BLACK FRIDAY

Black Friday.  These words when combined have lately come to define the maddening, frantic, and unrelenting consumerist pursuit of finding the best deals around on holiday shopping.  Rather than participate in this melee, I decided to spend the morning at Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area in Lake County, Florida seeing what it had to offer.  I figured it would be a great way to work off what felt like the extra pounds gained from my family's delicious Thanksgiving fete and to finally check out one of the prime birding locations in north Lake County.

For those who are not familiar with it, Emeralda Marsh is  a 7,000 acre reclaimed wetland treatment area which was initially designed to remove and treat nutrients and pollutants from nearby Lake Griffin.  Long ago this former marshland was converted from marshland to agricultural uses, but since it's purchase by the county it has turned into one of the more interesting birding destinations in the county.

(Typical view of Emeralda Marsh)

I went in pursuit of ducks, hoping the refuge provided by the conservation area would harbor some interesting species.  Perhaps they didn't get the memo or simply had not arrived yet for the winter, but there were not many species present.  However, I was lucky to see 3 female buffleheads foraging together with american coots, common gallinule, and a female ring-necked duck.  A small flock of blue-winged teal were also observed being flushed by one of the many immature northern harriers soaring around.  Coot and the common gallinule were quite prevalent on the water, and the expected wading birds were present in good numbers as well.

(Female buffleheads with female ring-necked duck and american coots)

As for passerines, eastern phoebe, blue-gray gnatcatcher, and palm warbler were expected and present in large numbers.  However, the most interesting birds were a calling sora, an immature purple gallinule, and a male painted bunting.  Sadly I did not secure a photograph of the bunting.  It was a shame because his plumage was vibrant and quite showy.  He was observed along the wildlife drive, right around the corner from the pump stations and shed (where the two tankers are located).  He was foraging on the ground underneath the oaks right off the berm.  All told, 53 different species were present.

(Immature purple gallinule amongst the floating aquatic vegetation)

 

(Glossy ibis foraging)

Even with the fantastic bird life on-hand, the most interesting observation of the day came on my way back out of the marsh.  I spotted some movement in the ditch as I was walking along the wildlife drive.  I looked down and saw a red-shouldered hawk perched on some vegetation right over the water.  Upon closer inspection I noticed it had caught what appeared to be a Florida or banded watersnake.  It was attempting to rip it apart, but the snake was still somewhat wrapped around it's tail feathers and leg.  The hawk attempted to re-position the snake, but while doing so, it dropped it into the water in the ditch and tried to grasp it back with its talons.  Unfortunately the water and snake must have been too deep for the hawk to reach, and it lost its meal.  It definitely did not seem too pleased with the outcome.  Below are a series of the action which transpired.  All in all it was a great pleasure to bird a new area and stay away from the throngs of madness at the department stores on Black Friday.