On Wednesday, March 22, volunteer Dick Brewer walked the trails at Bird Rookery Swamp and sent us his wildlife observations.
If you are planning on visiting Bird Rookery Swamp this weekend, trail conditions are very dry and water levels are low. Below are Dick’s observations along with photos by Dick and another volunteer, Bill Zaino.
Please note that there are no guarantees that you will see the same animals that were seen on March 22.
Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Wednesday, March 22
7:15 a.m. 3:25 p.m.
BIRDS
Anhinga – 23
Great Blue Heron – 4
Great Egret – 38
Little Blue Heron – 11
Tri-Colored Heron – 2
Green Heron – 5
Black-crowned Night Heron – 14
White Ibis – 31
Roseate Spoonbill – 4
Wood Stork – 17
Black Vulture – 117
Turkey Vulture – 33
Red-shouldered Hawk – 25
Common Ground Dove – 4
Mourning Dove – 4
Barred Owl – 3
Belted Kingfisher – 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 30
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
Downy Woodpecker – 3
Pileated Woodpecker – 7
Eastern Phoebe – 4
Great-crested Flycatcher – 6
Carolina Wren – 23
House Wren – 1
Blue Jay – 1
American Crow – 3
Tufted Titmouse – 16
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 12
Gray Catbird – 34
White-eyed Vireo – 24
Blue-headed Vireo – 1
Ovenbird – 1
Northern Waterthrush – 1
Black-and-white Warbler – 7
Common Yellowthroat – 6
Northern Parula – 10
Black-throated Green Warbler – 2
Palm Warbler – 15
Northern Cardinal – 13
Common Grackle – 2
BUTTERFLIES
Spicebush Swallowtail – 3
Palamedes Swallowtail – 18
Tiger Swallowtail – 1
Zebra Longwing – 42
Julia – 3
White Peacock – 62
Gulf Fritillary – 3
Viceroy – 2
Phaon Crescent – 10
Pearl Crescent – 1
Great Southern White – 1
Cassius Blue – 5
Tropical Checker – 3
Red-Waisted Florella Moth – 3
DRAGONFLIES
Eastern Pondhawk – 26
Needham’s Skimmer – 4
Blue Dasher – 8
REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS
Alligator – 139
Brown Anole – 2
Red-bellied Turtle – 20
Banded Water Snake – 1
MAMMALS
Gray Squirrel – 1
River Otter – 3
Raccoon – 2
Cottontail Rabbit – 1
