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Recap - Ocala Wetlands

1/26/2022

The weatherman warned of an incoming cold front for Saturday. Possible rain in the early morning hours. Sometimes that’s not all that bad. After all, we have not seen many migrants from up north. There were only a few Robins and some Cedar Waxwings on our Christmas Bird Count on January 4 so maybe this front could bring something good. Well, while I slept Friday night the front came through with some clouds and rain. The worst would be a northern wind predicted to be at 10 miles per hour. When I woke at 5:30 it was cold and blustery, just as predicted. But I was the field trip leader, so I felt obligated to be there.

During the drive to Ocala things did not improve. On the way I got a text from one of the field trip participants. Was it a warning when he said he couldn’t make it? But what if others showed up and I wasn’t there to greet them? “Duty Calls”.
8:00 a.m. and on time. Still an overcast day, cold and a bit windy. With the temperature at 42, I said to myself that this is still a great birding spot. Since no one showed up I took off to find what I could find. Turns out the day was not as bad as it seemed. The few birds that did venture out didn’t seem to mind the “bad birding conditions”

Right away I heard the scratchy/raspy call of a Red-headed Woodpecker, one of 6 that I saw that day. Then the striking tuxedoed bird flew by. The first pool ahead had drained due to a sinkhole opening but in the moist mud there was a Killdeer and about 25 female Red-winged Blackbirds. In a far snag sat a Red-tailed Hawk. On the ground many Palm Warblers bobbed their tails while looking for something to eat. In the next pool a male Hooded Merganser showed himself while accompanied by a female. Then a Pied-billed Grebe popped up. Although vocal, the Common Gallinules were hunkered down in the reeds, while an immature, Red-shouldered Hawk sat in a nearby snag watching them. Yah, it wasn’t the best day to go birding, but I knew this newest of birding spots would not disappoint.

Altogether I tallied 29 species.
Ken Spilios

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Recap - Lake Apopka

1/14/2022

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Fifteen members and guests took the eleven-mile Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive on Friday, January 14th. It was chilly and breezy – a welcome change for some from the warmer than normal weather we had for the McKethan Lake outing.
Ken Spilios led and reported sightings via walkie talkie from the front truck. He had a capable side kick in Bob Ross. There is a photo of them here as they bird from atop Mt. Apopka.
The number and variety of birds was a joy to behold after experiencing relatively few birds in previous outings this season. Early sightings included a male and a female Painted Bunting. Purple and Gray Swamphens cooperated as we crept along toward the big rest stop. A female Northern Shoveler duck was spotted there. Later, Ken and Bob were able to get three males in the scope. Other notable sightings included large numbers of Fulvous and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Many Ring-necks and Blue-winged Teal were sighted along the way. Large flights of unknown ducks were seen several times in the distance.
Raptors consisted of a kestrel along Lust Rd. before the gate, an eagle, ospreys, and Red-shouldered Hawks. Late in the drive, Jim Meyer and Eileen Riccio spotted a Peregrine Falcon atop a telephone pole. Ken and Bob stopped to talk with some friends from Volusia Audubon who had a scope on a flock of American Pipits at the sod field.
It was a most enjoyable morning in good company. In all, 48 species were recorded.

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Christmas Bird Count

1/4/2022

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   122nd National Audubon’s CBC
Citrus County Audubon’s 34th Annual Christmas Bird Count
(129 Species found)
In the 34 years since our first Citrus County Audubon Christmas Bird Count, we have seen many changes come to Citrus County. In 1988, during our first CBC, the population of Citrus County was about 90,000; now it is about 150,000. In 1988 we had many rural areas and wetlands in our count circle. In 2022, we inevitably found less undisturbed areas and more urbanization.   With growth comes loss of wildlife habitat, therefore. fewer areas where we traditionally found birds.
In the years Citrus County Audubon has done a Christmas Bird Count we have averaged 127 species found in our count circle each year.   Although the species found in Citrus County this year remained about the same, at 129, the total number of birds counted has gone down over the years.
One example is the Scrub Jay. In past years we found many colonies of Jays in our count circle. This time we found Scrub Jays in just one area of our circle. Another example is the Burrowing Owl, which was always found throughout our count circle, but this year we found none.
Fewer Ducks were found because of milder weather in the beginning of this winter. Fewer Sparrows were found for the same reason. A lot of birds did not fly south as they have in the past. We also found far lower numbers of Robins and Cedar Waxwings compared to years past.
Our Christmas Bird Count results were compiled by Kevin Brabble. We had 45 CCAS members in 12 teams and found 129 species and a total of 9559 birds seen on count day. Thanks to all participating members!

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Recap - Ocala Wetlands

Recap - Lake Apopka

Christmas Bird Count

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