We had pushed two hours north of Naples in Florida. We have been on the right park. We had a common concept of the place to go, however would the fowl be there? Then, I noticed a bunch of individuals with their binoculars up, staring on the bushes. We have been the place we would have liked to be to see the rarity: Groove-billed Ani, which is often present in Central America.
Groove-billed Ani
We have been within the Sarasota space, at Shamrock Park, which has the peerlessly maintained habitat for Florida Scrub-jays (see picture at high of article). Additionally, the park has been taking part in host to the ani, that are typically seen in Texas in addition to alongside the Gulf Coast in Florida. This fowl was very lively and posed fantastically for the photographers. There have been Scrub-jays hanging round with this fowl, however I gave them little discover, as I stared at my newest North American lifer.
After the fowl flew off, we determined to move a bit farther north to the Celery Fields. This spot was a former agricultural web site, which was transformed to a flood mitigation space. Now, it’s a birding hotspot. The open panorama affords views of flooded fields and a freshwater marsh. You possibly can stroll the berms or stroll out onto the gazebo for higher views. There’s a customer centre and a fowl backyard, with feeders.
Nanday Parakeet
On that early February day, there was a big flock of Nanday Parakeets, screaming as they flew from phone wires to tree tops. Purple Martins checked out the birdhouse properties, which have been arrange for them. Just a little boy excitedly identified and named incoming Sandhill Cranes. All of this was earlier than we had even left the parking zone.
Boat-tailed Grackle
We walked throughout the road to the freshwater marsh. A raised walkway takes you out to the gazebo. Alongside the way in which, we noticed Gray-headed Swamphen, Shiny Ibis, White Ibis, Boat-tailed Grackle, and Blue-Winged Teal. There have been some impressive-sized turtles, sunning themselves on the shoreline. Strolling alongside the berm, we discovered Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple-Winged Blackbird, and Tree Swallow.
This can be a spot that hosts rarities. Though we didn’t see both species, there had been studies of Crested Caracara and Tropical Kingbird the day earlier than.
There was quite a lot of driving concerned, however the birds we noticed made it a profitable highway journey.
Notice: Image of Groove-billed Ani by Ulrich Prokop, plus the Florida Scrub-jay, are each from Wikipedia Commons, a royalty-free web site. Photos of Boat-tailed Grackle and Nanday Parakeet by Leslie Kinrys.
