Draft Biological Assessment Report Design Update Technical Memorandum I-75 (SR 93) at SR 884 (Colonial Blvd) Interchange Lee County, Florida

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Draft Biological Assessment Report Design Update Technical Memorandum I-75 (SR 93) at SR 884 (Colonial Blvd) Interchange Lee County, Florida Draft Biological Assessment Report Design Update Technical Memorandum I-75 (SR 93) at SR 884 (Colonial Blvd) Interchange Lee County, Florida Financial Project ID No. 413065-1-32-01 Prepared for: Florida Department of Transportation District One P.O. Box 1249 Bartow, Florida 33830-1249 May 2017 Draft Biological Assessment Report Design Update Technical Memorandum I-75 (SR 93) at SR 884 (Colonial Blvd) Interchange Lee County, Florida Financial Project ID No. 413065-1-32-01 Prepared for: Florida Department of Transportation District One P.O. Box 1249 Bartow, Florida 33830-1249 Prepared by: American Consulting Professionals, LLC 2818 Cypress Ridge Boulevard, Suite 200 Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544-6302 May 2017 Table of Contents SECTION 1 Project Description .................................................................................................................. 1 SECTION 2 Land Use .................................................................................................................................. 1 SECTION 3 Wildlife and Habitat ................................................................................................................. 3 3.1 PD&E Species Effect Determinations ............................................................................................ 3 3.2 Listing Status Changes ................................................................................................................... 3 3.3 Federal-Listed Species ................................................................................................................... 4 3.3.1 Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) ..................................................................................... 4 3.3.2 Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) ...................................................................... 4 3.3.3 American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) ................................................................................................................................ 4 3.3.4 Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) .................................................................... 4 3.3.5 Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) .................................................................. 5 3.3.6 Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi) ............................................................................... 5 3.3.7 Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) .............................................................. 5 3.3.8 Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) .................................................................... 5 3.3.9 Audubon’s Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus audubonii) ............................................. 6 3.3.10 Everglade Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) ...................................................... 6 3.3.11 Florida Bonneted Bat (Eumops floridanus) ......................................................................... 6 3.4 Non-Listed, Federal-Protected Species ......................................................................................... 6 3.4.1 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) ................................................................................ 6 3.4.2 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) ................................................................................................. 6 3.5 State-Listed Species ...................................................................................................................... 8 3.5.1 Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) ........................................................................... 8 3.5.2 Gopher Frog (Rana capito) ................................................................................................. 8 3.5.3 Florida Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) ............................................................ 8 3.5.4 Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) ............................................................................................... 8 3.5.5 Wetland Dependent Birds .................................................................................................. 8 3.5.6 Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana) ....................................................... 9 3.5.7 Southeastern American Kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus) ................................................. 9 3.5.8 Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) .............................................................. 9 3.5.9 Big Cypress Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia) and Sherman’s Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani) ................................................................................................................... 9 3.5.10 Sherman’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina shermani) ........................................................... 10 3.6 Federal and State-Listed Plants................................................................................................... 10 3.7 Conclusion and Commitments .................................................................................................... 10 List of Figures Figure 1 Project Location Map .......................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2 Protected Species Map ....................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables Table 1 Potential Species within the Project Area/Corridor ......................................................... 12 I-75 at Colonial Boulevard Design i Biological Assessment Report Design Update FPID No. 413065-1-32-01 Technical Memorandum SECTION 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION A Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study was completed for Interstate 75 (I-75) from south of Bonita Beach Road to north of State Road (SR) 78, in Lee County, FL, a distance of approximately 27.9 miles. The Type 2 Categorical Exclusion for this project was approved in December 2002 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The I-75/Colonial Boulevard (SR 884) interchange was part of the approved PD&E. This design update focuses on improvements to the I-75/Colonial Boulevard interchange as well as improvements along Colonial Boulevard. This section of Colonial Boulevard is an urban principal arterial in the City of Fort Myers in Lee County. This project begins from west of Ortiz Ave to east of Dynasty Drive including ramp improvements on I-75. A project location map is provided below as Figure 1. The project is anticipated to enhance overall safety, capacity, and emergency evacuation within the County. In addition, the project will help serve travel demands created by anticipated countywide population and employment growth. The planned improvements will enhance access to I-75, as the I-75 interchange is in the center of this project. Colonial Boulevard is state maintained from US 41/SR 45 in the west to Dynasty Drive in the east, serving as a main connection of the west and east sections of Lee County. Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volumes on Colonial Boulevard for the opening year, 2020, are projected to be 88,000 while the design year, 2042 is anticipated to be 99,800. The purpose of this report is to identify wildlife and habitat impacts from the original Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study and compare to impacts proposed from the current design. This includes habitat assessment, potential for Federal- and State-listed species, agency coordination, and changes in listing status. The prior PD&E study evaluated approximatively 27 miles of roadway. This current project evaluates approximately 2 miles, as a result the impacts to the wetlands and species will be substantially less in the current evaluation. SECTION 2 LAND USE The majority of the land use within the project limits is classified by the Florida Land Use Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as commercial and services (FLUCCS 1400). The majority of the project will be included within the existing right of way (ROW), with the exception of storm water management facilities which will require additional ROW along the north side of Colonial Boulevard adjacent to Ortiz Boulevard. There are small areas of natural habitat that exist within the ROW that are either a continuation of habitats from off-site or the remainder of habitats that were previously developed adjacent to the interstate. I-75 at Colonial Boulevard Design 1 Biological Assessment Report Design Update FPID No. 413065-1-32-01 Technical Memorandum !"b$ Project Area !"b$ A³ !"b$ Dynasty Dr Ortiz Ave Ortiz Begin Project Forum Blvd A³ Colonial Blvd A³ End Project 6 6 Mile CypressPkwy !"b$ I-75 (SR 93) at Colonial Boulevard 0 250 500 Interchange Design Study Project Location Map Figure 1 FPID: 413065-1-32-01 Feet ± Lee County, FL SECTION 3 WILDLIFE AND HABITAT A Biological Assessment report was completed for the PD&E study in November 2002. The PD&E study limits were from South of Bonita Beach Road to North of S.R. 78 in Lee County. This addendum focuses on the I-75/Colonial Boulevard interchange and the associated limits along Colonial Boulevard from approximately ½ mile west of Ortiz Avenue to just east of Dynasty Drive. Field reviews were conducted for this project in April 2017. The species identified as part of the PD&E as well as additional species not discussed previously, and the effect determinations associated with this segment, are discussed below. 3.1 PD&E Species Effect Determinations The following
Recommended publications
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge BIRD LIST
    Merrritt Island National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service P.O. Box 2683 Titusville, FL 32781 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island 321/861 0669 Visitor Center Merritt Island U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD National Wildlife Refuge March 2019 Bird List photo: James Lyon Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, located just Seasonal Occurrences east of Titusville, shares a common boundary with the SP - Spring - March, April, May John F. Kennedy Space Center. Its coastal location, SU - Summer - June, July, August tropic-like climate, and wide variety of habitat types FA - Fall - September, October, November contribute to Merritt Island’s diverse bird population. WN - Winter - December, January, February The Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee lists 521 species of birds statewide. To date, 359 You may see some species outside the seasons indicated species have been identified on the refuge. on this checklist. This phenomenon is quite common for many birds. However, the checklist is designed to Of special interest are breeding populations of Bald indicate the general trend of migration and seasonal Eagles, Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish abundance for each species and, therefore, does not Egrets, and Mottled Ducks. Spectacular migrations account for unusual occurrences. of passerine birds, especially warblers, occur during spring and fall. In winter tens of thousands of Abundance Designation waterfowl may be seen. Eight species of herons and C – Common - These birds are present in large egrets are commonly observed year-round. numbers, are widespread, and should be seen if you look in the correct habitat. Tips on Birding A good field guide and binoculars provide the basic U – Uncommon - These birds are present, but because tools useful in the observation and identification of of their low numbers, behavior, habitat, or distribution, birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Houde2009chap64.Pdf
    Cranes, rails, and allies (Gruiformes) Peter Houde of these features are subject to allometric scaling. Cranes Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Box 30001 are exceptional migrators. While most rails are generally MSC 3AF, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, USA ([email protected]) more sedentary, they are nevertheless good dispersers. Many have secondarily evolved P ightlessness aJ er col- onizing remote oceanic islands. Other members of the Abstract Grues are nonmigratory. 7 ey include the A nfoots and The cranes, rails, and allies (Order Gruiformes) form a mor- sungrebe (Heliornithidae), with three species in as many phologically eclectic group of bird families typifi ed by poor genera that are distributed pantropically and disjunctly. species diversity and disjunct distributions. Molecular data Finfoots are foot-propelled swimmers of rivers and lakes. indicate that Gruiformes is not a natural group, but that it 7 eir toes, like those of coots, are lobate rather than pal- includes a evolutionary clade of six “core gruiform” fam- mate. Adzebills (Aptornithidae) include two recently ilies (Suborder Grues) and a separate pair of closely related extinct species of P ightless, turkey-sized, rail-like birds families (Suborder Eurypygae). The basal split of Grues into from New Zealand. Other extant Grues resemble small rail-like and crane-like lineages (Ralloidea and Gruoidea, cranes or are morphologically intermediate between respectively) occurred sometime near the Mesozoic– cranes and rails, and are exclusively neotropical. 7 ey Cenozoic boundary (66 million years ago, Ma), possibly on include three species in one genus of forest-dwelling the southern continents. Interfamilial diversifi cation within trumpeters (Psophiidae) and the monotypic Limpkin each of the ralloids, gruoids, and Eurypygae occurred within (Aramidae) of both forested and open wetlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
    Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region August 2008 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Brevard and Volusia Counties, Florida U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia August 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 3 U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service ...................................................................................................... 4 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 4 Legal Policy Context ..................................................................................................................... 5 National Conservation Plans and Initiatives .................................................................................6 Relationship to State Partners .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Florida Field Naturalist
    FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST QUARTERLYPUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA~RNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY VOL.10, NO. 3 AUGUST1982 PAGES45-64 OBSERVATIONS ON LIMPKIN NESTING Little has been published on the nesting of the Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) (Bent 1926), although additional unpublished studies have recently been completed by Ingalls (1972) and Bryan (pers. comm.). I have long been interested in Limpkins, from the time I first heard one in 1938. In this paper I present observations on nesting that I have made since 1966, especially on Lake Pierce, Polk County, Florida. Limpkins are common in shallow water along the lake shore and along the edges of man-made lagoons and waterways nearby. The number of Limpkins has varied with water levels and food conditions. At times nearly all birds leave the lake. On 12-15 December 1969, for example, practically all Limpkins disappeared from Lake Pierce, and 23 showed up at the same time at Nalcrest, 14.4 km east of Lake Wales and 19.2 km south of Lake Pierce, an area where previously none had been present. In spring the birds reappeared along the shores of Lake Pierce. The Limpkin in the United States is primarily a Florida bird. It has been found north to South Carolina, in the Okefenokee Swamp, southern Georgia, and over much of peninsular Florida, west in the Florida panhandle rarely to Holmes, Jackson and Bay counties (Fig. 1).The region of greatest abundance is the central portion of the state (Sprunt 1954), north of the southern border of Lake Okeechobee. At Lake Pierce, where I made my observations, the Limpkin is fairly abundant.
    [Show full text]
  • Limpkins Preyed on by Tegu Lizards at an Urban Park
    Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 26(4): 231–233. SHORT-COMMUNICATIONARTICLE December 2018 Stilts do not protect against crawlers: Limpkins preyed on by Tegu Lizards at an urban park Juliana Vaz Hipolito1 & Ivan Sazima2,3 1 Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. 2 Museu de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. 3 Corresponding author: [email protected] Received on 25 September 2018. Accepted on 26 November 2018. ABSTRACT: Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a long-legged wading bird that forages mostly in wetlands in the open and occasionally under tree cover. Th is large bird is cautious and frequently scans its immediate environs when active or resting. Records of adult Limpkin predators are scarce and restricted to two very large aquatic reptiles, the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in North America and the Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) in South America. Herein we report on two Limpkins killed and eaten by Black and White Tegus (Salvator merianae) at an urban park in southeastern Brazil. One of the Limpkins was still alive when we came across the predation event, whereas the other Limpkin seemed freshly killed. Th e fi rst Limpkin was already sprawled on the ground and occasionally opened the bill, vocalised hoarsely and fl apped the wings, while the Tegu repeatedly bit the bird on several body parts, which gradually weakened the bird. Th e Limpkin died when the Tegu bit hard the bird on the head and crushed the skull. In the second event the bird was bitten on several body parts and, thus, we assume that it was also killed by the Tegu that was eating the fresh corpse.
    [Show full text]
  • Food of the Limpkin 11
    Food of the Limpkin 11 Changes in drainage would not have brought about the complete extirpation of this large heronry so soon but in addition to depletion of the food supply the birds suffered persecution from unscrupulous hunters. Men and boys used to go to the nesting site on Sundays and shoot herons for sport, never eating any of them, although from a few they cut the wings to be used in dusting shelves. Some of the hunters would shoot as many as twenty-five herons in one day. Even such persecution might not have wiped out the heronry entirely, for the inhabitants were not bent on getting rid of the birds, but the felling of the big cottonwoods in which they had made their nests year after year put an end to what had been, so far as we know, the largest heronry in the interior of the state, STATE UNIVERSITY, BOWLING GREEN, OHIO. FOOD OF THE LIMPKIN BY CLARENCE COTTAM Because of its peculiar distribution and unique feeding habits, the Limpkin (Aramus p&us p&us) is one of the most interesting of North American birds. In habits it seems to partake somewhat of the characteristics of both the rail and the heron. Like the rail, it runs rapidly and stealthily on the damp ground and frequents the borders of wooded streams and swamps; like the heron, it perches in trees. In distribution the bird is restricted to the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia and to Florida. Over much of its range it is absent or rare and is common only locally where the food and environment are to its liking.
    [Show full text]
  • Aramus Guarauna
    15 3 NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Check List 15 (3): 497–507 https://doi.org/10.15560/15.3.497 Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (L., 1766) (Gruiformes, Aramidae), extralimital breeding in Louisiana is associated with availability of the invasive Giant Apple Snail, Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810 (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae) Robert C. Dobbs1, 2, Jacoby Carter1, Jessica L. Schulz1 1 US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA. 2 Current address: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 200 Dulles Dr., Lafayette, LA, 70506, USA. Corresponding author: Robert C. Dobbs, [email protected] Abstract We document the first breeding record of Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766) (Gruiformes, Aramidae), for Louisiana, describe an additional unpublished breeding record from Georgia, as well as a possible record from Alabama, and associate these patterns with the concurrent establishment of the invasive Giant Apple Snail, Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810 (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae). We predict that an invasive prey species may facilitate range expansion by native predator species, which has ramifications for conservation and management. Keywords Biological control, invasive species, predator-prey relationship, range expansion, species distribution. Academic editor: Michael J. Andersen | Received 2 November 2018 | Accepted 5 May 2019 | Published 21 June 2019 Citation: Dobbs RC, Carter J, Schulz JL (2019) Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (L., 1766) (Gruiformes, Aramidae), extralimital breeding in Louisiana is associated with availability of the invasive Giant Apple Snail, Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810 (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae). Check List 15 (3): 497–507. https://doi.org/10.15560/15.3.497 Introduction is historically closely associated with, and perhaps lim- ited by, that of the native Florida Apple Snail, Pomacea The Giant Apple Snail, Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810 paludosa (Say, 1829) (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).
    [Show full text]
  • Quarterly Report
    FINAL REPORT Monitoring secretive marsh birds in Everglades National Park: a pilot study COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT: P13AC00021 PROJECT DIRECTOR: Principal Investigator: Gary L. Slater PROJECT PERSONNEL: Wildlife Biologist: Jeannette Parker DATE REPORT SUBMITTED: 18 May 2015 Ecostudies Institute committed to ecological research and conservation INTRODUCTION Emergent wetland ecosystems have been severely impacted across North America, perhaps no place more severely than in the Everglades of Florida. Drainage for agriculture and complex engineering for flood control and water storage have compartmentalized the wetland system markedly altering natural water flows and flood cycles. Although much of the physical alterations to this system (ditches, levees, impoundments) have occurred outside of Everglades National Park (ENP), wetland ecosystem function within ENP has been greatly diminished due to its downstream position. Large scale restoration efforts (e.g., CERP) have been undertaken to restore more natural hydrological patterns in the Everglades region and improve wetland function. The loss and degradation of wetlands has had a significant impact on wildlife. For example, some wading bird populations have declined by 90% and several populations of the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow have nearly disappeared (DOI 2005, Pimm et al. 2002). In contrast, many novel exotic species, such as the Burmese Python (Python molurus) and exotic apple snails (e.g., Pomacea insularum) have apparently flourished (Snow et al. 2007, Rawlings et al. 2007). Secretive marsh birds are among the most inconspicuous group of birds in North America, in part, because they inhabit emergent wetlands characterized by dense vegetation and they vocalize infrequently. This group of birds has never been adequately surveyed by any previous sampling effort in ENP.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasites of Limpkins, Aramus Guarauna, in Florida
    140 PROCEEDINGS OF THE HELMINTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY in Mexico. Voucher specimens are deposited in ucation Director, CEDO, for providing the os- USNM Helm. Coll. No. 77184. prey carcass. Thanks are expressed to Dr. Peggy Turk, Ed- Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 52(1), 1985, pp. 140-142 Research Note Parasites of Limpkins, Aramus guarauna, in Florida JOSEPH A. CONTI,' DONALD J. FORRESTER,' AND STEPHEN A. NESBirr2 1 College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 and 2 Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida 32601 The limpkin, Aramus guarauna (L.), is a me- habits of limpkins have been well studied, very dium-sized long-legged wading bird of the order little is known about their parasites. The present Gruiformes (cranes, rails, gallinules, coots, etc.) report concerns the parasites of limpkins from and is the sole member of the family Aramidae. central Florida. It is limited to freshwater habitats primarily in Fifteen limpkins were examined. Most (13 Florida and southeastern Georgia in the U.S.A. adults and one hatchling) were collected from (American Ornithologists' Union, 1957, Check- October 1975 to February 1976 at Rodman Pool list of North American Birds. 5th ed., Baltimore). in the Oklawaha River, Marion County, Florida. Limpkins feed primarily on apple snails (Po- One additional adult was collected in February macea paludosa (Say)), a behavior shared by the 1980 approximately 32 km south of this locality snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis Vieillot, al- at Alexander Springs (Lake County). though unlike snail kites they will take also other Nine adult birds and one hatchling were nec- foods such as lizards, frogs, insects, crustaceans, ropsied after having been frozen for up to 3 mo.
    [Show full text]
  • Sizes of Snails Eaten by Snail Kites and Limpkins in a Costa Rican Marsh
    April 1977] General Notes 365 Slightlymore than one-third(35%) of the eggsin three-eggclutches had a crown (Table 2), which was progressivelymore commonfrom the first throughthe third egg,and showeda significantrelationship to the egg'sposition in the hatching sequence(P < 0.005). When a definite crown occurredthis crown occurred6.6 timesmore frequently on the third eggthan on the first and 3.8 timesmore frequently on the third eggthan on the second.A definitecrown occurred1.7 timesmore frequently on the secondegg than on the first. This agreedwith Preston's(ibid.) findingswith the LaughingGull and CommonTern. In two-eggclutches a crown(faint or definite)occurred 2.7 timesmore frequently on the second egg than on the first (Table 2), but a Chi-squaretest showedno significantrelationship between the presenceof a crown and the hatchingsequence in two-eggclutches. Preston (ibid.) alsofound no differencebetween the first and secondeggs of the Common Tern. Over one-quarter(28%) of the three-eggclutches contained one differentlycolored egg with two eggsof the samecolor. The one eggthat differedin colorwas the third to hatch 79% of the time and the first to hatch 21% of the time. The secondegg was never found to be the differently coloredegg of a clutch. Assumingthere was an equalprobability that eachposition in the hatchingsequence might be held by the differently coloredegg, a Chi-squareanalysis was made (P < 0.005), showingthat when a three-egg clutchhad two eggsof one colorand one eggof another color, the differently coloredegg was mostlikely to be the third egg.--MICH^EL L. CHAMBERLIN,Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Michigan 49643. Accepted 14 Nov.
    [Show full text]
  • Habits of the Limpkin in Florida
    Vol.1928 XLV] I NICHOLSON,Habitsof the Limpkin in Florida. 305 HABITS OF THE LIMPKIN IN FLORIDA. BY DONALD J. NICHOLSON. Plate XI. I HAD been searchingfor the nests of the wary Limpkin for many yearsbut it was not until April 12, 1922 that I found my first occupiednest of this quaint bird. My companion,Fred Walker had shot a Louisiana Heron for mounting and the dead bird fell in the saw-grassclose to me, startling a Limpkin which flew silentlyaway. Thinkingthat this probablyhad a meaning I went to the spot from whenceit aroseand in a clusterof saw- grassfound the nestimbedded in the clumpwith four eggsslightly incubated. The nest was composedentirely of dead saw-grass blades,deeply cuppedand well concealedfrom view when a foot away. The site was a huge marsh miles in extent with patches of saw-grass,willows, lily pads, and grass,leading from Lake Apopka, in Lake County, Florida. The nest-clumpwas on the edgeof openwater, giving the bird a view and a chanceto escape in easeof danger. This is the usual positionchosen. There are a few pairs of Limpkins in the big marshesaround this lake but they are by no means common. Several years before I had exploredthe Wekiwa River which runs between Apopka and Sanford in Orange and Seminolecounties and found several old nests built up in the overhangingbranches of trees along the river containingegg shellswhich I identified as belongingto the Limpkin. Years ago the OklawahaRiver was a favorite breeding groundbut few are now to be found there. It was not until April 27, 1925, that I found a secluded,wild spot whereLimpkins were to be found in considerablenumbers.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Peru Marañon Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 4Th to 25Th September 2016
    Northern Peru Marañon Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 4th to 25th September 2016 Marañón Crescentchest by Dubi Shapiro This tour just gets better and better. This year the 7 participants, Rob and Baldomero enjoyed a bird filled trip that found 723 species of birds. We had particular success with some tricky groups, finding 12 Rails and Crakes (all but 1 being seen!), 11 Antpittas (8 seen), 90 Tanagers and allies, 71 Hummingbirds, 95 Flycatchers. We also found many of the iconic endemic species of Northern Peru, such as White-winged Guan, Peruvian Plantcutter, Marañón Crescentchest, Marvellous Spatuletail, Pale-billed Antpitta, Long-whiskered Owlet, Royal Sunangel, Koepcke’s Hermit, Ash-throated RBL Northern Peru Trip Report 2016 2 Antwren, Koepcke’s Screech Owl, Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Grey-bellied Comet and 3 species of Inca Finch. We also found more widely distributed, but always special, species like Andean Condor, King Vulture, Agami Heron and Long-tailed Potoo on what was a very successful tour. Top 10 Birds 1. Marañón Crescentchest 2. Spotted Rail 3. Stygian Owl 4. Ash-throated Antwren 5. Stripe-headed Antpitta 6. Ochre-fronted Antpitta 7. Grey-bellied Comet 8. Long-tailed Potoo 9. Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant 10. = Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Yellow-breasted Brush Finch You know it has been a good tour when neither Marvellous Spatuletail nor Long-whiskered Owlet make the top 10 of birds seen! Day 1: 4 September: Pacific coast and Chaparri Upon meeting, we headed straight towards the coast and birded the fields near Monsefue, quickly finding Coastal Miner. Our main quarry proved trickier and we had to scan a lot of fields before eventually finding a distant flock of Tawny-throated Dotterel; we walked closer, getting nice looks at a flock of 24 of the near-endemic pallidus subspecies of this cracking shorebird.
    [Show full text]