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Birders Enjoy Some Fowl Play

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 17, 2007

NORTH TAMPA - Along the Hillsborough River last weekend, the mood was fowl.

A small downy woodpecker expertly chipped away at some cypress bark while a pine warbler flew back and forth among pine tree branches. Below, a tiny blue-grey gnat catcher hovered near a cluster of palmettos, and an anhinga sat near the river shoreline.

There was no shortage of unaware participants Nov. 10 during a Tampa Audubon Society Beginning Birders field trip at Lettuce Lake Park.

About 15 birders got together beginning at 9 a.m. at the Audubon Resource Center in the park along Fletcher Avenue to go on the bird-watching walk. The field trip was one of the Audubon Society's regular field trips held each weekend and the second Beginning Birders walk this year.

Led by Mary Keith, Tampa Audubon field trip coordinator, and Ann Paul, Tampa Audubon co-president, the field trip was held to showcase the more than 40 bird species that inhabit the park.

And they didn't let the human visitors down, with plenty on hand throughout the area.

"Hear that? That's the little pine warbler's warning sound, saying to the other birds, 'Come here; something's around,'" said Paul, referring to the bird's tweets at the group's encroachment.

Before heading to the boardwalk, Keith and Paul said 240-acre Lettuce Lake Park is a good place to watch birds because of its waterline and upland features. As the group followed, the guides periodically stopped, stood silent, listened and looked for birds.

Following the sighting of a downy woodpecker - the smallest and most common American woodpecker, found throughout most of North America - the group scoped out a snail kite, a great egret with outstretched wings and a vulture flying across the Hillsborough River.

Paul said the field trips are held to get people interested in learning about the birds that share the Tampa Bay area and to encourage residents to appreciate the environment.

"There's something special about getting out in nature and seeing what's out here. We want them to appreciate the habitat, and these birds are here because that habitat is here," she said.

A short time later, the highlight of the trip appeared. The group spotted a brown, white-spotted limpkin near the boardwalk.

As guests got their cameras and binoculars out, Keith said it was unusual to see one in the daytime because of its declining numbers.

"This is a pleasure because it's a species of special concern," she said. "It's really nice to see one here. Florida is the only place in the U.S. these occur; it's one of our species."

By the conclusion of the field trip about 11 a.m., the Audubon members and guests had seen at least 10 bird species - a good result, Paul said.

Another birding field trip is scheduled for Dec. 8 in Mount Dora. For details, call (813) 935-6115 or visit www.tampa audubon.org.

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