Day 34: February 3 - Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL

Partly cloudy, periods of rain, mid 70's

       Heading back north through Florida, we make tracks for one of the most amazing birding locales in Florida......Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray, Florida.  As is the case with a number of nature preserves in Florida, this one is a product of a water waste treatment facility.  As a part of the reclamation process, impoundments are constructed which serves as wetlands for native birds, reptiles, and mammals.  Wakodahatchee has turned out to be one of the most successful and productive projects and is a birder's dream.

       Rather than the typical impoundment system with square ponds surrounded by dikes upon which you can hike or drive, this wetland is a true swamp which is criss-crossed by a well constructed boardwalk with several shelters along the way.  Many local residents visit the facility on a regular basis just to walk and get their exercise.  Those who bird and love to photograph the species found in the wetland have been blessed with a natural wonderland inhabited by some of natures most beautiful and remarkable creatures.  Birds not found in many other areas of America or even Florida are reliable found here.  Today, we had Black-bellied whistling ducks, breeding Anhingas caring for their young in nests so near you could almost look down into them,  warblers, bitterns, rails and on and on.

Anhinga with chicks

         Today, the most remarkable sighting is a breeding Wurdemann's heron.  This bird is an offspring of the Great blue heron and the White morph of the species, often referred to as the Great white heron.  The bird has the characteristics of both birds and is pretty much a species confined southern Florida and points south.  Look at the two photos provided here and note the differences.....lighter legs, a streaked black and white head rather than predominantly black head of the great blue, white and black shoulder patches as opposed to the black ones of the Great blue.  

Wurdemann's heron - Wakodahatchee wetlands

Great blue heron, Eveglades

     By the end of our visit, we had added 5 year-list species.  The purple gallinule was among the most striking and we'll end here today with that image.  Tomorrow, we head further north and back to Viera Wetlands.

Purple gallinule