December 1, 1994
This part of the Corbett Wildlife Management Area is an interesting place, featuring the “Hungryland” boardwalk through a cypress swamp, and the nearby Everglades Youth Camp (which was not currently in session). There is an extensive boardwalk access across the marsh and lake, and during my visit, I never encountered another person. It was lovey to have the place to myself!
One of the things that amazed me was the huge flocks of American Robins that I saw here, and elsewhere in Florida. Hundreds of birds together, which they just don’t do in Indiana. Winter/migratory behavior, I suppose. Another bird that is far more abundant here is Northern Mockingbird. I am lucky to see three or four a year in Indiana, and some years I see none. Perhaps they prefer the warm weather here (and in California, where they also seem more abundant).
I also saw what I think was a Glossy Ibis, although it might have been an immature White Ibis. I saw an unknown woodpecker, along with several warblers and sparrows that I couldn’t identify, and a possible Cooper’s Hawk. There were lots of spiders here, although they were different from the ones I’d seen at the beach, and one of the wading birds I spotted might have been a Sandhill Crane.
Species List
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata coronata), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps podiceps), Green Heron (Butorides virescens virescens), Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), Great Egret (Ardea alba egretta), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula thula), Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus albus), Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura septentrionalis), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus extimus), Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos polyglottos), Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga leucogaster), Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis serripennis), Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia), Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata semplei), possible Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Let me know what you think!