"Better than 40 Below" |
February 3, 2008 – Fernandina Beach, FL Up at a lazy 6:30 AM and north to Fort Clinch State Park, at the extreme northeastern corner of Florida. It turned out that the Fishing Pier – the best place in Florida to get Purple Sandpiper – was closed for repairs. We walked to the jetty and tried hard for couple of hours without any luck. Driving out to Fort Clinch itself we watched and photographed two female Pileated Woodpeckers sorting something out as they circled around the base of a small tree, drumming, crest-raising and generally carrying on. Photos can’t begin to show how much fun it was to watch. It kind of made the rest of the day anticlimactic. Walking the Willow/Magnolia Trail we get in a mixed flock that included Tufted Titmouse and two American Goldfinches. After a break – this is a vacation, after all – we headed over to George Creedy Bridge near Amelia Island State Park. This was Super Bowl Sunday, and most folks on the bridge had radios blaring. Despite the noise, we picked up a lifer Iceland Gull with decent photos as well. We tried to find a reported Nature Center, but ended up on a posh golf course. But the water hazard had an exceptionally handsome male Hooded Merganser. We made a final run to Fort Clinch, but didn’t find a lot that was new. A little more laid-back kind of day, but despite creaky bodies, worthwhile. Spent the evening half-watching a very boring Superbowl.
|
