Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

Subbing for John Hutchison, I led yesterday's TAS walk at Richardson Park in Wilton Manors, Broward County. Eight birders joined me. The park itself was very quiet, but we did see three parrot species while there: Red-crowned Parrot, Blue-crowned Parakeet and Red-masked Parakeet. Six of us then decided to head north to Yamato Scrub Natural Area in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, where we easily found the Least Grebe in the first pond along the paved path that leads from the parking area. A photo of the grebe is linked below. An immature Bald Eagle flew by while we were there. We ended the morning at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, where we all enjoyed the ongoing wading bird nesting spectacle. Parent and baby Wood Storks, Anhingas and other wetland species were viewed at incredibly close range, all seemingly unconcerned by the throngs of onlookers. Several birds, including Tricolored Heron and Glossy Ibis were still incubating eggs. Other species encountered here included Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Least Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Gray-headed Swamphen, Black-necked Stilt, Purple Martin, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler and American Redstart. We were unable to find any Neotropic Cormorants, though.