Saturday morning we headed out very early to make a run all the to Key West by 8:30. Before starting out Florida City, Bob Pelkey could hear a calling Chucks-will-Widow. The first bird for the day.
We did reach Ft Zachary Taylor Historical State Park on Key West by 8:30. Noted that there lots of feral jungle fowl (chickens) in the lower Keys. Another non-native that is found here were large numbers of invasive Green Iguanas. Some quite large.
We spent the remainder of the morning birding the park. White-crowned Pigeons were numerous, here and all through the Keys. Also present today were a few Eastern Kingbirds, Grays Kingbirds, Least Terns, Grackles and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Bob was able to add Bald Eagle, Barn Swallow and American Redstart.
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| Green Iguana in Key West |
By noon we were heading back toward the Upper Keys. Made a stop at on Middle Torch Road on Summerland Key. Last year, at this spot we were getting good photos of Black-whiskered Vireos. The vireos continue to be active at this location, but today they would stay deep in the brush. This would prove to a theme for the rest of the day.
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| White-crowned Pigeon |
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| Part of the moat surrounding the bastions of Ft Zachary Taylor Least Terns were active all around the fort |
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| I believe that these blossoms are a species of Indian Blanket. Seen at Ft Taylor |
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| Gray Kingbird |
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| Coast Guard Cutter Thetis is stationed out of Key West |
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| Royal Tern |
At the Marathon government center, Least and Roseate Terns have returned to nest up on the roof .
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| This Roseate Tern is sporting a set of legs bands Unable to read the leg bands code |
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| Roseate Tern |
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| Roseate Tern |
Next, at Key Largo, we stopped at Dagny Johnson State Park. This site contains the largest tract Caribbean Hardwood Hammock left in the Keys. We found the park to be very quite. Only heard Northern Cardinals, White-eyed Vireos and a pair of Mangrove Cuckoos. The cuckoos refused to leave the dense hammock for a photo op.
Lastly was a stop at the toll booth on Sound Card Road to look for Cuban Golden Warblers in the mangroves. We could hear the yellow warblers, but could only coax a Prairie Warbler to pose for the camera.
Lastly was a stop at the toll booth on Sound Card Road to look for Cuban Golden Warblers in the mangroves. We could hear the yellow warblers, but could only coax a Prairie Warbler to pose for the camera.
Red Junglefowl (Domestic type)
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Magnificent Frigatebird
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Double-crested Cormorant
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Brown Pelican
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White Ibis
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Black Vulture
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Turkey Vulture
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Osprey
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Bald Eagle
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Common Gallinule
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Laughing Gull
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Least Tern
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Roseate Tern
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Royal Tern
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Rock Pigeon
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White-crowned Pigeon
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Eurasian Collared-Dove
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White-winged Dove
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Mourning Dove
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Mangrove Cuckoo
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Red-bellied Woodpecker
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Eastern Kingbird
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Gray Kingbird
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White-eyed Vireo
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Black-whiskered Vireo
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Fish Crow
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Purple Martin
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Northern Mockingbird
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Common Myna
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European Starling
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Yellow Warbler
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Prairie Warbler
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Northern Cardinal
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Red-winged Blackbird
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Common Grackle
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Boat-tailed Grackle
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