Over Thanksgiving holiday I was able to spend the day at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) and Canaveral National Seashore (CNS). Last year's gluttony of waterfowl around the same time tempted me to venture to Titusville to see what species were out and about this year. The reports of Eared grebe, Long-tailed duck, and Black rail also solidified my decision to head over there.
Based on sound directions (a big thanks to Graham!), I stationed myself right about sunrise at Peacocks Pocket at MINWR and was able to have a Black rail respond to recorded playback (the "kik kee doo" song). Although not the typical summer response (and certainly not expected), a singular "Kerr" alerted me to the presence of the rail which could not have been more than 10'-15' from me. However, like a typical Black rail, it would not come out of hiding to be seen by my eyes, although not for lack of trying. Alas after 15-20 minutes of wishing the bird would come into view, I had to settle with the definitive call response as my only verification of the presence of the species.
After hearing the rail, I walked back to my vehicle but stopped because some passerine activity in a clump of Sea oxeye daisy (Borrichea frutescens) caught my attention. After scanning through the movements in the low-growing salt marsh shrubs, a sharp-tailed sparrow species popped momentarily into view. I caught the briefest of glances and thought the species looked like it had some very vibrantly colored orange facial plumage coloration in the supercilium and malar stripe which starkly contrasted with the gray auricular region. After a minute or so, the bird felt confident enough to climb back into view and definitively showed off its plumage coloration, which left no doubt it was indeed a Salt marsh sparrow and not a Nelson's.
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| Photos above and below: Salt marsh sparrow (note the vibrant supercilium and malar stripe in contrast with the rest of the facial plumage) |
With the dawn now yawning about in a lazy fashion, I began to notice other species in the salt marsh cordgrass wetlands surrounding my path. Mottled ducks, northern shovelers, blue- and green-winged teal, pied-billed grebe, lesser and greater yellowlegs, american bittern, glossy and white ibis, northern harrier, and osprey all made their presence known. As peaceful as this was, the sun was slowly rising, and I knew I needed to leave towards Vistas #5 and #8 along CNS where the Eared grebe and Long-tailed ducks had been toiling.
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| American bittern in stealth mode |
At Vista #5, I was treated to great looks at the trio of female Long-tailed ducks which had been found a short while prior to my visit. They were beautiful looking specimens, and I watched them for a long period, watching them dive for food and preen their dive feathers. After missing this species a couple of times, I was thrilled they stayed long enough for me to find them and observe their behaviors. Enamored with my luck so far, I decided to keep on plugging and find the Eared grebe at Vista #8.
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| 3 Female Long-tailed ducks with Lesser scaup |
Well, I was lucky again. Although it was a distant look (and certainly not close enough for my taste), there was no mistaking the bird. The neck plumage coloration, upturned thin bill, and thin neck (as compared with the thicker neck of a horned grebe) were easy to spot. I took some distant and crappy ID photos, but it was much more enjoyable watching the grebe endlessly dive for prey with the pied-billed grebe and female bufflehead foraging with it.
As it was still early morning, I decided I could wait a little bit before heading to Blackpoint Wildlife Drive and look for everything which had to be waiting there for me to uncover. I decided to head oceanside at CNS first at one of the closer spots to Vista #8. I conducted a brief scan over the tide and waves to see what bounty was flying about. Northern gannets, Brown pelicans, Laughing and Ring-billed gulls were easy to spot, as were Royal terns, and the Ruddy turnstones and Sanderlings ebbing and flowing with the tide after their prey.
Finally I headed out to Blackpoint, where I spent nearly 3 hours observing the vast richness of avian diversity loitering about. Although the waterfowl diversity and abundance wasn't what was expected, the shorebird and wading bird diversity and abundance more than made up for it. Still exciting though, duck species such as Mottled, Blue-winged teal, Northern shoveler, Northern pintail, and Hooded merganser were present in solid numbers dabbling and diving for their breakfast. The expected wading birds were present, including my favorite North American wading bird, the Reddish egret. I don't ever think I could tire of spending countless hours watching their fantastically adapted and caricature-esque hunting techniques. They are simply magnificently gregarious and enigmatic birds which, for me, keep we studying them every chance I get, just to become more intimately intertwined with their behaviors.
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| Photos above and below: Reddish egrets in pursuit and at rest |
As for the shorebirds, there were more than enough to shake a stick at, especially around stop 8. Dunlins, Red knots, Long-billed dowitchers, Lesser and Greater yellowlegs, etc. were all busy foraging in the shallow flats of the impoundments. Even a Red-necked phalarope was present, but prior to this stop, at #3. It was probably the only red-necked phalarope I've ever been able to watch for several minutes without ever putting a foot on the ground. It doesn't happen often, and maybe never will again. But it's a moment I certainly won't forget. To the phalarope, it was as if I was George Bailey when he wished he had never been born...I simply wasn't there.
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| Photos above and below: Red-necked phalarope (You usually don't get closer encounters) |
After finishing the morning exploits along Blackpoint, I decided to try Biolab Road in the afternoon to see what was hanging out down there. The birds kept on not disappointing me. I was fortunate in the multiple miles plus drive to encounter both Lesser and Greater scaup, solid numbers of Black scoters, Roseate spoonbills, Caspian and Royal terns, and shorebirds such as Sanderlings, Ruddy turnstones, and one Western sandpiper. It was a glorious drive and not one that a little bit of rain could deter.
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| Black scoters just hanging out |
I ended up re-traveling a couple of locales previously visited in the day just to see what new species might be hanging out and to just watch ones previously observed for a little while longer while I waited for dusk to approach. I was waiting to try and find the Short-eared owl I had dipped on in the pre-dawn at Peacocks Pocket. The crepuscular avian activity down at the end of Peacocks Pocket was enthralling. Northern harrier, American coot, Blue-winged teal, American bittern, loads of Glossy ibis and Double-crested cormorants flew into view. Sora, Virginia, Clapper, and (the assumed same) Black rail all were calling or visible. It doesn't get much easier or better than this for rails. A few others showed up to look for the Black rail and owl. I was able to take them and re-locate the rail from nearly the exact same spot from where I heard it at dawn, but we were not able to see or hear the owl. But still, no one left disappointed from what we had experienced. For my part, it was a great end to an utterly fantastic day. Certainly not one I could have experienced or enjoyed had I participated in the expected/usual Black Friday pursuits. For this I am thankful.
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