Purple Swamphen at Wakodatchee Wetlands, 7/26/2015

Wakodatchee Wetlands
Purple Swamphen
I spent the night last night in Boynton Beach, and I left for home early this morning. However, I just had to check out Wakodatchee Wetlands, so I left about an hour early to drop by the park.  My target bird was Purple Swamphen, and it did not take too long to find them.  Purple Swamphens are not native to the U.S.  They are an Eurasian bird that has become established in South Florida since some escaped into the wild back in the 1990's.  At least one has been reported in Brevard County, but most remain farther south.  These birds are now considered countable by the ABA as of 2013.

Wakodatchee Wetlands
Purple Swamphen
Aside from that, I was impressed with the wetlands.  It's truly beautiful, and I loved the boardwalk much more than a wildlife drive.  There were many herons, egrets, cormorants and anhingas breeding within the wetlands, but the highlights for me were a Cattle Egret striking a nice pose and an adult Tricolored Heron feeding a young one. Here's my eBird checklist for the morning.

Wakodatchee Wetlands
Cattle Egret
Wakodatchee Wetlands
Tricolored Heron

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