South Florida V
We’re back on the road and heading north back to home base. On the way, we visited a new birding spot for us….one we will be sure to visit again in the future. ….. Richardson Historical and Nature Preserve in Wilton Manors, FL. Spanning a diverse landscape, the preserve features wooded trails, open fields, and scenic waterways, making it a perfect spot for birdwatching and photography. Visitors can explore historical landmarks that reflect the area's rich heritage while enjoying the tranquility of its natural surroundings. The combination of historical significance and ecological diversity makes Richardson Historical and Nature Preserve a great site to immerse yourself in the culture and the natural environment of this part of Florida. The presence of several old gumbo limbo trees adds to the magnetism for the avian wildlife and it pays to patiently monitor these trees in search of migratory birds.
When we arrived, we only needed to exit our vehicles to begin to find a nice assemblage of birds. Spring is in the air as I’ve been alluding to in many recent posts. The two Red-bellied woodpeckers seen in the shot above were busy excavating their new home but did take time for a bit of amorous interplay (all work and no play?). The male is seen below the limb of the tree and can be sexed by checking out the red on their heads. Males have red from the neck all the way over the head to the bill. Females, as seen in the bird on top, have red from the nape to just around the eye. Subtle difference, but if you’re close enough, unmistakable.
One of our targets for the day was the Spot-breasted oriole. The spot-breasted oriole features vibrant yellow plumage accented by a distinctive black face and a bold black bib that extends to its chest. This medium-sized bird, native to parts of Central and South America, particularly flourishes in wooded areas and gardens. In Florida, these orioles are now present here after begin introduced into the Miami area during the 1940s. Escaping from captivity, they established themselves as a breeding population and are often found around local parks and gardens. As they feed primarily on fruits and insects, they play an important role in their ecosystems by helping to pollinate flowers and control pest populations. Definitely a thrill to find these gorgeous birds in the wild.
As mentioned earlier, we are getting into the thick of spring migration and warblers are beginning to make their way north. Their travels require a lot of energy and hence a lot of “fuel”. The local gumbo limbo trees play an important role in supporting these migratory birds especially in South Florida. There were several of these trees located in Richardson Park and one in particular seemed to be a favorite of the warblers moving through. While some of the Cape Mays do winter in south Florida, this beautiful Cape May warbler is most likely on its way to its breeding grounds in the northern most parts of the eastern US and Canada.
I’ll finish the report on Richardson’s Preserve with one more shot of yet another handsome migratory warbler we found, the Black-throated blue. Finally! A bird which has a name that accurately describes its appearance! The first bird of today’s post was the “Red-bellied woodpecker”. Well, in order to see its red belly, you’d have to grab the little guy and hold him down on this back and then look oh so closely to find any red or actually pink. The Cape May is actually only occasionally found in Cape May, NJ and then only as it passes through on its way north. The Spot-breasted oriole is well named because you can see in the photograph today the spots on its breast! But the best named bird is this Black-throated blue warbler. It is a warbler. It is blue. It does have a black throat! One more definitive field mark that is not included in the name is its “pocket hanky” which is visible in both males and females.
We ended up our South Florida Bird adventure with a stop at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Wellington, FL. We were hoping to find a reported Bell’s Vireo. This park is rich in bird species, but we had been out on the road for three straight long days and decided to spend a limited amount of time searching for this rarity before heading home. While walking the berm to the reporting area of the most recent sighting, we were escorted by another Florida specialty, the Limpkin. We found empty Apple snail shells (their preferred diet) along the side of the trail and are not surprised to find this iconic Florida bird thriving here. It was a nice ending to a wonderful birding trip with a wonderful group of fellow Southeast Audubon members. We’ll look forward to revisiting south Florida next year when the club has its annual South Florida Birding Adventure.
