It was another one of those spur of the moment decisions: Jewel said, “Let’s go to the Stick Marsh today and see if we can see that Vermilion Flycatcher that’s been reported up there.” Since the Stick Marsh, more officially known as the T.M. Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, about 10 miles north and west of Fellsmere, Florida, is only open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Thursdays, it’s a good thing she made her suggestion early on the first Thursday in January of 2023.

When we arrived at the fence just before the parking area where the Vermilion Flycatcher was reported to be hanging out with a number of Savannah Sparrows we knew at a glance that we were not going to find the bird that morning. There were already a number of clueless idiots out of their cars, walking up and down the fence line, close to the fence on both sides, busy spooking any self-respecting bird that might have any inclination to use the fence as a hunting area. We had arrived early to look for the bird about an hour before the gates into Goodwin opened, so we pretty much cooled our heels for that hour.

Fortunately, after we had completed a very successful and satisfying tour of Goodwin, we decided to leave around 2 p.m., well before all the other birders would be finishing up their day. This time, when we reached the fence area, there was not another soul anywhere to be found. The Vermilion Flycatcher (top) was there putting on an excellent show along with a number of Savannah Sparrows and a Palm Warbler. We watched the Vermilion Flycatcher swoop down several times and appear to play with the caterpillar it caught before flying off (photo 2) to finish its meal in peace. Using the car as a photo blind, I was able to take over a hundred photos of the bird including these two that I have inflicted upon you, Dear Readers.

We have previously seen Fulvous Whistling Ducks (photo 3) at the Goodwin area, but they never before put on a show like the one we were treated to on this day. Several times individual ducks (photo 4) would rise out of the water and flap their wings almost pretending to fly. There were also countless groups of Fulvous Whistling Ducks, but I particularly liked this one pair (photo 5) because they raised a question for me. The books and mobile phone birding apps all say that male and female Fulvous are identical. But I wondered whether this was a pair, with the male on the left showing a browner face, and the female to the right, slightly smaller and with less brown in the face. It’s definitely a question for more research someday.

The Black-necked Stilts (photo 6) sat out in the marsh pretty well obscured by the foliage until they got up and flew with their pink legs shimmering in the sun. It is a wonder that they don’t bump into each other when they all rise up together to fly like that. There were also a large number of Black Skimmers (photo 7) well off in the distance. They simply would not fly anywhere that did not include a lot of distracting powerlines in the photos. Also, you can earn extra credit if you are able to identify the gulls in the photo. Hint: one of the birds is a tern. American White Pelicans (photo 8) also put on an excellent show including these three that flew in tandem and in unison. Finally, an Anhinga (photo 9) almost appears to be flying motionlessly as it spreads its wings to dry after having been fishing underwater.

All in all, it was an excellent day at the Stick Marsh. Very good friends of ours go there virtually every Thursday and it is easy to see why they do. In fact, we ran into them there that day. All in all, I took over a thousand photos on that trip and it took hours just to cull through them and discard the vast majority. I finally kept photos of only 19 species of all that we saw. Many of those photos will also end up on the discard pile when I finally get to the job.

The only downside to a day at the Stick Marsh is the long Fellsmere Grade Road, all dirt and dusty, from the paved highway back to the starting area for the days birding. The road is heavily traveled, for there is a new fishing area with a boat launching ramp about three-quarters of the way back, and another smaller boat launching ramp at the parking area just before entering the Goodwin WMA. With all the hurrying fishermen and their boat trailers passing us on the way back for our day’s birding, as well as on the out at the end of the day, our car always requires a bath. First stop on the way home is always a drive-through car wash. Still, that is a small price to pay for an excellent day of birding and outstanding photographic opportunities at a birding location that still does not have an entrance fee.

I hope that by saying that out loud in this column I am not planting any ideas in someone’s head that might come back to bite us birders in the rear. I often think my rear end is already sore enough from all the other stupid things I have done or said at one time or another in my life. Anyone else share that life-long experience with me?

For an earlier column on the Stick Marsh, see Hart Beat column No. 72 “What’s Sticking Around Stick Marsh” at page 280 of the Hart Beat “Hard Cover Book” book, accessible at the top of the Hart Beat page. Simply “Download Part 2” of the “Book & 2015-17” link and scroll to page 280. The column was first published on July 1, 2015. Fourteen different photos and only one bird species duplicate: a Fulvous Whistling Duck photo, taken on December 29th, 2011, which you might want to compare with the current photos.