Florida Trip ~ May 9, 1997

After talking over the situation, Babe willingly agreed that we should head back to Key Largo and try for the Mangrove Cuckoo first thing in the morning. A quick stop at the Burger King along US-1 south of SW 344th Street produced looks at Common Mynas. When we reached Pennekamp State Park, we took a walk down the Wild Tamarind Trail. Just past the point where the trail split, we heard what sounded like the call notes of the bird. Eventually, we determined it to be two different birds calling back and forth to each other. After some searching, Babe caught sight of the bird and directed me onto my 'life' Mangrove Cuckoo. I found it about three feet off the ground. It then flew up near the top of one of the trees where I got good looks at it highlighted by the sun.

Mangrove Cuckoo at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida.

Hurricane Andrew's destruction was very evident along the way to Everglades National Park. There were many empty spaces where people never rebuilt; and whole woodlots were wiped out, leaving nothing left but patches of snapped-off tree trunks. Just inside the park entrance, we parked along the road to Taylor Slough. It was at this spot that a birder on the Tortugas trip had seen Short-tailed Hawks. We, however, weren't that lucky.

We headed down the park road toward Flamingo, making several stops along the way. We stopped at Royal Palm Hammock and walked the Anhinga Trail. There, we saw Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great "White" and Great Blue Heron, more American Alligators, and a Florida Softshell Tortoise.

Great "White" Heron at the Royal Palm Hammock in Everglades National Park, Florida.

Next, we stopped at Paurotis Pond, which held White Ibis and Wood Storks.

White Ibis at Paurotis Pond in Everglades National Park, Florida.

At Flamingo, we started to walk around Eco Pond but got inundated by a massive amount of mosquitoes. Back inside the car, we found all of the car windows covered with mosquitoes wanting to get in and started killing the bunch that did get in. We retraced our route back up the park road with stops at West Lake, Nine Mile Pond, and the area around Mahogany Hammock. Birds seen along the way included Brown Pelican, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, Black Vulture, Swallow-tailed Kite, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Common Tern, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and White-eyed Vireo.

Our nest destination was the town of Kendall. On the way there, we stopped near Cutler Ridge and saw the "West Indian" race of Cave Swallow at the canal bridge over SW 216th Street. In Kendall, we stopped at the Furchgott's home, located at the corner of SW 96th Street and 69th Avenue. There, I saw my first Yellow-chevroned Parakeets and a pair of Spot-breasted Orioles in addition to Mitred Parakeets and Blue-crowned Parrots.

Next, we searched the area surrounding the Royal Palm Tennis Courts for Bulbuls. There, on the roof of a house located just outside the tennis club, I got to see my 'life' Red-whiskered Bulbul, thanks again to Babe. We returned to the Furchgott's home where I managed to get some pictures of the Spot-breasted Orioles.

Spot-breasted Oriole in Kendall, Florida.

Also found in the area were Monk Parakeet, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, and Common and Boat-tailed Grackle.

We returned to Homestead where we had a nice farewell dinner with Wes Biggs' group and spent our last night's stay at the Everglades Motel.

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