With the day once again
dawning bright and sunny, but with my leg still rendering me unable to walk
properly, it was lucky that our final days birding consisted of driving along
Lust Road Wildlife Drive, a one way 11 mile drive around Lake Apopka in the rich
marshy habitats of northern Orlando. With a heap of species being listed on
e-bird for the site, including several rare sparrows, we were keen to see what
final birds Lust Road could provide for us.
Driving along the dusty
wetland-lined track towards the entrance gate where reports had suggested the
sparrows and buntings had been congregating unfortunately drew a blank however,
and with a flight to catch later that evening we pressed on to start the 11
mile wildlife safari.
An angry looking Boat-tailed Grackle
Almost immediately we had our
first lifer – Fulvous Whistling Duck – a species that had so far evaded us but
one we had fully expected to see over in Florida. With several flying over
throughout the morning, we were able to clinch the important ID features that
separate Fulvous from the similar Black-bellied Whistling Ducks – all dark upper
wings with not a hint of white, plus a white crescent shape on the outstretched
tails.
Fulvous Whistling Ducks
With several Tree Swallows
flitting around above us alongside the Barn Swallows, we continued on, a
roosting flock of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks hiding in the undergrowth
containing a single partly obscured Fulvous alongside them – not noticeable
until we checked our photos afterwards!
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks
Along with the usual Common
Gallinules and American Coots that dabbled in the water in abundance, several
White Ibises foraged close to the car while Anhingas lined the banks drying off
outstretched wings in the sun.
American Coot complete with nest!
An American Purple Gallinule was also one of
only a handful we’d seen during our time in Florida, while numerous Tricoloured,
Little Blue and Great Blue Herons stalked the reed edges searching for prey.
Tricoloured Heron
Having missed Marsh Wrens at
all our previous sites, Lust Road was our last chance for this species, and the
recent e-bird reports suggested that Lake Apopka and the surrounding roads were
a hotspot for them, with up to 20 individuals being noted.
Indeed, driving along a long
straight stretch of road, we soon heard the distinctive call of several birds
singing in the reeds, staying mostly hidden in the depths but eventually
catching sight of one as it hopped down a stem right in the open. Only on view
for a matter of seconds, neither of us managed to get a photo, but the bright
supercilium and song emanating from the reeds left no doubt as to the ID.
In total we had around 8 Marsh
Wrens along the drive, catching sight of another skulking bird further along as
it manoeuvred through the reeds, but again, both of us too slow to manage to
capture anything on camera other than reeds!
All I could manage when trying to grab a snap of a Marsh Wren!
Several raptors also soared
overhead, the majority being Turkey Vultures along with a pair of Bald Eagles,
while an obliging Red-tailed Hawk perching on a post provided a welcome change
from the far more numerous Red-shouldered Hawks.
Red-tailed Hawk
Heading further along the
drive also revealed a number of waders probing in the shallows - a pair of
Black-necked Stilts provided excellent views close to the edge while Lesser
Yellowlegs, Glossy Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills waded through the water.
Black-necked Stilt
As well as bird life on Lust
Road, there was also an abundance of reptiles and butterflies along the water’s
edge. A Viceroy – similar to our earlier Queens and Monarchs - was a new
species of butterfly for the trip, while Cooters and Alligators rested
peacefully on the water’s surface, the occasional murmur in the murky depths
often the only indication that something predatory was lurking beneath.
Record shot of the Viceroy
Florida Cooter
Alligators lurked in the depths
Nearing the end of the trail,
we also chanced upon two fine American Bitterns, this time right out in the
open and giving excellent views as they sat between the reed stems.
American Bittern
With just
obscured views previously at Green Cay, it was great to finally get a good look
at these impressive birds and note the differences between our own familiar
Bittern.
With the clock sadly ticking
down and with a plane to catch that evening, our time exploring Florida’s
incredible wetlands was finally up, and we reluctantly made the journey back to
Orlando to return our (thankfully still intact) second hire car, check in at
the airport and tuck in to a much needed meal of Australian grilled chicken.
We couldn't leave without an Alligator selfie!
With two weeks dedicated to
experiencing the wonders of American birds and the absolute avian delights that
Florida had to offer, we had well and truly made the most of our time in the
sunshine state, leaving with a variety of weird and wonderful birds now under
our belt. From the charismatic Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, elusive Mangrove
Cuckoos, prehistoric Smooth-billed Anis and endemic Florida Scrub Jays, to the magical Painted Buntings,
breath-taking Swallow-tailed Kites and the ABA mega Zenaida Dove, we had
exceeded all our expectations and more.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Mangrove Cuckoo
Smooth-billed Ani
Florida Scrub Jay
Painted Bunting
Swallow-tailed Kite
Zenaida Dove
Alex's fab video of our Florida birds
Exploring the wonderfully diverse
habitats of the state had also created a lasting impact, from the white sandy
beaches that were the paradise of the Dry Tortugas and Florida Keys to getting
immersed in the swampy boardwalks and mangrove walkthroughs of the everglades -
Florida had offered a completely new experience around every corner.
With the American East coast now pretty much wrapped up in terms of species, the lush forests of Michigan await us on our next visit to the states, where the endangered Kirtland's Warbler and enchanting Evening Grosbeaks can be found!
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