apbarr
Well-known member

Arrived at Sanford Airport around 4pm for our second visit to Florida. Cattle Egret and Tri-colored Heron were the first birds seen while taxiing to our stand. Boat-tailed Grackle, Black Vulture and Great Egret were added on the way to our hotel which was located in the Lake Buena Vista area.
23rd
I was up early on Sunday morning to visit Gatorland where you can buy a photographers pass and enter the park at 7.30am. The rookery provides excellent close up views of Great, Cattle and Snowy Egrets, Tri-colored, Green and Great Blue Herons as well as Wood Storks. There were also nesting Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga and Black Vultures around the rookery area. The only warblers seen in that area were juvenile Northern Parulas. I decided to take the “Swamp Walk” and this proved to be a good decision with my first lifers of the trip Tufted Titmouse and Yellow-throated Warbler both present, although not much else was seen. Ended up doing some shopping in the afternoon which added House Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird, American Crow and Loggerhead Shrike. Common Nighthawk was heard but not seen around the hotel in the evening.
24th
After a bit of dithering we headed for Viera Wetlands on Monday morning and this proved to be a good decision. This was my first visit and I loved the place, loads of birds and some were very approachable. First bird of note was a Crested Caracara accompanied by several Turkey Vultures swiftly followed by a very obliging Limpkin strolling along the road in front of us. This was my first proper view of this species with only brief views on our previous trip. There were a few seen throughout the day in different areas. There were also a few Pied-billed Grebes present in the retention ponds and several White Ibis were also seen. A group of Purple Martins and a single Osprey perched on the remains of palm trees, presumably damaged in previous hurricanes. After eating our lunch a pair of Sandhill Cranes with two chicks in tow offered very close up views. My first lifer of the day, Black-bellied Whistling Duck gave distant views, with a group of around eight birds perched on a fairly inaccessible corner, luckily we obtained very close views of one individual around five feet from the car later. A second lifer, Least Bittern provided good flight views and looked very small compared to the other Herons and Egrets present. Shortly afterwards a Green Heron was seen perched on a reed before flying off. Another Loggerhead Shrike was also present and a single small Alligator stared at us from a safe distance.
25th was a shopping day and very little seen apart from House Sparrows. More to follow........
23rd
I was up early on Sunday morning to visit Gatorland where you can buy a photographers pass and enter the park at 7.30am. The rookery provides excellent close up views of Great, Cattle and Snowy Egrets, Tri-colored, Green and Great Blue Herons as well as Wood Storks. There were also nesting Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga and Black Vultures around the rookery area. The only warblers seen in that area were juvenile Northern Parulas. I decided to take the “Swamp Walk” and this proved to be a good decision with my first lifers of the trip Tufted Titmouse and Yellow-throated Warbler both present, although not much else was seen. Ended up doing some shopping in the afternoon which added House Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird, American Crow and Loggerhead Shrike. Common Nighthawk was heard but not seen around the hotel in the evening.
24th
After a bit of dithering we headed for Viera Wetlands on Monday morning and this proved to be a good decision. This was my first visit and I loved the place, loads of birds and some were very approachable. First bird of note was a Crested Caracara accompanied by several Turkey Vultures swiftly followed by a very obliging Limpkin strolling along the road in front of us. This was my first proper view of this species with only brief views on our previous trip. There were a few seen throughout the day in different areas. There were also a few Pied-billed Grebes present in the retention ponds and several White Ibis were also seen. A group of Purple Martins and a single Osprey perched on the remains of palm trees, presumably damaged in previous hurricanes. After eating our lunch a pair of Sandhill Cranes with two chicks in tow offered very close up views. My first lifer of the day, Black-bellied Whistling Duck gave distant views, with a group of around eight birds perched on a fairly inaccessible corner, luckily we obtained very close views of one individual around five feet from the car later. A second lifer, Least Bittern provided good flight views and looked very small compared to the other Herons and Egrets present. Shortly afterwards a Green Heron was seen perched on a reed before flying off. Another Loggerhead Shrike was also present and a single small Alligator stared at us from a safe distance.
25th was a shopping day and very little seen apart from House Sparrows. More to follow........