At around 11 AM, I walked out the path towards the observation tower. Although it was pretty windy, I spotted a few Painted Buntings, Indigo Bunting, and a female Blue Grosbeak along with Common Yellowthroat and numerous Palm Warblers. The Painted Buntings have to be the most colorful songbird in the country.
Birds seen over the marshy area from the observation tower included Common and Purple Gallinule, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, and a distant Snail Kite with a band on its left leg.
Just southwest of the observation tower were the continuing male Vermilion Flycatcher and the Tropical Kingbird.
While attempting to take a photo of the Tropical Kingbird, the Vermilion Flycatcher 'photobombed' it. The flycatcher isn't in focus, but the fact that both of these species are in the same frame is amazing.
The lake area produced American Coot, a 'fly-by' Royal Tern, Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, White Ibis, and Osprey. Not finding the munias, I decided to drive into the nearby town of Belle Glade and get something to eat. By the time I returned to Torry Island, the skies had brightened considerably and the winds had died down. A Loggerhead Shrike perched on a sign at the parking lot and Boat-tailed Grackles showed off their glossy colors.
Two Common Ground Doves fed just beyond the observation tower with a few Mourning Doves, allowing for a great comparison of the two.
While watching the edge of the reeds, I happened to notice something tiny and tan-colored move near the bee box between the last bench and the observation tower. I quickly got my binoculars on it and realized that it was one of the Tricolored Munias. Right after that, a second bird joined it and the two birds proceeded to methodically feed around all sides of the tower. They spent most of their time next to the tower, feeding on seeds in the grass between the path and the lake shore's corner. There, they showed off their silvery-blue bills, tiny tails, and overall small size.
After watching them for about a half-hour, I happily walked back to the car and returned to the Best Western in Palm Beach Lakes for the night.
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