Bay-breasted Warblers at Six-Mile Cypress Preserve

Wednesday October 19th

Today weather conditions were continuing to be a big boost in our bird counts and variety, as storms were holding back the migrants.  So Back to Six-Mile Cypress Preserve.  Arrived a bit after 9 AM and ran into Bob Repenning who works here just as he was coming in from his own bird count.  He was reporting Verry, Swainson's and Hermit Thrushes, Grosbeaks and other migrants. In fact he helped me with quick finds on Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird, American Redstart and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Gray Squirrels are everywhere

Proceeding on, I added Scarlet Tanager, several Bay-breasted Warblers (LIFER), a Hermit Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Magnolia Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Pine Warblers, a Prairie Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Tufted Titmice, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Tennessee Warbler, more American Redstarts, a female Blackburnian, several Black-throated Blue Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Black-and-White Warblers, a couple of Palm Warblers and a couple of Yellow-throated Warblers.

A poor photo of a Black-throated Blue Warbler

Ovenbird

By now I had meet up with Stan Damen, who had already put some time in looking for the migrants.  He had already seen most all of the above plus an FOS Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Summer Tanager. We continued on and was able to re-find the Summer Tanager. Later Jose Padilla rejoined us on his lunch break. He had also birded here earlier today before work and just had to come back.  I bet he stopped back after work too. Well the three of were able to add another thrush to the list, as we watched a pair of thrushes actively interact with each other in some Dahoon Holly bushes. When comparing the birds we realised that the smaller of the two was not a Swainson's, but a Gray-cheeked Thrush (LIFER). A white-morphed Short-tailed Hawk was spotted over head, a Barred Owl could be heard and an Ovenbird greeted us as we exited . With a cold-front coming in tonight, I expect to return tomorrow.

Eastern Wood-Pewee at Sanibel Lighthouse

From here I was suppose to meet-up with Bob Pelkey at Sanibel Lighthouse. But I took too long and missed Bob.  I did stayed for a couple of hours and with strong winds the birding was tough. A trio of Indigo Buntings was keeping company with an Eastern Wood-Pewee and an Eastern Phoebe. Also had a dozen or so Chimney Swifts actively feeding over the lighthouse in the company of some Northern Rough-winged Swallows and a House Wren.

Palm Warbler

Snowy Egret

Waiting for the meeting to start