RECAP – St. Marks Field Trip Jan 6-7

by Fred Hileman

We arrived at the Visitor Center on Lighthouse Road around noon and were pleasantly surprised to see several friends we hadn’t seen in a while. Reesa Fassett came over from St. Augustine, along with Mike and Effie Smith, plus some regular birders and a few newcomers.

We began birding the pond and surrounding woods, though activity was fairly slow. The biggest surprise was a Diamondback Rattlesnake coiled within two feet of the path—so well hidden that some of us had already walked past it. The snake appeared to be warming itself but soon began to rouse, and we quickly and wisely left the area.

Bird activity remained light, perhaps due to the afternoon timing and siesta hours. Most sightings were of commonly seen species, but we did find a Brown-headed Nuthatch, which was a life bird for some in the group. A Northern Harrier was especially cooperative, giving us excellent views.

We continued toward the lighthouse, adding more common species along the way until the lighthouse loomed above us. This area proved to be the most active. Marbled Godwits were abundant, along with Black Skimmers, Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Widgeons, Terns, Mergansers, Green Heron, Common Loon, Roseate Spoonbills, and Reddish Egret. Unfortunately, thick fog rolled in and severely limited visibility, making identification difficult as the gray pall obscured distant views.

The following day at Bottoms Road began with my favorite moment—the sunrise over the marsh. This is always my main objective when starting a trip at Bottoms Road, and I was not disappointed. I suspect the group thought I was a bit batty at first, but as the sun rose, car doors opened, people poured out, and cameras began clicking. It was glorious.

A Bald Eagle perched on a distant snag greeted the morning beautifully. Also seen were Great Blue Herons, Hooded Mergansers, Brown Pelicans, Greater Yellowlegs, Buffleheads, Terns, Towhees, Loon, and Tree Swallows. Our surprises included Song Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, and Nelson’s Sparrow—Effie captured a great photo of the Nelson’s.

Another highlight was a Clapper Rail that began bathing and then preening, offering excellent photo opportunities. Again Effie took a great photo.