Friday, December 31, 2010

A Year in Review 2010

December 31st
Crested Caracara in Glades County

The end of another year and I am looking at a review of the year's birding. My last sighting for 2010 was Whip-poor-will spotted on a fence post just a couple of hours before midnight on December 31st. As a Lister, I had made an informal goal of 300 birds for 2010. That last whip-poor-will did not increase my tally or get me to my goal, but it was a nice find.

   My actual tally was 279 according to my e-bird world count. This includes several exotics the ABA disqualifies here in Florida, like Purple Swamphens and Mitred Parakeets.  But I like finding the established exotics to be just as gratifying as any other highly sought after species. I especially like the various parrot species that can be found in Florida. My family has often kept caged birds like our current bird, a Mustached Parakeet named Alley. 
   Southwest Florida offers access to some great birding locations. Some sites I try to visit on at least a monthly basis include Bunche Beach (piping plovers, reddish egrets, long-billed curlews), Little Estero Lagoon (snowy plovers, least terns, American oystercatchers), Six-Mile Cypress Preserve (warblers, hairy woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers), Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area (red-cockaded woodpeckers, brown-headed nuthatches, bachmans sparrow), Harns Marsh (limpkins, snail kites, sandhill cranes), Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (warblers, painted buntings, wood storks) and Ding Darling NWR (american white pelicans, black-whiskered vireo, mangrove cuckoo )






A Barred Owl at my work place
I try to take day trips when I can. Favorite locations include Merritt Island NWR (ducks, waders, gulls), Ft DeSoto Park (warblers, shorebirds, kingbirds), The Everglades National Park (white-tailed kites, short-tailed hawks, roseate spoonbill), Lucky Hammock (kingbirds, scissor-tailed flycatchers, lesser nighthawks, swainson’s hawks), the Florida Keys (great white herons, Anatolian nighthawk, roseate terns) and I have added a new location at Cockroach Bay Road ( black-belled whistling ducks, American avocets, Caspian terns).



Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Florida City

Tundra Swans in St John's County


Black-bellied Plover at Bunche Beach

Glossy Ibis

Burrowing Owls

Black-necked Stilt

Northern Cardinal

Roseate Spoonbill

  I also have a few favorite spots close to home or to work. Like being able to enjoy the barred owls that visit us often at my workplace, and being able to watch the burrowing owl families that nested in the fields along Domestic Street.

  Also took a couple of trips out of state for family events this year – Chicago area and Washington state-Idaho panhandle. Was able to add several lifers, especially out on the western trip. Some of the lifers included Trumpeter Swans, Tundra swans, warbling vireo, Lincoln’s sparrow, western bluebird. Black-billed magpies, American pipits, pygmy nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, common raven, California gull, California quail, greater white-fronted geese, western grebe, mountain chickadee, marsh wren, northern shrike and western meadowlark.
A dark-morphed Red-tailed Hawk, Maybe a Western Red-tailed Hawk, which would be unusual in Florida

  Other lifers added this year while birding within the state included the Cuban Pewee that showed up in the Everglades in September. This was only about the third record of the pewee being located in the U.S. Other lifers included a harlequin duck, bonaparte’s gull, roseate tern, gull-billed tern, a cassian’s kingbird, blackburian warbler, western tanager, bronzed cowbird, Anatolian nighthawk, lesser nighthawk, parasitic jaeger and a snow bunting

Least Sandpipers at the Celery Fields

Palm Warbler at the Celery Fields, Sarasota, Fla

Palm Warbler






 My List (279) for 2010 
downloaded from e-bird


1 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Celery Fields US-FL 19 Jan 2010

2 Fulvous Whistling-Duck - Stormwater Treatment Area 5 US-FL 15 Feb 2010

3 Greater White-fronted Goose - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

4 Canada Goose - McGinnis Slough Forest Preserve (Cook Co.) US-IL 11 May 2010

5 Mute Swan - McGinnis Slough Forest Preserve (Cook Co.) US-IL 11 May 2010

6 Trumpeter Swan - McGinnis Slough Forest Preserve (Cook Co.) US-IL 11 May 2010

7 Tundra Swan - Bartram Farms US-FL 22 Jan 2010

8 Muscovy Duck - Bunche Beach US-FL 11 Feb 2010

9 Wood Duck - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

10 Eurasian Wigeon - - Stormwater Treatment Area 5 US-FL 15 Feb 2010

11 American Wigeon - Tierra Verde Ponds US-FL 21 Jan 2010

12 American Black Duck - Cockroach Bay Road US-FL 30 Nov 2010

13 Mallard - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

14 Mottled Duck - Six Mile Cypress Slough US-FL 01 Jan 2010

15 Blue-winged Teal - Six Mile Cypress Slough US-FL 01 Jan 2010

16 Northern Shoveler - Tierra Verde Pond1 Jan 2010

17 Northern Pintail - Merritt Island NWR US-FL 23 Jan 2010

18 Green-winged Teal - Dump Marsh US-FL 18 Jan 2010

19 Canvasback - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

20 Redhead - Tierra Verde Ponds US-FL 21 Jan 2010

21 Ring-necked Duck - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010 -

22 Lesser Scaup - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

23 Harlequin Duck - Sebastian Inlet State Recreation - (South) US-FL 08 Mar 2010

24 Bufflehead - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

25 Common Goldeneye - Fruitville Road US-FL 30 Nov 2010

26 Hooded Merganser - Fruitville Road US-FL 19 Jan 2010

27 Common Merganser - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

28 Red-breasted Merganser - Bunche Beach US-FL 16 Jan 2010

29 Masked Duck - Viera Wetlands US-FL 23 Jan 2010

30 Ruddy Duck - San Carlos Park US-FL 04 Jan 2010

31 California Quail - ID Fish & Game Habitat Area US-ID 10 Oct 2010

32 Northern Bobwhite - Lee County - Domestic St US-FL 22 May 2010

33 Ring-necked Pheasant - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

34 Wild Turkey - La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

35 Common Loon - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

36 Pied-billed Grebe - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

37 Eared Grebe - Cockroach Bay Preserve US-FL 30 Nov 2010

38 Western Grebe - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

39 Northern Gannet - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

40 American White Pelican - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

41 Brown Pelican - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

42 Double-crested Cormorant - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

43 Anhinga - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

44 Magnificent Frigatebird - Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 15 Apr 2010

45 American Bittern - La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

46 Least Bittern - Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 15 Jun 2010

47 Great Blue Heron - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

48 Great Egret - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

49 Snowy Egret - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

50 Little Blue Heron - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

51 Tricolored Heron - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

52 Reddish Egret - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

53 Cattle Egret - San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

54 Green Heron - Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

55 Black-crowned Night-Heron - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

56 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

57 White Ibis - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

58 Glossy Ibis - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

59 Roseate Spoonbill - Merritt Island NWR US-FL 23 Jan 2010

60 Wood Stork - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

61 Black Vulture - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

62 Turkey Vulture - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

63 Osprey - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

64 Swallow-tailed Kite - Clewiston US-FL 01 Mar 2010

65 White-tailed Kite - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

66 Snail Kite - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

67 Bald Eagle - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

68 Northern Harrier - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

69 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

70 Cooper's Hawk - Florida International University Ecosystem Preserve US-FL 18 Jan 2010

71 Red-shouldered Hawk - Six Mile Cypress Slough US-FL 01 Jan 2010

72 Broad-winged Hawk - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

73 Short-tailed Hawk - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

74 Swainson's Hawk - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

75 Red-tailed Hawk - Fort DeSoto County Park US-FL 21 Jan 2010

76 Crested Caracara - Alva US-FL 05 Jan 2010

77 American Kestrel - Six Mile Cypress Slough-- US-FL 01 Jan 2010

78 Merlin - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

79 Peregrine Falcon - Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 16 Mar 2010

80 King Rail - Ten Thousand Islands NWR US-FL 31 May 2010

81 Sora - Lake Okeechobee - Clewiston US-FL 13 Jan 2010

82 Purple Swamphen - Stormwater Treatment Area 5 US-FL 15 Feb 2010

83 Purple Gallinule - Stormwater Treatment Area 5 US-FL 15 Feb 2010

84 Common Moorhen - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

85 American Coot - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

86 Limpkin - harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

87 Sandhill Crane - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

88 Black-bellied Plover - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

89 Snowy Plover - Little Estero Lagoon US-FL 24 May 2010

90 Wilson's Plover - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

91 Semipalmated Plover - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

92 Piping Plover - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

93 Killdeer - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

94 American Oystercatcher Fort DeSoto County Park--Bay Pier US-FL 21 Jan 2010

95 Black-necked Stilt - Stormwater Treatment Area 5 US-FL 15 Feb 2010

96 American Avocet - Merritt Island NWR US-FL 23 Jan 2010

97 Spotted Sandpiper - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

98 Solitary Sandpiper - Eagle Lakes Community Park US-FL 09 Mar 2010

99 Greater Yellowlegs - Cutler Wetlands US-FL 18 Jan 2010

100 Willet - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

101 Lesser Yellowlegs - Cutler Wetlands US-FL 18 Jan 2010

102 Upland Sandpiper - Palm Beach County - Rt880 US-FL 16 Aug 2010

103 Long-billed Curlew - Fort De Soto Park US-FL 05 Apr 2010

104 Marbled Godwit - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

105 Ruddy Turnstone - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

106 Red Knot - J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR - Wildlife Drive US-FL 15 Apr 2010

107 Sanderling - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

108 Semipalmated Sandpiper - harns marsh US-FL 03 Mar 2010

109 Western Sandpiper - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

110 Least Sandpiper - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

111 Pectoral Sandpiper - Orland Grasslands (Cook Co.) US-IL 11 May 2010

112 Purple Sandpiper - Smyrna Dunes Park US-FL 22 Jan 2010

113 Dunlin - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

114 Stilt Sandpiper - La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

115 Short-billed Dowitcher - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

116 Long-billed Dowitcher -La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

117 Wilson's Snipe - Ft Myers-Rest Stop US-FL 07 Mar 2010

118 Bonaparte's Gull - Merritt Island NWR US-FL 23 Jan 2010

119 Laughing Gull - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

120 Ring-billed Gull - Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

121 California Gull - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

122 Herring Gull - Bunche Beach US-FL 16 Jan 2010

123 Lesser Black-backed Gull -  Merritt Island NWR US-FL 23 Jan 2010

124 Least Tern - Little Estero Lagoon US-FL 06 Apr 2010

125 Gull-billed Tern - Cockroach Bay Road US-FL 12 Jul 2010

126 Caspian Tern - Merritt Island NWR US-FL 23 Jan 2010

127 Black Tern - Gandy Beach US-FL 12 Jul 2010

128 Roseate Tern - Marathon Government Center US-FL 31 May 2010

129 Common Tern - Fort De Soto Park US-FL 22 Mar 2010

130 Forster's Tern - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

131 Royal Tern - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

132 Sandwich Tern - Bunche Beach US-FL 16 Jan 2010

133 Black Skimmer - Bunche Beach US-FL 04 Jan 2010

134 Parasitic Jaeger - Gamble Rogers SP US-FL 22 Jan 2010

135 Rock Pigeon  - Six Mile Cypress Slough- US-FL 01 Jan 2010

136 White-crowned Pigeon - FIU Ecosystem Preserve US-FL 18 Jan 2010

137 Eurasian Collared-Dove - San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

138 White-winged Dove -  Alva US-FL 13 Jan 2010

139 Mourning Dove - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwal US-FL 01 Jan 2010

140 Common Ground-Dove San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

141 Nanday Parakeet - Fort De Soto Park US-FL 22 Mar 2010

142 Monk Parakeet - San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

143 Mitred Parakeet - Kendall-- Baptist Hospital Area US-FL 18 Jan 2010

144 Red-masked Parakeet - Kendall-- Baptist Hospital Area US-FL 18 Jan 2010

145 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Midewan NTP - Iron Bridge Trail US-IL 12 May 2010

146 Eastern Screech-Owl - Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 30 Apr 2010

147 Great Horned Owl - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

148 Burrowing Owl - Cape Coral - Pelican Blvd Park US-FL 17 Jan 2010

149 Barred Owl - Big Cypress National Preserve Visitor Center US-FL 18 Jan 2010

150 Lesser Nighthawk - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

151 Common Nighthawk - Wild Turkey Strand Preserve US-FL 08 Apr 2010

152 Antillean Nighthawk - Marathon Airport US-FL 31 May 2010

153 Chuck-will's-widow - Wild Turkey Strand Preserve US-FL 27 May 2010

154 Whip-poor-will - Wild Turkey Strand Preserve US-FL 10 Mar 2010

155 Chimney Swift - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 20 Apr 2010

156 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 29 Mar 2010

157 Belted Kingfisher - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

158 Red-headed Woodpecker - Alva US-FL 05 Jan 2010

159 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

160 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

161 Downy Woodpecker - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

162 Hairy Woodpecker - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 31 Jan 2010

163 Red-cockaded Woodpecker - Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

164 Northern Flicker - Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 23 Feb 2010

165 Pileated Woodpecker - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

166 Eastern Wood-Pewee - Fort De Soto Park US-FL 26 Apr 2010

167 Cuban Pewee - Everglades NP--Long Pine Key Campground US-FL 13 Sep 2010

168 Least Flycatcher - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

169 Eastern Phoebe - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

170 Say's Phoebe - Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

171 Great Crested Flycatcher - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

172 Brown-crested Flycatcher - Lucky Hammock US-FL 22 Feb 2010

173 Cassin's Kingbird -  Stormwater Treatment Area 5 US-FL 15 Feb 2010

174 Western Kingbird - Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

175 Eastern Kingbird - Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 29 Mar 2010

176 Gray Kingbird Kendall-- Baptist Hospital Area US-FL 31 May 2010

177 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - SW 312th st Florida City US-FL 18 Jan 2010

178 Loggerhead Shrike - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

179 Northern Shrike - Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

180 White-eyed Vireo - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

181 Yellow-throated Vireo - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 16 Feb 2010

182 Blue-headed Vireo - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

183 Warbling Vireo - Fish Lake Beach US-IL 14 May 2010

184 Red-eyed Vireo - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 20 Apr 2010

185 Black-whiskered Vireo -  J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR - Wildlife Drive US-FL 03 May 2010

186 Blue Jay - Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

187 Florida Scrub-Jay Glades County - CR29 US-FL 29 May 2010

188 Black-billed Magpie Cheney US-WA 08 Oct 2010

189 American Crow Big Cypress National Preserve Visitor Center US-FL 18 Jan 2010

190 Fish Crow Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

191 Common Raven Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

192 Northern Rough-winged Swallow Green Cay Wetlands US-FL 01 Mar 2010

193 Purple Martin harns marsh US-FL 08 Feb 2010

194 Tree Swallow harns marsh US-FL 04 Jan 2010

195 Bank Swallow Midewan NTP - Iron Bridge Trail US-IL 12 May 2010

196 Barn Swallow Lake Okeechobee - Clewiston US-FL 13 Jan 2010

197 Cave Swallow Kendall-- Baptist Hospital Area US-FL 31 May 2010

198 Carolina Chickadee John H. Chestnut, Jr., County Park US-FL 30 Aug 2010

199 Black-capped Chickadee Ryerson Conservation Area (Lake Co.) US-IL 14 May 2010

200 Mountain Chickadee Mt. Spokane SP US-WA 11 Oct 2010

201 Tufted Titmouse La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

202 Red-breasted Nuthatch Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

203 White-breasted Nuthatch Fish Lake Beach US-IL 14 May 2010

204 Pygmy Nuthatch Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

205 Brown-headed Nuthatch Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

206 Carolina Wren Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

207 House Wren La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

208 Marsh Wren Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

209 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Bunche Beach US-FL 02 Jan 2010

210 Golden-crowned Kinglet Mt. Spokane SP US-WA 11 Oct 2010

211 Ruby-crowned Kinglet Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

212 Eastern Bluebird Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

213 Western Bluebird Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

214 Hermit Thrush Lake Apopka Restoration Area--Duda Section US-FL 21 Jan 2010

215 American Robin San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

216 Gray Catbird San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

217 Northern Mockingbird Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

218 Brown Thrasher harns marsh US-FL 03 Mar 2010

219 Common Myna Homestead US-FL 18 Jan 2010

220 European Starling Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

221 American Pipit Mann Lake US-ID 10 Oct 2010

222 Cedar Waxwing Ft Myers-Rest Stop US-FL 21 Feb 2010

223 Northern Parula Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

224 Yellow Warbler Fort De Soto Park US-FL 26 Apr 2010

225 Chestnut-sided Warbler Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 11 Apr 2010

226 Magnolia Warbler Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 17 Oct 2010

227 Black-throated Blue Warbler Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 11 Apr 2010

228 Yellow-rumped Warbler Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

229 Black-throated Green Warbler Everglades NP--Gumbo-Limbo Trail US-FL 22 Feb 2010

230 Blackburnian Warbler Fort De Soto Park US-FL 26 Apr 2010

231 Yellow-throated Warbler harns marsh US-FL 08 Feb 2010

232 Pine Warbler Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

233 Prairie Warbler Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 31 Jan 2010

234 Palm Warbler Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

235 Black-and-white Warbler Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

236 American Redstart Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

237 Prothonotary Warbler Fort De Soto Park US-FL 05 Apr 2010

238 Worm-eating Warbler Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 30 Mar 2010

239 Ovenbird Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

240 Northern Waterthrush Fort De Soto Park US-FL 26 Apr 2010

241 Louisiana Waterthrush Everglades NP--Gumbo-Limbo Trail US-FL 22 Feb 2010

242 Common Yellowthroat Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

243 Hooded Warbler Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 29 Mar 2010

244 Eastern Towhee Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

245 Bachman's Sparrow Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

246 Chipping Sparrow La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

247 Field Sparrow La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

248 Vesper Sparrow La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

249 Savannah Sparrow Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

250 Grasshopper Sparrow Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

251 Song Sparrow Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - Prairie Creek Woods US-IL 12 May 2010

252 Lincoln's Sparrow Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center (Cook Co.) US-IL 11 May 2010

253 Swamp Sparrow Babcock-Webb WMA US-FL 19 Jan 2010

254 White-crowned Sparrow La Chua Trail US-FL 22 Jan 2010

255 Dark-eyed Junco Idaho Fish & Game Habitat Area US-ID 10 Oct 2010

256 Snow Bunting Waterfront Park US-FL 14 Dec 2010

257 Summer Tanager Fort De Soto Park US-FL 05 Apr 2010

258 Scarlet Tanager Fort De Soto Park US-FL 26 Apr 2010

259 Western Tanager FIU Ecosystem Preserve US-FL 18 Jan 2010

260 Northern Cardinal Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

261 Rose-breasted Grosbeak Fort De Soto Park US-FL 26 Apr 2010

262 Blue Grosbeak Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 02 Apr 2010

263 Indigo Bunting Alva US-FL 13 Jan 2010

264 Painted Bunting Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 12 Jan 2010

265 Dickcissel Midewan NTP - Iron Bridge Trail US-IL 12 May 2010

266 Bobolink harns marsh US-FL 01 May 2010

267 Red-winged Blackbird Lake Okeechobee - Clewiston US-FL 13 Jan 2010

268 Eastern Meadowlark Lucky Hammock US-FL 18 Jan 2010

269 Western Meadowlark Turnbull NWR US-WA 08 Oct 2010

270 Common Grackle Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

271 Boat-tailed Grackle Six Mile Cypress Slough--Boardwalk US-FL 01 Jan 2010

272 Shiny Cowbird Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary US-FL 16 Feb 2010

273 Bronzed Cowbird Lake Okeechobee - Clewiston US-FL 13 Jan 2010

274 Brown-headed Cowbird San Carlos Park US-FL 03 Jan 2010

275 Orchard Oriole Sanibel Lighthouse Beach US-FL 29 Mar 2010

276 Baltimore Oriole Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - Prairie Creek Woods US-IL 12 May 2010

277 House Finch Fish Lake Beach US-IL 14 May 2010

278 American Goldfinch Alva US-FL 05 Jan 2010

279 House Sparrow Kendall-- Baptist Hospital Area US-FL 18 Jan 2010
Lesser Scaup at Ackerman Park, Sarasota, Florida
Sora at Merritt Island

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Marsh Wren

-A Visit to Babcock-Webb Wildlife Mangaement Area
Tuesday December 21st



Red-cockaded Woodpecker
 I try to visit Babcock-Webb on a monthly basis and during hunting season check the calendar to avoid visiting on a scheduled hunting day.  Right now it is small game season, but not on Tuesdays. So Tuesday morning I am on site at Babcock to witness several of the endangered, Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers exiting their nest holes just after sunrise. The temperatures at dawn are at 45degrees, the sky is clear and the moon in full. Seems that I slept through today's lunar eclipse on this Winter Solstice day.  I am standing in the middle of Oilwell Grade road, within the red-cockaded colony sight, which has marked nest trees on both sides of the lane. There are a number of these marked colony sights at babcock, but this is the closest to the main entrance. On schedule the birds emerge and start there day.  There are three and each starts there squeaky calling as the peek their heads out of the nest hole. Getting a weather report and exchanging remarks with their neighbors.  Then whoosh, they are out, checking nearby trees for a quick meal and will forage for a while, then off they go.
Eastern Meadowlark singing atop a pine tree
Moving on from the woodpecker colony I was able the sight an American Kestrel sitting in the same tree that it was noticed in last month. Could hear Sandhill Cranes several time and Eastern Towhees as well.  Odd that I never did spot any today.  Heard several House Wrens and was able to see a couple of them. Found a few mixed feeding flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, Pine Warblers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds and three Brown-headed Nuthatches. Spooked a Great Horned Owl near Crooked Lake and saw about four Northern Harriers. Other raptors experienced here was hearing the call of a Red-shouldered Hawk an a kettle of five immature Bald Eagles soaring near Webb Lake.
Eastern Meadowlark were seen and heard through-out the property. Sparrows were seen mostly in wet fields, as were Common Yellowthroats. Primarily Savannah Sparrows and found a single Swamp Sparrow  in the brush along the Seaboard Grade road. In that brushy spot, had a couple of the common yellowthroats and a surprise of a Marsh Wren. Marsh and sedge wrens are nemesis birds for me. This was only second sighting of a marsh wren, the first in Florida and I have yet to identify a sedge wren.
Northern Mockingbird
Was also pleased to find a Grasshopper Sparrow along Tram Grade road.  I initially tried to identify it as a bachman's sparrow, but that white strip atop the crown on this bird marked it as a grasshopper sparrow.  Besides missing on the bachman's sparrow today were red-tailed hawk and northern bobwhite.
Grasshopper Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow
The refuge camping area was overflowing with tents, campers and swamp buggies. Lots of sportsman on sight for the various hunting activities here. The white-board at the check-in sight listed the game that had been taken so far this season. I recall seeing that seventy-six deer had been harvested along with four hundred plus hogs, over sixteen-hundred snipe and about six hundred quail. Also listed were small numbers of other animals harvested including raccoons, squirrels and coyotes etc.
Palm Warbler


Eastern Phoebe
My List -(55)
Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egre, Little Blue Heron,Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture,Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Kestre, Common Moorhen, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, House Wren, Marsh Wre, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle

Friday, December 17, 2010

Snow Bunting - A Rare Bird in Florida

Tuesday December 14th


A Rare Viewing of a Snow Bunting at Palm Coast, Florida

It was a hard decision whether to chase after the sighting of a Florida rare bird, in a Snow Bunting at Palm Coast, Florida, or to head south toward the Everglades, were other intriguing reports are being posted. I had run into an active birder and photographer, Reinhard Geisler and his wife, on my last visit to Harn's Marsh. He was encouraging about going after the bunting and the continuing postings on how this bird has steadily remained on a very small patch of grass and should be an easy tick.
Met Tom and Cheryl Smith at Waterfront Park, who took this photo.  Far superior than what my camera could handle . See Tom's Flicker site
   Well I elected to chase after the snow bunting regardless of the four and a half hour drive to get there and the fact we are in the midst of record cold temperatures.  Left home at 4 am with temperatures in the 30's. The wind chill temperature at Waterfront Park had to be in the teens. Ice had formed on the sidewalk and the landscape plantings were decorated with ice as well. The buntings location was roped-off to provide a safe zone.  Seems the bird had almost been stepped on by the curious and now we have to kept back.  So far back that my photo attempts produced poor shots.  But those with the patience and the correct camera gear could still pervail. Photographers that were here before the barricade could step up to a few short feet for great shots. About seven freezing observers were already on site when I arrived and one nice lady offered looks through her scope. It is a beautiful bird.  But why was it it here so far from its normal territory. An a real irony was a bird from the far north is found in Florida during a record cold spell.
Ice Covered Landscaping.
I planned on stopping at Smyrna Dunes Park to look for resident purple sandpipers, but because of the cold I chose to drive onto Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. But first I did stop at Flagler Beach to check out for any interesting gulls or pelagics. Was able to easily spot and identify Northern Gannets, but most other interesting birds were to far out for my binoculars.  Needed a scope. A large flock of dark duck like birds flew past just above the surf. Again too far out for gathering good details for identification, but my guess were that they were a scoter species.  Maybe white-winged. Other birds included Brown Pelicans, Royal Terns, Forster's Terns, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings and Black Skimmers.

Dunlin seen along the Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island

White Ibis

Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks


An unidentified bird over Merritt Island

Roseate Spoobill

Can you see the gator?

American Coots

A Dowitcher species

Got to Merritt Island at noon and spent about three hours on the Black Point Wildlife Drive and on the Lab Beach Road. I found Long-billed Dowitchers, lots of Dunlins and Sanderlings, a few Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.  And a single Red Knot. Also had large numbers of wading birds like White Ibis, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egret, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Little Blue Herons. American White Pelicans were plentiful and several Caspian, Royal and Forsters Terns were found. As for raptors I only saw one Osprey, one Northern Harrier and a couple of American Kestrels. No ducks were seen at all on the Black Point drive. Water levels seemed to be too low for them.  Also missed were any avocets, stilts and on the tundra swans reportedly seen earlier in the morning, but seen elsewhere on the refuge.
The Lab Road was very interesting.  Had hoped for another shot at any black-backed gulls or Bonaparte's gulls, but missed.  My best bird on the road was Peregrine Falcon. Was able to find some ducks and tons of American Coots.  The ducks included Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers. Also had four warblers - Common Yellowthroat, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and a lone Black-and-White warbler. Shore birds include a lot of Western Sandpipers, Dunlins, Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones. A couple of royal Terns a several Ring-billed Gulls, plus American White and Brown Pelicans were present too. Only spotted a single gator all day, but almost missed It because it was camouflaged with a coating of dried mud. And now time for the lone drive home.
NASA Space Center is located nearby

Monday, December 13, 2010

FOS American Goldfinch

Monday, December 13th

Most of the expected winter resident birds have made their appearance here in Lee County. American Robins and Cedar Waxwings are inconsistent about when we may see them in our neighborhoods. I have not seen any yet, but it is probably a bit early, especially for the waxwings.  However, seems that most of the expected duck species are here. Got a pair of Hooded Mergansers at Harns Marsh on the on the 10th and Red-breasted Mergansers back on November 21st on the ponds at Domestic Street.  I saw my first American White Pelicans of the season on December 1st at Bunche Beach, though they had been around for a couple of weeks already.  Saw my first Common Loon at Bunche Beach on December 8th.

Just this morning I found my FOS Painted Buntings at the feeders at the White's property in Alva. These feeders were active with American Goldfinches and Indigo Buntings. Had located my first-of-season American Goldfinches as a flock were actively feeding in the trees along the boardwalk at Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve on the December 7th. The same day had a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets chasing each other through the understory and flashes of the males red crown could be as they flitted about. My FOS on the these birds were on November 15th. Still looking for the Black-throated Blue Warbler that has been reported at Six-Mile Cypress. Other species on hand for the winter include Gray Catbirds, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, American Bitterns, House Wrens, Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Savannah Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, American Kestels, Merlins, Blue-winged Teal, Dunlins and so on.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Merlin

Sunday - December 11th


One of the things that makes birding fun is that you never know what you'll find at any given time.  Dawn was breaking as I headed home from work this morning. Was considering doing some birding instead of heading home for sleep.  But being arrears on my sleep, I elected to just check out my spot on Domestic Street on the way home. Tons of American Coots  were spread across the ponds there.  A couple of Redhead ducks continued to seen here, plus a few Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaups as well. Not much else was around, but as I was scanning the ponds a small raptor flew right into my line of sight and settled on a fence post. Cool.  It was a Merlin. I had not seen a merlin at this sight before. The presence of the falcon could explain way I could not find any sparrows or palm warblers. This bird remanded seated for a few minutes and then flew into the brush further down the road.  Must have spotted a candidate for breakfast.

Headed home to find a large flock of White Ibis foraging on my block. Counted about forty-five ibis.  They are surprisingly tolerant of traffic.  These are our yard birds.  The robins should be arriving sooner or later, but the White Ibis are cool to see. I had an acquaintance down in Naples who's family descended from early south Florida pioneers. These folks had to live off the land and sea, as the only access back then was by boat. No roads existed.  My understanding was that they referred to the ibis as Chokoloske Chickens. It took about four birds per person for a meal and that the 'Bronze-wings' or juveniles made for better eating.  They are protected know.  .

As I was walking the dogs and watching the ibis', a trio of Muscovy Ducks flew right over head. They are large birds in flight and were followed by a Great Crested Flycatcher, who settled in a neighbors tree.  Like I said, you never know what you'll find.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

American White Pelicans - A Visit to Bunche Beach

Wednesday, December 1st

Kite-surfing on Estero bay
Spent a couple of hours at Bunche Beach this mourning.  The weather was overcast, breezy and cooler. Only a few walkers and surf fisherman  present. A couple of kite-surfers are sailing across the bay,.

Willet
Still looking for American White Pelicans here. Had found five yesterday up in Hillsborough County. Present today were hundreds of gulls, terns, and shore birds. Had to be a couple of hundred Black Skimmers, about sixty Laughing Gulls, about six Ring-billed Gulls, a dozen Royal Terns, the same with Sandwich Terns and a few Forster's Terns.  Scanned through these flocks several times over two hours looking for any Herring Gulls, but not seen today. Also scanned the flats looking for the Long-billed Curlew that is occasionally seen here.  Did see all of the expected shore birds like Black-belled Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, three Piping Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Marbled Godwits, Willits, Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, and the most commonly seen bird were Dunlins. No curlew though.

A very interesting sighting was a pair of Bald Eagles trying to both sit on the same pyling. Eventually one flew off. As for looking for the American White Pelicans, I was finally successful in with seeing a soaring flock just as I was leaving at noon.
American White Pelicans in Flight over Bunche Beach

America White Pelicans over Bunche Beach



My List (35) -
Muscovy Duck, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Skimmer, Belted Kingfisher, Great Crested Flycatcher, House Wren, Northern Cardinal, Boat-tailed Grackle