Viera Wetlands, 1/18/2014

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Yesterday I made it out to Viera Wetlands for a little bit during the afternoon. I much prefer to go in the morning, but even though family commitments kept me home in the morning, afternoon birding proved to be all that I'd hoped.  My biggest goal was to see an Ash-throated Flycatcher that's been seen nearby in the Moccasin Island tract of the River Lakes Conservation Area (just down the street from the wetlands). I went there first, and about 15 minutes after arriving it showed itself.  I wasn't able to get presentable photos, so after it disappeared, I went to the "click" ponds, but I returned a little later, and this time it showed itself a little better, and I had some very good looks at this wonderful flycatcher. The short drive from the click ponds to the flycatcher was also productive.  Here are some photos from along the drive.

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Harrier

Loggerhead Shrike

American Kestrel

The click ponds had more birds in it than I think I've ever seen there before. It was filled with Green-winged Teal, White Pelicans, Least Sandpipers, and Tree Swallows, but there were a smattering of other birds there too, including one Roseate Spoonbill,  one Black Skimmer, one Mute Swan, one Canvasback, and an assortment of other wading birds, ducks, and shorebirds.

Black Skimmer

American White Pelican

Canvasback with Lesser Scaup

After that I decided to drive around the wetlands area before heading home.  This would have been disappointing were it not for a couple Great Blue Herons on their nest and a cantankerous American Bittern. A nearby White Ibis must have ticked it off, and after the Ibis flew, the bittern raised its head and then put on a menacing display--it spread its wings and raised all of its feathers on its neck.  Unfortunately, it was facing away from us as it did this, but as it was settling down, it eventually it turned a little towards us, and we had the chance to see the bittern with many of its neck feather still raised. On the way out I heard a couple Least Bitterns calling, which are the first I've heard there during the winter time.

Great Blue Herons on Nest

American Bittern

American Bittern with raised feathers

NOTE: A few people have emailed me about where these locations are at Viera Wetlands.  So that my directions might benefit others, I've placed them here:

Take I-95 to Wickham Rd west. The main area is on the left hand side of Wickham Rd, and I assume that's the area you know, just past the treatment plant. But just before the entrance to that area (just before the treatment plant) there's another road called Powerline Rd. If you turn right there, then immediately to your left is another dirt road. It may have a name, but I don't know it. You'll see a Duda sign there. If you make an immediate left on that road, look on your right for another dirt road. It's very close to Powerline Rd. You'll see a small sign there that says "click" ponds.

If you pass the entrance to the click ponds, that dirt road continues for perhaps 3 miles (I'm not actually sure how long that road is) or so to the conservation area. There's a parking area at the end of the road, and there's a bridge there that can take you south (on foot; you can't drive it). Look just south of that bridge for the Ash-throated Flycatcher.

If you check Google Maps and zoom into the area on the end of Wickham Rd, you'll be able to see the main wetlands area and the click ponds, and you'll also be able to see the dirt road that leads you to the parking area with a bridge.