On Saturday, October 5, nineteen birders joined TAS Field Trip Coordinator Brian Rapoza for our annual fall trip to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County. The traditional starting point for this trip is the Miccosukee Service Plaza at Exit 49 on I-75 in Broward County. From there, we headed north on Snake Road (CR 833) through the Seminole Reservation, then west on CR 846 to Corkscrew. Birds seen along the way included Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Wild Turkey, Limpkin, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Wood Stork, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Belted Kingfisher and Crested Caracara.
During our exploration of Corkscrew’s old-growth bald cypress forest via their 2.25-mile boardwalk, we tallied a nice mix of migrant and resident species. Among the migrant birds seen were Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Swainson’s Thrush, Ovenbird, Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-throated and Prairie Warbler and Summer and Scarlet Tanager. Resident species encountered included Sandhill Crane (heard calling somewhere near the parking area), Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied, Downy and Piliated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Wren. A few participants who spent more time at the visitor center after most of the group had left were rewarded with three additional birds: Red-headed Woodpecker, Veery and Painted Bunting!
Our final bird tally for the day was 74 species. All are listed in an eBird trip report which can be viewed here.
Great Egrets, Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbills. Photo by Brian Rapoza