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”
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
Ken Spilios
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