On this cool, foggy morning in South Florida, my wife and I visited the Perico Preserve, east of Anna Marie Island, off Manatee Avenue. Another terrific site for birdwatching, this refuge is a mosaic of upland woods and scrubland, freshwater wetlands and a tidal pool. Accessed by trails and boardwalks, the preserve stretches out to mangroves along Perico Sound.
Unfortunately, mosquitos were numerous and voracious during our early morning visit and, since we left our repellant at home, our exploration was short and swift. Nevertheless, we encountered 25 species of birds, including common gallinules. tri-colored herons, a yellow-crowned night heron and a trio of wood storks. Though not observed this morning, Florida scrub jays inhabit this scenic refuge.
On our way back to the condo, we stopped by Whitney Beach on the northwest coast of Longboat Key. There, a steady, cool breeze and gentle mist were especially soothing after our mosquito gauntlet at Perico. Though birds were impossible to see on or over the rough Gulf (due to the dense fog), we were greeted by a large, mixed flock of laughing gulls, black skimmers, royal terns, Sandwich terns and Forster's terns that lounged on the beach, waiting for the fog to lift.
Unfortunately, mosquitos were numerous and voracious during our early morning visit and, since we left our repellant at home, our exploration was short and swift. Nevertheless, we encountered 25 species of birds, including common gallinules. tri-colored herons, a yellow-crowned night heron and a trio of wood storks. Though not observed this morning, Florida scrub jays inhabit this scenic refuge.
On our way back to the condo, we stopped by Whitney Beach on the northwest coast of Longboat Key. There, a steady, cool breeze and gentle mist were especially soothing after our mosquito gauntlet at Perico. Though birds were impossible to see on or over the rough Gulf (due to the dense fog), we were greeted by a large, mixed flock of laughing gulls, black skimmers, royal terns, Sandwich terns and Forster's terns that lounged on the beach, waiting for the fog to lift.
