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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kibet" data-source="post: 3538880" data-attributes="member: 126488">Day 7 Friday 10th MarchBrooker Creek Preserve – Power Grid US19/E Tarpon Ave – AL Anderson ParkWe decided to return to Brooker Creek Preserve in the hope for another chance to improve on the Swallow-Tailed Kite Photograph and see if there would be any new Warblers by doing the long walking route. We started on a mini boardwalk, allowing to see the Carolina Wren calling, and a Hermit Thrush sitting saying nothing. Another Gray Catbird perched on a rather thin branch and a Mourning Dove on a firmer branch as we headed up the Black Water Cutoff Trail. There was a chill in the undergrowth at this part of the walk, and not much was seen. In a few weeks, it may be a hive of activity but for now, there was nothing. Reaching the top of the trail, we did the top little loop of the Needle path trail, and was greeted immediately by a Carolina Chickadee. There was a fogginess to the picture, and I realised that as soon as we went from the cold undergrowth to the open sunny area, all the water in the air condensed on my lens. A quick wipe and a few more shots. I was so glad that it was not a repeat of the condensing in the inside of the lens of Hawk Hill on my SF Trip. Every so often, we would get a little hotspot with a bit of activity but for much of the walk it was very quiet. One area, just after catching a snap of a Palm Warbler, followed by a Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, had another chance of a Carolina Chickadee, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and a Northern Parula. Sadly on the walk back, there was no Kites, just Turkey and Black Vultures, a Red-Shouldered Hawk and a Short-Tailed Hawk (flying away from me yet again). Around the nature center, there was Black-and-White Warbler and Pileated Woodpecker to finish off Brooker Creek.From there we headed up to the Power Grid on US19, next right after the Shell gas station on E Tarpon Ave. This was just a short stop. There is a security gate at the power grid, but parking spaces before you go in. We parked in one of these spaces and nobody was around or came out to ask what we were doing. The Monk Parakeets were nesting on the power grid itself, with also Eurasian Collared Doves and Eurasian Starlings. There also seemed to be another nest of a larger bird, but we never saw anything. We could also see the Nanday (Black-Hooded) Parakeets across the road from this position, with one in a nesting hole in a telegraph pole and also on the trees. We turned back onto US19, did a U turn at the first left and went into the Walmart car park on the right. Immediately in, we turned right into a smaller car park where we had seen the Nanday. There was still a few on the trees, but immediately above our head were 4-5 allowing us to get good views. We went to check out A.L. Anderson Park, and there was nothing seen to speak about. It was all just quiet, other than a Boat-Tailed Grackle at some benches as we watched a juvenile turtle that kept getting distracted and losing the parent turtle. It was rather amusing as it went to the nearest turtle only to realise it was not the parent. The parent would eventually come back to the area, and the juvenile would come shooting across, before getting distracted again. There was a promise of a Reclamation pond and a sink hole, but nothing was in there.Photographed New Species – 45/60</blockquote>

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