Field Note #11: People everywhere

Date of Survey: 031116

Official Low Tide: 3:55pm            Survey start time: 2:30 pm   Survey end time: 5:25pm

Tide heights: -.09’ / -27cm

Mudflats exposed? Y     Temperature: 79°F/ 26°               Cloud cover: 90%

Common Name	Counts of birds foraging on mud flats	Behavior Forage-F Rest/roost-R Fly over -FO	Disturbance (Flushing-F, displaced-D, agitated-A)	Feeding location *Primary flat (P)   Mangrove flat (M)
Snowy egret	2	F	D-h-1	M
Great blue heron	8	FO-2; F	D-H(traffic)	P-1; M
Little blue heron	5	F, FO-2	D-H-2	M
white ibis	9	F, FO-2	D-H-3	M
Roseate Spoonbill	1	F		M
Wood Stork	1	FO
Total	26	(7 FOs)

Notes:  Humans everywhere in this mixed use facility. 8 Fisherman; 6 paddle boarders; 6 Kayakers; and 5 drunken spring breakers trying to fly fish. They were very loud and almost displaced us!! 25 humans to 26 birds [7 were flyovers, so actually only 19 on the flats]. Disturbing.

Side NOTE: I took a trip south to Miami on the Florida Turnpike. Around the Boynton Beach, FL area, I had the pleasure of spotting flocks of glossy Ibis and an American Bittern on the side of the road foraging. I had never seen either before. Apparently, I need to go visit southwestern Palm Beach County more often! This proves there are wading birds out there, just not so much at this mixed use park anymore.

So here is a glossy Ibis!!

Image reference: http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/graphics/glossyibis2sm.jpg