 1
Gray Catbird – 30
Loggerhead Shrike – 1
White-eyed Vireo – 9
American Redstart – 2
Black-and-white Warber – 1
Palm Warbler – 13
Common Yellowthroat – 3
Louisiana Waterthrush – 1
Northern Cardinal – 9
Common Grackle – 10
BUTTERFLIES
Palamedes Swallowtail – 11
Tiger Swallowtail – 1
Ruddy Daggerwing – 1
White Peacock – 44
Queen – 1
Viceroy – 4
Cloudless Sulphur – 1
Pearl Crescent – 1
Barred Yellow – 2
Fiery Skipper – 1
Least Skipper – 1
Twin-spot Skipper – 1
Whirlabout – 1
Delaware Skipper – 2
Brazilian Skipper – 7
Dorantes Longtail – 3
Tropical Checker – 11
DRAGONFLIES/DAMSELFLIES
Eastern Pondhawk – 23
Needham’s Skimmer – 4
Carolina Saddlebags – 1
Eastern Amberwing – 3
Citrine Forktail – 1
MAMMALS
River Otter – 1
Raccoon – 1
REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS
Alligator – 54
Brown Anole – 8
Red-bellied Turtle – 2
Florida Soft-shelled Turtle – 1
Banded Water Snake – 1
Green Treefrog – 3
Cuban Treefrog – 1
By Dick Brewer