Following my visit to Wakodahatchee Wetlands, I made the short drive over to Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands. Like Wakodahatchee, this park is a manmade water reclamation wetlands with 1.5 miles of raised boardwalk. Unlike Wakodahatchee, Green Cay is not a natural rookery for large birds like Wood Storks and Great Egrets. Consequently, there are fewer people here. Visit Wakodahatchee if your goal is to photograph nesting birds.

I arrived late morning and the birding was quiet. The most notable observation was that I saw many Green Herons, maybe a dozen or so. They seemed to be everywhere, slowly prowling about the shallows in search of small prey.

**Green Heron.** Always nice to photograph Green Herons, but I don’t know if I like the top-down view that you get when shooting high from a boardwalk. I prefer to be at eye level when possible. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 360mm, f/6.3, 1/800 sec, ISO 1250.

Sections of the boardwalk take you through different woodland environments, including a dense cypress tree grove. Hanging out in the shade was a small group of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. These are beautiful ducks with slender necks and vibrant orange/pink colored bills. Here is one passing through a ray of light.

**Black-bellied Whistling Duck.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 480mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec, ISO 125.

I kept an eye out for spring migrants but didn’t see any. The most commonly seen (and heard) bird was the Red-winged Blackbird. I saw quite a few of their nests in the marsh, so they were busy nesting and protecting their turf. All other birds were what you’d expect to see in this type of environment - Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebes, Boat-tailed Grackles, etc.

**Red-winged Blackbird.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 450.

**Pied-billed Grebe.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 450.

Hotels in this area can be quite expensive, so instead I drove my camper van down from Tampa and stayed at Markham Park in Sunrise. This is a Broward County park and it has a wonderful campground. I paid $50/night for full hookups.

One of the unique features of this park is an R/C airfield. There is a 755 foot airway, and surrounding it is a huge field. In this field you’ll find multiple Burrowing Owl burrows!

When I arrived it was raining slightly. I counted at least 7 Burrowing Owls across the field at multiple burrows. I grabbed my 800mm lens and slowly approached a burrow with two adults outside, staying back 30-50 feet to avoid disturbing them.

**Burrowing Owls.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 640.

**Burrowing Owls.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/10, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1800.

Other than a little preening, the birds were not doing a whole lot, so I took a few more shots then quietly left. It was a real treat to see them. On my way to my campsite I spotted an American Kestrel perched in a tree. I pulled over and managed to get just a few images before he got nervous and flew away.

**Burrowing Owl.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1000 sec, ISO 560.

**American Kestrel.** Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1400.

I was also planning on visiting Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on this trip, but unfortunately I picked up a cold and was not feeling up to it. Just another reason to return!

A short post, but just wanted to update you on some recent birding activity.

Hope you are all doing well.

Happy Easter and happy birding!

Visiting Green Cay and Finding Burrowing Owls at Markham Park

Prairies! (and more)

Wakodahatchee Wetlands: Two Visits, Two Very Different Experiences